FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

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?

jacketlawyer - Hope all's well in the world of jurisprudence in addition to your personal health and welfare. 

[hasanova]

Greensboro at Guilford tomorrow night at 7 pm in the 16th Annual Soup Bowl between these intracity rivals.  Admission is free if you bring three or more cans of nonperishable food as a contribution to the local food bank.  Give to the college of your choice as there's also a friendly competition on this front between the two schools.

Hope everyone plays their best with good sportsmanship and no injuries.  Oh yeah, Go Quakers! 

[jknezek]

No dog in this fight, but I just root for the fact that it is a great idea. Go Soup Bowl!

[jknezek]

Just read on W&L's notes for this weekend's game that the O-line this year averages 6'2 260lbs. That's as big as I can ever remember for a W&L team. Considering I remember the playoff game against Wilkes 6 or so years ago and watching the puny O-line get trampled by their d-line (their linebackers averaged bigger than the General's o-line), I'll be interested to see how this plays out with W&L's triple option. That and seeing if the Generals can keep the momentum in the post Westfal years. W&L is a notorious loser in games in PA, so here's hoping they can start building a new tradition this weekend against F&M.

[hasanova]

No dog in this fight, but I just root for the fact that it is a great idea. Go Soup Bowl!

Thanks.  It has been a great idea and has been building over the years - I think some years are close to 10,000 cans.  I know the Guilford football players chipped in over 1100 last year alone.  Nice! 

[HSCTiger74]

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.

Frankly, I don't see that happening at all. I doubt that any of our schools want to be put in the position of having their travel plans dictated by the opponents just because the home team prefers to play at a certain time.

[jknezek]

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.

Frankly, I don't see that happening at all. I doubt that any of our schools want to be put in the position of having their travel plans dictated by the opponents just because the home team prefers to play at a certain time.

I agree. W&L is more or less the geographic middle of the conference, so I could see them playing most anyone at night. But for some of these schools, that's a long and unnecessary late night trip home depending on the opponent. With Shenandoah at the northern edge of the ODAC, with Catholic, it will probably limit who is willing to make that late night trip. But you never know. If it makes that much difference in attendance it might be worth doing. And W&L didn't install the stadium light for no reason, so there must be some inclination toward more night games in the ODAC.

[HSCTiger74]

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.

Frankly, I don't see that happening at all. I doubt that any of our schools want to be put in the position of having their travel plans dictated by the opponents just because the home team prefers to play at a certain time.

I agree. W&L is more or less the geographic middle of the conference, so I could see them playing most anyone at night. But for some of these schools, that's a long and unnecessary late night trip home depending on the opponent. With Shenandoah at the northern edge of the ODAC, with Catholic, it will probably limit who is willing to make that late night trip. But you never know. If it makes that much difference in attendance it might be worth doing. And W&L didn't install the stadium light for no reason, so there must be some inclination toward more night games in the ODAC.

jk, I agree with everything you said, and I definitely don't have any issue with night games. My concern with Uncle Jessie's post was that he seemed to be suggesting that he hoped the rule would change so as to enable the home team, unilaterally, to set the start time. That was the inference I made, at least, and that is what I don't believe will happen. But as long as both teams are in agreement, no problem.

[jknezek]

jk, I agree with everything you said, and I definitely don't have any issue with night games. My concern with Uncle Jessie's post was that he seemed to be suggesting that he hoped the rule would change so as to enable the home team, unilaterally, to set the start time. That was the inference I made, at least, and that is what I don't believe will happen. But as long as both teams are in agreement, no problem.

He might hope the rule is changed that way, but even he said its pretty unlikely. This is just a consequence of moving from one conference to another. There's always a little rule quirk that isn't going to be to your preference. Part of the price you pay for not being around when the rules were written in the first place.

[D-BAT]

SU did not fair to well in their scrimmage with Gettysburg the other week, dropping it 76 to 7.

[jknezek]

R-MC is doing the ODAC rep no favors right now. Down 27-0 at the half versus JHU. JHU is expected to be good, but this is ugly for a team expected to finish top 2 in the ODAC.

[jknezek]

thankfully a much better second half for R-MC. At least there was some damage control. Meanwhile, W&L struggling with F&M. W&L hasn't won a road opener in something like 40 years. 11 minutes to go in the 4th tied 21-21 with F&M knocking on the door.

[jknezek]

W&L loses 35-28. Proving once again it is hard to win with no pass defense. The Generals also a) can't win in PA (recently 1-5) and b) can't win a road opener (not since 1969).

[Olinemom]

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 ...

I think it's odd that BC is playing GC on Thursday night, speaking of the distance (4+ hours).  I like going to GC but I can't possibly go in the  middle of the week like that.  All the kids have class the next day.  As I am now retired I don't, but I see no reason for Thursday evening games, period. College games are for Saturday afternoon or evenings.  On an earlier question re scheduling in the ODAC, we've played Shenandoah U. a bunch of times on Saturday evenings.  It was a great atmosphere!!  But Thursday evenings, BAD PLANNING.  STUPID EVEN.  But you guys know how reactionary I can be. 

[ECU]

All I have to say at this point is that I really feel bad for the kids playing football at Guilford College, especially the upperclassmen.