March 11, 2010
NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion football coach Bobby Wilder, who led the Monarchs to a 9-2 record as the winningest start-up FCS program in history last fall, received the Tom Fergusson Memorial Award at the 65th Norfolk Sports Club Jamboree held Wednesday night at the Marriott Hotel.
Wilder was named Metropolitan Person of the Year in Sports at a banquet which also featured keynote speaker Nick Saban, coach of the BCS champion Alabama.
In the first year of competition in 2009, the ODU Football Monarchs' offense finished third nationally in scoring offense averaging 35 points per contest, scoring 28 touchdowns in 39 red zone opportunities, and ranked 18th nationally in total offense averaging with just under 400 yards per game. The Monarchs were also second nationally in sacks allowed and ninth among all FCS schools in fewest turnovers on the year. Additionally, punter Jonathan Plisco (Newport News, Va.) was named First Team All-American by the Associated Press, Second Team All-American by The Sports Network, and Honorable Mention All-American by College Sporting News and long snapper Dustin Phillips (Woodland, Calif.) was named an All-American by being named to College Sporting News' Fabulous Fifty Team.
Old Dominion, which ranked fifth nationally in FCS attendance, will be getting ready for even tougher schedule this fall with a slate that features national semifinalist William & Mary and perennial top 25 member Cal-Poly.
The Monarchs begin spring workouts with the first of 14 practices gearing up for a competitive 2010 slate this fall. The spring workouts will culminate with the annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 24th at 1 p.m. at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.