FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[allsky7]

It looks like the ODAC may have another member very soon. As I wrote in the USAC side....
The clock maybe ticking down for the Hornets being in the USAC. President Davis in today's SU school paper wrote in his column that at the next ODAC meeting of school presidents he will make a formal request to join the conference. Many here have thought this would happen. It has been no secret that SU has always wanted to get in the ODAC from day one of the football program. Chances are this will happen. Its just when is the only question.

I foresee contention amongst schools with flying, stinging insects as mascots... maybe there could be a Buzz Challenge or Vespidae Clash sort of like the Commander In Chief's Cup between Yellowjackets, Hornets and Wasps. 

      Naw....A can of spray should deal with the flying pest!!  It should be effective on the creatures with talons and red crest on their heads too. An officer with a sword is no match for the mighty BENGAL BEAST!!
     It's those darn pacifist I'm not sure what to do with. 
     GO TIGERS!!

[Pat Coleman]

More newspaper articles about changes in the ODAC (or at least the schedule of one team).  McDaniel wont play Bridgewater after this year.  I thought it was interesting that they (McDaniel) will play St. Vincent instead.  Also brought up the topic of playing CNU again and how the coach at CNU would like to play BC, but Clark isn't thrilled about that prospect.  Goes back to not wanting to play tougher non conference opponents I guess.
http://www.dnronline.com/sports_details.php?AID=12165&CHID=3

Interesting comments in that article.

Serious question (and I hate to bring up the public v private debate again)...how many public schools have won the Stagg Bowl?

Three, presuming West Georgia is a public school. But overall in Division III, across all sports, state schools win about a quarter of the championships, in line with their D-III representation.

[CNU85]

More newspaper articles about changes in the ODAC (or at least the schedule of one team).  McDaniel wont play Bridgewater after this year.  I thought it was interesting that they (McDaniel) will play St. Vincent instead.  Also brought up the topic of playing CNU again and how the coach at CNU would like to play BC, but Clark isn't thrilled about that prospect.  Goes back to not wanting to play tougher non conference opponents I guess.
http://www.dnronline.com/sports_details.php?AID=12165&CHID=3

Interesting comments in that article.

Serious question (and I hate to bring up the public v private debate again)...how many public schools have won the Stagg Bowl?

Three, presuming West Georgia is a public school. But overall in Division III, across all sports, state schools win about a quarter of the championships, in line with their D-III representation.

Thanks Pat...statistically, it appears the playing field is even...perhaps the reasons for success do not depend on the public v private issue.

[BTEXPRESS]

Maybe on the National Level the statistics might seem like the right mix, however if you take Mount Union out of the equation(private) those stats could be slanted. I think if you polled all the Division III head football coaches at the private schools, most would sound just like Coach Clark in the above article. Maybe it is perception vs realilty, but the Privates feel they are at a disadvantage in recruiting based on tuition costs alone.

[kickerdad]

What are the chances of an exsisting ODAC school adding Football, i.e. Lynchburg? I know there was some talk a while back. How about some of the other schools?

      My gut feeling is that at least one ODAC school will add football in the next 3-5 years. Call me crazy....I wouldn't be surprised if Randolph College is one. My source tells me they have some $ issues that must be addressed. This probably is no deep dark secret. It is probably one of the primary reasons they are going coed in the first place. What better way to attract 100 male students/paying customers to a school known as an all girls school. Yes, starting a program is expensive but a football program will increase the schools exposure dramatically. That same exposure would cost big bucks to buy. The old guard won't like it but if you are going to move forward into the coed world, then move forward full steam ahead. 
     Again, let me reiterate, this is strictly my gut feeling.   

Allsky7,

Interesting you mention $$ problems. I have a family member who is in the consulting business and works with colleges on raising money for different programs. We were having dinner recently and he said that from D1 right down to DIII, people would be surprised at the number of schools (well known and not so well known) that are having financial problems right now and football would be one of the first programs they cut. He said football requires much more money to fund and run the program than most folks would realize. For example gate reciepts and concessions won't come anywhere near covering travel expense for some school. These schools need huge donations and endowments every year to make it. He mentioned a few that are in financial distress and considering cutting football from it's programs and I was shocked (all D1)

So hearing that some of these small private DIII schools are suffering, doesn't surprise me.

[muchacho]

Of course gate receipts and concessions won't cover the cost of a program, especially at the DIII level. However, if a small DIII school cuts football, that would mean a lot of those football recruits wouldn't be attending that school. Would these schools be better off cutting football and losing the tuition from 30-80 kids a year? I wouldn't think so. Enrollment would definitely struggle at a lot of smaller institutions if football wasn't used to attract students. Every school I looked at when selecting colleges had a football program.

So while football might not break even in the athletics budget, it probably helps small schools in terms of enrollment.

[CNU85]

I think size of the school has a bigger impact, as most schools impose a Student Fee for athletics as part of the total cost to attend that school. I can see the smaller schools having a more difficult time becuase A. less student fees and B. less support for the team as far as students attending a game and concessions, etc. C. less alumni that become donors to the athletic department.

I think the real factor in a successful program is administration and community support.

Sometimes people forget that a state public school does not recieve any funds from the state for athletics, at least in Va that is the case.

I keep going back to a personal discussion I had with a hoops player's dad. His kid was recruited by RMC, HSC and CNU. Once all the "financial aid" packages were discussed, the difference in costs between schools was so minimal that it was not the decision point. And this was a guy riding the bench. However, that was hoops and it is easier to absorb 10-12 financial packages than with a 80-100 player football team. So, to a point I can understand the tuition factor, but I don't think it is as much a factor as some make it out to be.

[Pat Coleman]

The initial out of pocket costs might have been the same, but I know I am still paying off my wife's student loans, and we've been out of college for more than a decade.

[kickerdad]

Of course gate receipts and concessions won't cover the cost of a program, especially at the DIII level. However, if a small DIII school cuts football, that would mean a lot of those football recruits wouldn't be attending that school. Would these schools be better off cutting football and losing the tuition from 30-80 kids a year? I wouldn't think so. Enrollment would definitely struggle at a lot of smaller institutions if football wasn't used to attract students. Every school I looked at when selecting colleges had a football program.

So while football might not break even in the athletics budget, it probably helps small schools in terms of enrollment.

I agree, my shock came from the comment made to me that some of the large D1 schools were having issues. It's hard for me to believe that a school (lets take Virginia Tech for example) sells tickets for $44.00 (I know this is the correct price as I have 4 in my pocket for the William & Mary game) and you put 65,000 folks in the stadium ....hell that's over 2.8 million and counting the $3.00 drinks that 1/2 of those will purchase ...that's another $90,000 plus; and they "CLAIM" they can't cover travel expense...Hard to believe....sounds like some mis-management of money somewhere. I am not a "Bean Counter" but that should cover travel and then some. Maybe I am living in the dark ages (my knees feel like I am 100) but "Damn".

Now different story for DIII, when admission is on the average $5.00 @ head and the average attendance for DIII may be 1500. Considering 150 of those are parents that get in free. $1.00 drinks for 500 folks....comes close to $7,000. Five away games to include bus rental, hotel and food makes it hard for any DIII school to think they could pay travel from gate and consessions.

[CNU85]

The initial out of pocket costs might have been the same, but I know I am still paying off my wife's student loans, and we've been out of college for more than a decade.

I hear you....I did the same with my wife....and she went to a public school! I was glad when those payments were over!!

[CNU85]

wow...I just looked at the pick 'ems.

I know USA South football....82% after 2 weeks, but I need some help with picking ODAC games...5-3 last week which was my first week. Time to log on to Kickoff again and do some learnin'.

[tigerfanalso]

Why would the ODAC want SU ? I know nothing about the school; just wondering what they bring to the table. Is the ODAC in need of another f'ball playing member ? Basketball playing member ? or does it just need to expand in general ? I'd appreciate some insight.

[Jacketlawyer]

Why would the ODAC want SU ? I know nothing about the school; just wondering what they bring to the table. Is the ODAC in need of another f'ball playing member ? Basketball playing member ? or does it just need to expand in general ? I'd appreciate some insight.

TFA, the article link posted by Menowannalickee U goes into the assertion that the ODAC may want another football playing school.  Of course, whether the ODAC would want SU (or vice versa) is another matter.  I recall when Ferrum tried to join the ODAC back in the '80s or early '90s, and that didn't work out!

[K-Mack]

PS. Thanks to Kmack for the GC note toward the bottom of "around the nation." Always good to see the team get some recognition.

My thanks also to KMack for some Quaker recognition in ATN!

Well fellas, there's more where that came from this week ... that tends to happen when you score 120 your first two times out, regardless of whether you allow 73.

[BTEXPRESS]

I was wondering the same myself. From a Football point of view it would be great having another conference member to help with the schedule of games. Look at W & L this year, they only have 9 games. However, the ODAC is a LARGE conference already and with Randolph going co -ed I am sure they will add additional men's sports in the future. I would rather see a school like Roanoke or Lynchburg add Footbal than take in another member.