Old Dominion at Delaware

[DSUrocks07]

Are you saying that after seeing today's DSU score?

Delaware could have scored 80 against DSU if we wanted. Massive reserve playing time, even kneel downs inside the DSU 10 at the end of the game.

Don't remind me

Although SC State had their 3rd stringers in the 4th and still scored 3 TDs

[GannonFan]

Hard to tell about ODU at this point. I think UD is actually pretty good and I think they could win out at this point. And for the most part, UD was in control for much of this game. Actually felt a lot like last year's NC game - UD dictated the play for 3.5 quarters but didn't score enough points. ODU's run def was good, but they couldn't get pressure in the passing game nor could the cover well enough. And offensively, DeMarco didn't impress for whatever reasons - WR's couldn't get open, didn't have the arm, whatever. And team speed didn't show up for ODU in this game like it did in other games to this date. Certainly will get a better idea next week when they host UMass - I don't think UMass is as good as UD and the game is at home. If ODU can't win that one then they're in for a long year in the CAA.

As for UD, I'll take 7 more wins just like this one. QB situation is looking just fine and the defense is coming together. Maine's a real good test - pretty decent team and Orono is never an easy trip. UD wins that one and every tough game after that is at home. But things are looking good.

[ODUalum11]

Certainly will get a better idea next week when they host UMass - I don't think UMass is as good as UD and the game is at home. If ODU can't win that one then they're in for a long year in the CAA.

Thank you Gannon! I hope we can beat UMass at home but obviously it won't be easy since the Monarchs have to face another great running back next week in Hernandez.

[YoUDeeMan]

It made for an entertaining game, but it wasn't really that close.

ODU got 7 points from a bad long snap and another 7 on a stalled drive that was kept alive by a fake punt that my mother knew was coming. Other than that, their offense put up 3 points.

FWIW, I'm not sure why any ODU fan would call the fake punt a bad play. UD was moving the ball down the field every time they had it. It was the 4th quarter and if UD gets points on that drive it would be a two possession game and ODU would be out of it. ODU was doing nothing and needed a boost. It was do or die time, and they made it work. But it didn't change anything.

All in all, a fun game. UD's defense is back, and our QB is proving he can win games with accurate passes.

I wish ODU luck in the rest of their games and look forward to playing them again in future years, but I don't see them winning many more games this year.

[UD1Hens]

I'm interested in how they respond in Oct and Nov. The CAA home opener is another one the players and fans have been waiting for. Come mid-late Oct, when the weekly grind is at its peak we'll see how they do. No bye week either, CAA kind of has a habit of screwing one team like that. UD had it a couple years ago

[ODUalum11]

It made for an entertaining game, but it wasn't really that close.

ODU got 7 points from a bad long snap and another 7 on a stalled drive that was kept alive by a fake punt that my mother knew was coming. Other than that, their offense put up 3 points.

FWIW, I'm not sure why any ODU fan would call the fake punt a bad play. UD was moving the ball down the field every time they had it. It was the 4th quarter and if UD gets points on that drive it would be a two possession game and ODU would be out of it. ODU was doing nothing and needed a boost. It was do or die time, and they made it work. But it didn't change anything.

All in all, a fun game. UD's defense is back, and our QB is proving he can win games with accurate passes.

I wish ODU luck in the rest of their games and look forward to playing them again in future years, but I don't see them winning many more games this year.

well honest question and you'd have to excuse me since I didn't see any of the game, but was the UD offense that much better? I knew Donnelly three for just over 300+ yards but the ODU offense I believe from what I heard held AP to only about 40 rushing yards the whole game. From what it sounds like, this game was a good defensive battle.

[∞∞∞]

It made for an entertaining game, but it wasn't really that close.

ODU got 7 points from a bad long snap and another 7 on a stalled drive that was kept alive by a fake punt that my mother knew was coming. Other than that, their offense put up 3 points.

FWIW, I'm not sure why any ODU fan would call the fake punt a bad play. UD was moving the ball down the field every time they had it. It was the 4th quarter and if UD gets points on that drive it would be a two possession game and ODU would be out of it. ODU was doing nothing and needed a boost. It was do or die time, and they made it work. But it didn't change anything.

All in all, a fun game. UD's defense is back, and our QB is proving he can win games with accurate passes.

I wish ODU luck in the rest of their games and look forward to playing them again in future years, but I don't see them winning many more games this year.

well honest question and you'd have to excuse me since I didn't see any of the game, but was the UD offense that much better? I knew Donnelly three for just over 300+ yards but the ODU offense I believe from what I heard held AP to only about 40 rushing yards the whole game. From what it sounds like, this game was a good defensive battle.

From start to finish, UD's offense was better...waaaaaaaaaaaaay better. Our secondary was getting killed.

[ODUalum11]

well honest question and you'd have to excuse me since I didn't see any of the game, but was the UD offense that much better? I knew Donnelly three for just over 300+ yards but the ODU offense I believe from what I heard held AP to only about 40 rushing yards the whole game. From what it sounds like, this game was a good defensive battle.

From start to finish, UD's offense was better...waaaaaaaaaaaaay better. Our secondary was getting killed.

and yet ODU had a lead somehow in the 4th quarter.....

[∞∞∞]

From start to finish, UD's offense was better...waaaaaaaaaaaaay better. Our secondary was getting killed.

and yet ODU had a lead somehow in the 4th quarter.....

That's football for ya. It was a weird game, but UD drove down the field almost everytime against us. Fumbled once, missed field goal another time, got another field goal blocked, and twice (or three times) we stopped them inside our ten. But they were moving against us almost at will until the very end of each drive where they seemed to fizzle. On the other hand, we couldn't get anything going offensively except for once when we took that 17-16 lead. Yeah UD couldn't run against us, but they just made it up going through the air. Offense is offense, regardless if it's pass or run.

[ODUalum11]

I guess so, looking at the boxscore the Hens only outgained us by 50 yards.... I guess I just expected to see them have a lot more yards since I've been hearing their offense drove up and down the field against us. Definitely looking forward to listening to Wilder's teleconference and press conference on monday as well as Radford's "Breakfast with Bobby" segment on the virginian pilot's website.

[∞∞∞]

I guess so, looking at the boxscore the Hens only outgained us by 50 yards.... I guess I just expected to see them have a lot more yards since I've been hearing their offense drove up and down the field against us. Definitely looking forward to listening to Wilder's teleconference and press conference on monday as well as Radford's "Breakfast with Bobby" segment on the virginian pilot's website.

It was our "bend or break" defense, except our offense couldn't do anything. Yeah we had 300+ yards, but most of it never amounted to anything...just lots of short 20 to 30 yard drives that just fizzled near mid-field; ODU only had one long substantial drive (and it amounted to the touchdown). On the other hand, Delaware had long drives that fizzled out deep in our territory.

Still, we played them close in one of the toughest venues in the country (didn't really seem tough though) in our first CAA game ever. Not a big fan of the moral victory, but I'll take it. My expectations this season are low anyways.

[CAA Flagship]

It was two long drives. One was the TD drive that was aided by the punt fake. The other was a 77 yard drive that stalled at the Delaware 3 and resulted in a FG. We ran at least 5 plays from inside their 6 yard line and could not punch it in. Gill dropped a touchdown pass. DeMarco mishandled a snap and had to fall on it.

I have never seen DeMarco go through his progression and not find anyone open as many times in one game as yesterday. The UD pass coverage was the difference in this game.

Our defense played like we have seen for a long time. We don't give up the home run, but there are a lot of singles to be had. Delaware took advantage of the run-stop orientation and typical passive zone pass defense. Our punt coverage and kick-off coverage was terrible again giving Delaware a shorter field to work with.

[CAA Flagship]

FWIW, I'm not sure why any ODU fan would call the fake punt a bad play. UD was moving the ball down the field every time they had it. It was the 4th quarter and if UD gets points on that drive it would be a two possession game and ODU would be out of it. ODU was doing nothing and needed a boost. It was do or die time, and they made it work.

Well I'm on the fence on this one, but here's the argument against the fake. First, ODU was down only 6 points with 11 minutes to go. The following is the second half drives for Delaware:
3 plays for 5 yards. Punt
5 plays for 20 yards. Missed FG
4 plays for 37 yards. Punt
7 plays for 18 yards. FG Good.
So the Old Dominion defense was playing well enough to think we could get the ball back before another score. If we didn't convert on the fake, Delaware would have had the ball inside our 29 yard line. Already in FG range.

[∞∞∞]

I think it's great that Rich Radford covers ODU like he does, but my god does the dude complain and come up with excuses: http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/look-on ... stat-sheet. I don't get why he just can't accept the fact that we were outplayed and lost due to UD being superior.

And he voted us 9th in the latest TSN poll (after the UD loss).

[State Line Liquors]

I saw that Radford commentary earlier, but figured I wouldn't bother stirring the pot by discussing it.

Hopefully excuse making is not something that will become a theme with him, if ODU loses a few more games this year.

[∞∞∞]

Hopefully excuse making is not something that will become a theme with him, if ODU loses a few more games this year.

I've met Rich and he used to post on MN.com (kinda a troll too). He does genuinely love ODU football, but stop hoping...excuses have always been a theme with him. Honestly though, what else do you expect from a VCU grad?

[93henfan]

Still, we played them close in one of the toughest venues in the country (didn't really seem tough though) in our first CAA game ever.

No, it wasn't tough yesterday, and it pisses me off.

The season ticket base has already shrunk by over 30% in three years, and the crowd yesterday was further depleted by the bad forecast on Friday. Everyone thought it was going to rain, but it was only overcast. God forbid you have to pick up a poncho.

Then, you try to get the geriatric fuckers in the west stands fired up and they shoot you looks like "sit down young whippersnapper with your passion and excitement". Hell, like I mentioned during the game in one post, it was so quiet that #26 (CB) on your squad looked up at me and shook his head after I berated his mother and how she did his hair. There wasn't enough noise to drown out our conversation during the game.

[93henfan]

ODU #26 Eriq Lewis

This dude is only 19? WTF!



Only a freshmen. I'll be chatting with this guy again in two years.

[Steamin' Cleveland]

ODU #26 Eriq Lewis

This dude is only 19? WTF!



Only a freshmen. I'll be chatting with this guy again in two years.

Could that look any more like a mugshot?

[CAA Flagship]

I read on GoHens that some UD fans were disappointed in the ODU crowd (numbers) at the game. Speaking for myself, the 12:00 start killed it for me. That and the fact that the Embassy Suites had a 3 night minimum stay. The Noon start requires a 2 night stay when travelling from 4-5 hours away and not wanting to drive home directly after the game. I know a few others that decided against a last minute decision to go because of the weather. We'll travel better in 2 years.

[bluehenbillk]

I read on GoHens that some UD fans were disappointed in the ODU crowd (numbers) at the game. Speaking for myself, the 12:00 start killed it for me. That and the fact that the Embassy Suites had a 3 night minimum stay. The Noon start requires a 2 night stay when travelling from 4-5 hours away and not wanting to drive home directly after the game. I know a few others that decided against a last minute decision to go because of the weather. We'll travel better in 2 years.

You do realize how many hotels are withn a 15-20 minute drive of the Tub?

[CAA Flagship]

I read on GoHens that some UD fans were disappointed in the ODU crowd (numbers) at the game. Speaking for myself, the 12:00 start killed it for me. That and the fact that the Embassy Suites had a 3 night minimum stay. The Noon start requires a 2 night stay when travelling from 4-5 hours away and not wanting to drive home directly after the game. I know a few others that decided against a last minute decision to go because of the weather. We'll travel better in 2 years.

You do realize how many hotels are withn a 15-20 minute drive of the Tub?

Yeah, but that may be the nicest one. With it being right accross the street from the stadium and with a TGIFridays attached to it, it was a clear No. 1 choice.
If I'm going to spend one night, it will usually be a nicer hotel. 2 or more nights and I will downgrade a bit.

[∞∞∞]

I saw that comment on GoHens where one UD fan partially blamed us for not helping fill up the Tub; I thought it was funny. It's your stadium, not ours...not one ounce of responsibility is on us. A lot of fans of other schools haven't travelled in good numbers to Foreman Field (Cal Poly, Georgetown, Savannah State), and yet we filled the stadium up. You should never blame the opposing fanbase for attendance numbers at a home game.

[bluehenbillk]

GoHens is a volatile place. With all the changes that have gone on regarding UD's ticket & parking policy it's really created class warfare in a lot of cases. The largest threads on there are regarding attendance & the athletic department. Some people don't goto the games anymore but will spend hours posting about it.

[93henfan]

And you're right, Trip. I mentioned on here that the attendance by both schools sucked, but that is not saying anything derogatory about ODU.

Back in the old days, like only three years ago, we wouldn't be having this discussion. We'd be celebrating the fact that we sold out the place so early in the week that out of towners were SOL for getting a ticket, short of paying a scalper.

Hey, there's no denying the fact that UD is a program in decline (and by decline, I mean not really doing anything to improve while being passed by peers) off the field. Luckily, the product on the field is still pretty damned good.