FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

hurley · April 22, 2008, 01:15:42 PM

56-44-11 HSC holds the edge.

Jacketlawyer · April 22, 2008, 02:43:21 PM

Kickerdad & hurley--thanks for the interest and the input. We covered all this fairly recently with H-S and R-M just last fall. I think you'd only have to go back a few pages or so to read what we wrote about it.

This rivalry gets a lot of discussion on this board, especially during the 2007 season with R-M's ascendency in the ODAC after years of being in the cellar.

K-Mack also wrote a great column about the Rivalry as well. Check it out!!

hasanova · April 22, 2008, 05:30:14 PM

Guilford's been playing football since the early 1890's, but has only been an ODAC member since 1991. The Quakers played a lot of the ODAC teams before then, but not on an annual basis. Geography and time in the league has limited GC's ability to build a strong ODAC rivalry, but the E&H game is currently the last game of the season, is usually hard-fought and often decides whether a season is make or break.

Guilford and Greensboro (started football in 1997) have now played 11 times, with the Quakers holding a 6-5 lead after 3 straight wins (all nail-biters). Geography (5 miles apart), the Soup Bowl trophy and the competitive scores have all created a winning combination. Over the last 5 years, it's certainly gained momentum and is a game both teams really, really want to win! With 3700+ in attendance a few times, it's become a "big-game" atmosphere. We'll see how it goes this year with Guilford hosting the Pride under the lights on opening day. I've been to all eleven and it's probably now "the" rivalry game for both schools.

Pat Coleman · April 22, 2008, 06:44:24 PM

Quote from: Jacketlawyer on April 22, 2008, 02:43:21 PM
Kickerdad & hurley--thanks for the interest and the input. We covered all this fairly recently with H-S and R-M just last fall. I think you'd only have to go back a few pages or so to read what we wrote about it. This rivalry gets a lot of discussion on this board, especially during the 2007 season with R-M's ascendency in the ODAC after years of being in the cellar.

K-Mack also wrote a great column about the Rivalry as well. Check it out!!

http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2007-11-08/When+a+title+rides+on+a+rivalry

hasanova · April 25, 2008, 10:00:46 AM

According to today's edition of the Greensboro News & Record, the following young men have committed to play for Guilford:

"Seven players committed to Guilford for the upcoming season - QB/CB Chris Bray of (Eden) Morehead, QB Sean Wilber of W. Davidson, DB Dustin Bennett of Raleigh Millbrook, TE/Lineman Aaron French of E. Rowan, Lineman/LB Josh Goldstein of N. Henderson, FS/WR Chip Smith Jr. of Havelock and K Zach Spencer of N. Iredell."

Pat Coleman · April 25, 2008, 12:57:52 PM

Also read that yesterday in our press releases section.

In unrelated news, a Richmond Times-Dispatch story on Bridgewater players hoping for an NFL call.

hasanova · April 25, 2008, 03:30:34 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on April 25, 2008, 12:57:52 PMAlso read that yesterday in our press releases section.

Thanks, Pat. I should've known I was a day late & a dollar's worth of extra information short. lol

Matt Barnhart (kid) · April 27, 2008, 10:26:17 PM

Congrats to Bridgewater's Brandon Copeland for signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns!!!

Other than Copeland and BC's Jermaine Taylor (Packers in '04 and Buccaneers in '05), what other ODAC players have signed NFL contracts in the last 10 or so years? Any?

As a side note, I hope Copeland's NFL contract (although he still has to make the team) finally proves my statement the last couple years when I said he was the best receiver in the conference. I remember getting pounded by fans from Guilford (b/c of Barnette), W&L (b/c of Martin) and H-SC (b/c of Smith) when I suggested that. I guess I never had BC-colored glasses on.

Pat Coleman · April 27, 2008, 10:34:53 PM

Well, certainly possible he could be the best professional receiver in the conference without being the best receiver in the conference. I think you understand how that can happen. The NFL isn't looking for the same things that Mike Clark, Marty Favret, Pedro Arruza, et al, are.

Matt Barnhart (kid) · April 27, 2008, 10:40:08 PM

Quote from: Pat Coleman on April 27, 2008, 10:34:53 PM
Well, certainly possible he could be the best professional receiver in the conference without being the best receiver in the conference. I think you understand how that can happen. The NFL isn't looking for the same things that Mike Clark, Marty Favret, Pedro Arruza, et al, are.

Copeland, by far, wasn't the most (statistically) productive in the conference over the last couple of years. Clearly, that's why Martin, Smith, Barnette, among others, received all the attention and awards (as they should have). But from my (extremely untrained) football ability eyes, Copeland had the most talent. I think Clark, Favret, Arruza, or any NFL general manager and coach, looks for the most talented guys, although they may measure talent in different ways (hands, quickness, size, etc.).

Pat Coleman · April 27, 2008, 10:51:51 PM

Quote from: Matt Barnhart (kid) on April 27, 2008, 10:40:08 PM
although they may measure talent in different ways (hands, quickness, size, etc.).

Yep, that's what I was alluding to.

hurley · April 28, 2008, 02:18:36 PM

Chasing the NFL Pie in the sky is not for everyone. The chance to make it as a undrafted player are slim. There have been plenty of talented ODAC players who have chosen to pursue other things. If you don't hire an agent and you have a scholarship to med school you will not be asked to many nfl camps.

Jacketlawyer · April 28, 2008, 02:33:48 PM

You can still make a couple hundred Gs as a practice player. Per season. Not bad.

Matt Barnhart (kid) · April 28, 2008, 03:48:12 PM

Quote from: hurley on April 28, 2008, 02:18:36 PM
Chasing the NFL Pie in the sky is not for everyone. The chance to make it as a undrafted player are slim. There have been plenty of talented ODAC players who have chosen to pursue other things. If you don't hire an agent and you have a scholarship to med school you will not be asked to many nfl camps.

Kudos to Drew for being passionate enough about the medical profession to turn down an opportunity to catch balls for a living.

hasanova · April 28, 2008, 09:50:09 PM

Quote from: Matt Barnhart (kid) on April 27, 2008, 10:26:17 PM
Congrats to Bridgewater's Brandon Copeland for signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns!!!

Other than Copeland and BC's Jermaine Taylor (Packers in '04 and Buccaneers in '05), what other ODAC players have signed NFL contracts in the last 10 or so years? Any?

As a side note, I hope Copeland's NFL contract (although he still has to make the team) finally proves my statement the last couple years when I said he was the best receiver in the conference. I remember getting pounded by fans from Guilford (b/c of Barnette), W&L (b/c of Martin) and H-SC (b/c of Smith) when I suggested that. I guess I never had BC-colored glasses on.

My congratulations to Brandon as well. Good luck!

To answer your question, I know Guilford's Junior Lord (1994-97) played two years on the Washington Redskins practice squad. He also signed with Green Bay, but was sent to NFL Europe. Junior also played in the XFL as well as Arena ball, but never, as far as I know, in an NFL game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Lord