FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

78rmc · August 29, 2012, 04:58:19 PM

Quote from: Uncle Jessie on August 29, 2012, 04:20:34 PM
This is Shenandoah's first year in the ODAC as we all know and I was told over the summer that SU will not be allowed to have any night conference home games anymore due to the ODAC not allowing them. Anyone know why the ODAC has such big rules about playing under the lights? This is really going to hurt SU with attendance because now they have to go up against a very popular high school (John Handley) here in Winchester on Saturdays.

Don't think that's true, RMC plays conference foe Catholic at night this year.

jknezek · August 29, 2012, 05:03:15 PM

W&L plays at Guilford under the lights 9/29, so I don't think it's a conference wide policy. They also played Catholic at home under the lights last year.

And Shenandoah is scheduled to play at Catholic under the lights, 10/12. Might be both teams have to agree or might be that you are allowed one conference night game per year? Not real sure, but clearly there is not a blanket ban on ODAC games at night.

78rmc · August 29, 2012, 05:06:09 PM

Quote from: jknezek on August 29, 2012, 05:03:15 PM
W&L plays at Guilford under the lights 9/29, so I don't think it's a conference wide policy. They also played Catholic at home under the lights last year.

Looks like SU plays Catholic on a Friday night and Bridgewater plays GC on a Thursday night, too.

Pat Coleman · August 29, 2012, 05:13:14 PM

I think it might be in the ODAC where both schools have to agree to play at night. I would think that in the future, Shenandoah could probably most easily get Catholic or Randolph-Macon to agree to a night game since they would be in position to agree to home-and-home at night.

jknezek · August 29, 2012, 05:14:54 PM

W&L now has lights too, so that's a possibility as well.

HSCTiger74 · August 29, 2012, 05:46:07 PM

Just a reminder that the 2012 ODAC pick 'em is up and running, and anyone with an interest is welcome to jump in and make your best guesses. Keep in mind, with a Friday night game this week picks should be in by 6:00 Friday evening.

Uncle Jessie · August 29, 2012, 06:05:12 PM

I hope to see more night conference games in the future. Its really going to put a dent in how many games I'm going to see this season. The person that told me was a pretty high up official with SU athletics both as a coach and in the front office but I feel weird posting his name on here. He told me this back in June or early July. Maybe things can get worked out because like me he was concerned with going up against the high school John Handley when it came to attendance. I did email the ODAC commissioner about this asking his reason on the subject. If I get a response I will pass it along. Maybe teams like R. Macon and Guilford, like it was stated earlier will agree to play night games.......... I can only hope

D-BAT · August 30, 2012, 05:37:21 AM

Quote from: Uncle Jessie on August 29, 2012, 06:05:12 PM
I hope to see more night conference games in the future. Its really going to put a dent in how many games I'm going to see this season. The person that told me was a pretty high up official with SU athletics both as a coach and in the front office but I feel weird posting his name on here. He told me this back in June or early July. Maybe things can get worked out because like me he was concerned with going up against the high school John Handley when it came to attendance. I did email the ODAC commissioner about this asking his reason on the subject. If I get a response I will pass it along. Maybe teams like R. Macon and Guilford, like it was stated earlier will agree to play night games.......... I can only hope

Until SU proves it will be a constant winning program, they will never get the fans in the stands. Handley has too much tradition for SU to attempt to lure their fans into the stands.

hasanova · August 30, 2012, 08:07:30 AM

Guilford has 4 out of 5 home games at night this season: Greensboro and Methodist nonconference plus W&L and BC (Thursday) in the ODAC. I would think both schools would have to agree on the scheduled time, but there doesn't appear to be any ODAC rule preventing night games.

hasanova · August 30, 2012, 12:45:40 PM

Quote from: Uncle Jessie on August 29, 2012, 06:05:12 PM
I hope to see more night conference games in the future. Its really going to put a dent in how many games I'm going to see this season. The person that told me was a pretty high up official with SU athletics both as a coach and in the front office but I feel weird posting his name on here. He told me this back in June or early July. Maybe things can get worked out because like me he was concerned with going up against the high school John Handley when it came to attendance. I did email the ODAC commissioner about this asking his reason on the subject. If I get a response I will pass it along. Maybe teams like R. Macon and Guilford, like it was stated earlier will agree to play night games.......... I can only hope

I think Guilford's potential concern about playing Shenandoah at night in Winchester would be the trip home. It's 280 miles which is about 5 hours. If the game's over at 10 and the bus leaves at 11, then it's 4 am Sunday when they get home. With athletic budgets being thin, I also don't think they want to pay for hotels and meals on the road. Just a thought ...

78rmc · August 30, 2012, 03:58:00 PM

Even more interesting to me is the Thursday night game with B'water at GC. Can't possibly think of why this is necessary or wanted? How many of those guys will be in class on Friday?

Maybe, it's the ESPN or ABC Sports Game of the Week.

hasanova · August 30, 2012, 04:44:58 PM

Quote from: 78rmc on August 30, 2012, 03:58:00 PM
Even more interesting to me is the Thursday night game with B'water at GC. Can't possibly think of why this is necessary or wanted? How many of those guys will be in class on Friday?

Maybe, it's the ESPN or ABC Sports Game of the Week.

Actually, there's a good reason. The Guilford/BC game is almost always on one end or the other of Guilford's fall break, so the attendance is usually low because there are no students on campus. Perhaps it's just an experiment to see how it goes, but there should be some excitement for a Thursday night game when it's the only show in town and the students only have one more day of class before they head out Friday afternoon. Hope it pans out and thanks to BC for agreeing to make the drive to Greensboro on a Thursday!

Uncle Jessie · August 30, 2012, 05:18:54 PM

Yesterday I asked the question of why the ODAC has a strict policy about night games. Turns out Pat was right on his theory. I received a email from Commissioner Bankston and he said the ODAC has a rule where all games must start at 1:00 on Saturdays unless both schools agree to change the time of the game. He said for the rule to change where the home team can choose to play at what time the AD's have to vote on it. I don't see that happening any time soon however until more schools get lights. Like I wrote yesterday I just hope something can change because its become a tradition for SU fans to have the games under the lights and not have to compete against Handley High. This rule is really going to hurt attendance numbers for the Hornets.

Jacketlawyer · August 31, 2012, 10:43:07 AM

Quote from: HSCTiger74 on August 29, 2012, 05:46:07 PM
Just a reminder that the 2012 ODAC pick 'em is up and running, and anyone with an interest is welcome to jump in and make your best guesses. Keep in mind, with a Friday night game this week picks should be in by 6:00 Friday evening.

Where are you posting the pick 'ems?

HSCTiger74 · August 31, 2012, 11:03:01 AM

Quote from: Jacketlawyer on August 31, 2012, 10:43:07 AM
Quote from: HSCTiger74 on August 29, 2012, 05:46:07 PM
Just a reminder that the 2012 ODAC pick 'em is up and running, and anyone with an interest is welcome to jump in and make your best guesses. Keep in mind, with a Friday night game this week picks should be in by 6:00 Friday evening.

Where are you posting the pick 'ems?

They're on the General Football board, subcategory "pick 'ems". Then look for the 2012 ODAC thread.