Minium: Fans Can Interact With Players, Coaches Following Priority Charity Bowl ODU Spring Football Game
By Harry Minium
NORFOLK, Va. – For 90 minutes or so on Saturday, Old Dominion football fans will have the chance to check out most of the guys who will suit up next season for the Monarchs.
ODU is strongest at quarterback, where redshirt sophomore Colton Joseph returns as a starter and redshirt freshman Quinn Henicle has mounted a strong challenge, and at linebacker, where All-American Jason Henderson is back, better than ever, after missing most of last season as he recovered from surgery.
But for linebacker Mario Thompson, the true fun comes after the Priority Charity Bowl ODU Spring Game because for the first time in years, players and fans will be able to interact on the field following the game.
“We love our fans,” said Thompson, a junior from Richmond who was third on the team in tackling last season. “They support us so well.
“I’m looking forward to spending time with them.”
The spring game begins at 2 p.m. at S.B. Ballard Stadium and admission and parking are both free.
At 3:30, ODU will host a Fan Field Day. Fans can go on the field and interact with players and coaches as well as the ODU men’s basketball and women’s tennis teams.
Players and coaches will sign autographs and do selfies with fans. A limited-edition ODU Football Priority Charity Bowl Spring Game post will be available.
Fans will also be allowed to test their football skills catching, throwing and kicking as well as running the 40-yard dash.
Stephon Dubose-Bourne, a redshirt senior offensive lineman from Chesapeake’s Indian River High School, said playing in front of fans will be quite a change from ODU’s previous 14 spring practice workouts.
“But I’m really looking forward to spending time with fans after the game,” he said. “It should be fun.”
The game will be broadcast live on Priority Auto Sports Radio, 94.1 FM, with Ted Alexander in the booth and James Witham roaming the sidelines.
Offensive Coordinator Kevin Decker said both of his quarterbacks have been explosive this spring.
“Colton and Quinn have both played really well,” Decker said. “Colton’s our starter for now and Quinn is a close second.
“They’ve matured and they’re getting better, and both have made a lot of progress in recent practices.
“It’s nice that they’ve both been dipped into the hot water already. Colton did some great things last season. He led the league in total offense.”
“And then Quinn starts one game and gets us a big win on the road,” he added, speaking of a 40-32 upset victory at Arkansas State in ODU’s regular-season finale, which Joseph missed with an injury.
Decker said ODU’s players have an obligation to be good role models for young fans.
“We tell the guys, 'They’re watching you and they would die to be in your position one day,'” he said. “You know what I mean? Don’t take for granted where you are and think about how that little kid is looking up to you. A handshake and a fist bump can help that kid work that much harder.”
The ODU bookstore will be selling ODU gear in a tent located just outside the southeast gate. Season ticket holders will receive 20 percent off all ODU gear they purchase, including the 2025 ODU Football Tradition Tee.
The Charity Bowl is a separate event within the football game that raises money for children’s charities around Hampton Roads. The event, hosted by Dennis Ellmer, who founded Priority Automotive, has raised millions of dollars in recent years, including more than $830,000 last year.
Football season ticket renewals have begun, and tickets are also on sale for new ticket holders. Purchase season tickets by clicking here.
Minium is ODU’s senior executive writer. Contact him at hminium@odu.edu or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram