Quote from: AUPOP on October 08, 2010, 11:39:06 AM
Need a little help from some CNU faithful. Seems there is a rumor circulating at AU that tickets may not be available at the gate Saturday? Its sold out? Any truth to this, got about 20 people coming over from the Beach tommorrow to watch the game and dont want them making the drive if they cant get in. Sounds like a CNU plot to me....lol  Joking aside, is this even possible.

Thanks

AU Pop - Below is the press release on CNU Athletics website this afternoon.  This is Family Weekend at CNU which usually results in the largest football crowd of the season with events prior to the game for parents, etc.  Tickets are sold to all weekend events (including the game) in advance meaning fewer are available on Saturday for walk-up sales.   

Saturday's Football Game Sold Out; Standing Room Only Tickets Still Available
10/8/2010 12:03:27 PM
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Christopher Newport University athletic ticket office has announced that all seats have been sold for Saturday's home football game against Averett. Standing Room Only tickets will be sold at the athletic ticket office until 4:00 p.m. on Friday and at the gate beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Couple of footnotes for AU Pop and others on the discussion about funding, community support and and supportive president at CNU:

1) Yes - in Virginia no state funds can be used for athletics and so alumni support, community sponsorship, etc. is critical.  However considerable funding also comes from student fees beyond the cost of tuition.  Several years ago, adding football at ODU was contingent on significant increases in student fees.  Most other state assisted schools help fund athletics in this way also.  Currently at CNU, student fees are being used to expand the Freeman Center complex. 

2) As '85 indicated, Senator Trible's ability to raise funding through private sources and corporations has been instrumental in moving CNU forward.  In addition, his connections  within the legislative process and abilty to compete among other VA public institutions for govt. funding and state bond financing have also been critical to CNU's growth. 

3) Credit for cultivating community support goes to CNU Atheltics who actively seek sponsorships.  In the past years they have brought in State Farm, Pepsi, Chick-fli-a, POMOCO, Papa Johns and Buffalo Wild Wings as corproate sponsors who sponsor halftime contests for students, have corporate outings and bring their employees to the games, bring their mascots and provide fan give-a-ways.  In the weeks prior to this season, when you ordered pizza from Papa Johns in this area you got a CNU football schedule magnet delivered with your pie.  Buffalo Wild Wings provides a DJ for tailgating.  CNU has done a great job with reaching out like this which generates increased revenue, promotes the program, adds to the game day atmosphere and works to increase attendance.   

Just some other factors which can move the University and the athletic program forward. 

I believe CNU took 64 players to Greensboro on the travel squad.  63 got into the game and played.  After the game, coach reportedly apologized to the FOURTH string QB for not getting him in.  Sounds like there were a lot of players beyond the 2 deep who were in during the last two minutes.   

I have heard of the "6th Man" helping to win a game but never a "6th Man" losing it.  Nice come back by the Capts after terrible shooting % in the first half.  Gotta get some of those shots to drop!

Congrats to Averett on their victory - the Cougars have come a LONG way in the last few years and now have a solid program.  Almost pulled an upset two years ago in Danville and got the job done today. 

And best of luck to Ferrum (after next week that is ).  Sounds like the Panthers have quite the offense.  For you Panther fans - did anyone see this season coming?  Overall - what's the reason for the big improvement this year?

So much for preseason predictions - Shenandoah seems to have imploded and the Captains have come back to the field.  Hopefully Ferrum can improve the USAC's record in the NCAA's. 

Pat Cummings - enjoy your regional update each week.  Thanks for putting this together.  Question about your comment regarding the 3rd tiebreaker in USAC.  Does this tiebreaker take non-conference games into consideration?  You mentioned that the only common opponents were in conference but:

CNU & Methodist both played Salisbury (both lost)
CNU & Ferrum both played Chowan (both won)  - (does a non d3 count?)
Methodist & Ferrum both played E&H (both won)
Methodist & Ferrum both played Guilford (both won)

Since there is no advantage for any of the three teams in these results - this is moot in terms of determining a tiebreaker this season.  But just wondering how this might play out if just one non-conference result above was different? 

Thanks for the stats Llama - good stuff!

Don't understand that Born Power rating - what's the critical factor there?  How does Greensboro get a minus rating?  Also, don't see Methodist that far behind Ferrum and CNU after the Monarchs close loss on the road to FC and win over CNU.  Strength of schedule perhaps?  Is that why CNU (3 losses) is so close in this rating to FC with 0 losses?

TCHeadhunter is correct - no way CNU moves out of d3 anytime soon.  In addition to his points - If I am not mistaken, NCAA won't allow a school to take one sport "up" - the entire athletic program has to go.  That's a major financial commitment.  Also, I believe that Title VII won't allow athletic scholarships to be offered to a football program without having a balance of scholarships offered to female sports as well.  As far as d2 is concered, there are only 2 d2 schools left in VA and both are historically minority schools in an established conference - no natural tie in for CNU there.  Only realistic option is a big jump to d1aa - but that would be decades away if ever IMHO.  CNU has no current plans to increase their student population large enough to support that jump, there is not a sufficient alumni base to support that move and not enough $ going to be devoted to the athletic program to make that a realistic possibility.  After all, ODU is looking at something like $30mil just to add football and the associated female sports needed to meet Title VII requirements.     

Since Llama is lurking on this board........

OK USASAC & ODAC Fans - toss up topic for debate:

Which is the strongest conference top to bottom this year?

After 8 weeks.................

USASAC - Three fairly strong teams battling it out for the conference crown in Ferrum, Methodist & CNU with two solid and improving teams in NCW & Averett.  Three teams at 1-7 overall (2 were expected to stuggle while Shenendoah has underachieved compared to preseason expectations).  

ODAC - Repeat champ B-water riding high after early loss with HS having a couple of losses and W&L having a solid year.  Four other teams appear to be struggling.  

Head to Head - USASAC leads 5-3  - however several of these wins were by top USASAC teams (Ferrum / Methodist) over E&H and Guilford.  2 of the USASAC losses were by Shenandoah to B'water & Catholic.  

Remember - we are talking strongest conference - top to bottom.  Let the debate begin!

Narch
I stand corrected.  I ment offensive rookie - congrats also to Mike Hill on his career high.

Weather should not be a major factor at Pomoco on Saturday - storm will be long gone.  Forcast is for low 80s and chance of showers.  Unless we get a lot more rain than the inch or two currently predicted, the new turf should be in good shape. 

Then again, perhaps they will water the field to slow the Gulls rushing attack...............   

Congrats to Mike Thomas on conference offensive player of the week.  Gotta love young players like him, O'Brian (TD catch vs. Rowan), Remarcus Baylor and Kyle Morgan stepping up. 

As Goose, Swish and CNU Fan have noted, O-line performance will likely determine how successful the Captains are on Saturday.   

CNU added some extra seating in one endzone - over 5,000 attendance last week.  Should be another good crowd for Salisbury. 

Any injury updates on Arroyo, Thorton and Philip Jones?

Observations from the Captains game last Saturday...........

D gave up over 600 yards but there were few really big plays - the curl routes and four wide receiver sets hurt CNU all day long.  Rowan kept CNU in the game with missed FG and turnovers. 

Doubt it would have made a big difference in the outcome but LB Gary Freeman was missed big time (he got called up to Reserve duty for hurricane relief on Friday).  Rowan completed a number of passes just in front of the LBs.  Also CNU missed four other players due to suspensions for team rules violations.

O-line will need to gel - defense was on the field way too long because the running game could not get going.  Too few holes to run through.  Offense could not sustain drives (CNU scored 14 points on a short drive with 45 yard TD reception and a kickoff return) and that put too much pressure on the defense. 

Size matters - for Rowan height among receivers and weight on the line will make them hard to defeat.  They do seem to rely on the QB's arm a bit much - but that was what was working for them.  Expect to see them playing in December.

CNU gamble to go on fourth down early in 4thQ hurt big time.  Put the defense out there yet again with limited rest. 

Great burst of speed by Mike O'Brian on the TD catch - he could be a nice complement to Nathan Davis who had a nice day (8 grabs for 100+ yds). 

Captains will be fine - they have tremendous depth (and speed) among the specialist and new personnel on the line should come together. 

This was a good learning experience for the Captains who will bounce back quickly as in previous years.  Also a good measuring stick to see where they stack up nationally.  This test will pay off come playoff time.