ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL: Spring Practice Starts Friday

March 25, 2010

NORFOLK, Va. -- It's time to be "Humble & Hungry". The Football Monarchs, coming off a 9-2 record and recording the best record of any FCS start-up program, are ready to hit the turf for its 2010 spring practice.

The Monarchs are slated to begin the first of 14 practices on Friday, March 27 culminating with the annual spring game on Saturday, April 24th.

Last season, the ODU 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.

Old Dominion will be getting ready for even tougher schedule this fall, which features national semifinalist William & Mary and perennial top 25 member Cal-Poly.Other games include home contests with Jacksonville, Gardner-Webb, Georgia State as well as return dates with Savannah State and VMI. Also in addition to playing Hampton Roads neighbor Hampton, ODU will have three other road games next season traveling to Campbell, Monmouth, and Presbyterian.

Note: All practice sessions are subject to change due to inclement weather and are closed unless otherwise noted to the public. Media wishing to attend must contact the Sports Information Office.

MONARCH MOMENTS: - Notables for the spring and the past season:

SCHEDULE MANAGER:
Fri. March 26 - Spring Practice #1 -- Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m.
Sat. March 27 - Spring Practice #2 - Powhattan Sports Complex -4:00 p.m.
Mon. March 29 - Spring Practice #3 - Powhattan Sports Complex -4:00 p.m.
Wed. March 31 - Spring Practice #4 - Powhattan Sports Complex -4:00 p.m.
Fri. April 2 - Spring Practice #5 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m.
Mon. April 5 - Spring Practice #6 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m.
Wed. April 7 - Spring Practice #7 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m.
Sat. April 10 - Spring Practice #8 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 2:00 p.m.
Mon. April 12 - Spring Practice #9 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m.
Wed. April 14 - Spring Practice #10 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m.
Sat. April 17 - Spring Practice #11 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 2:00 p.m.
Mon. April 19 - Spring Practice #12 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m.
Wed. April 21 - Spring Practice #13 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m.
Fri. April 23 - Spring Practice #14 - Powhattan Sports Complex - 4:00 p.m. E
Sat. April 24 - Spring Practice #15 (Spring Game) - Foreman Field - 1:00 p.m.

GOT THE 2009 DETAILS?: Take a look at all the accomplishments for the Monarchs in their first season of football - Click here

HUMBLE & HUNGRY: "Humble & Hungry" is the theme for the 2010 Football Monarchs. "We discussed in our first team meeting of 2010 the importance of our theme and we are proud of what we accomplished in 2009," noted Wilder earlier in the year. "Having a 9-2 record, a six-game winning streak to end the season, and being recognized as the best first year program in FCS history is something we are all proud of. However, we realize that last year's success will not make a difference in the score of our games this year. If anything, we realize our opponents will look at our team differently in 2010." The Monarchs have decided as a team that they will be Humble based on the success of last year and at the same time, they have decided they will be Hungry for more in 2010.

RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS: Among the returnees are a pair of All-American in special teams members Jonathan Pilsco (Newport News, Va.) and Dustin Phillips (Woodland, Calif.). Plisco, a First Team All-American by the Associated Press, Second Team All-American by The Sports Network, and Honorable Mention All-American by the College Sporting News, led the nation in punting, which included 26 of his 57 punts reaching the inside of the opponent 20. Phillips, the Monarchs long snapper, meanwhile helped not only Plisco become the nation's top punter, but also helped kicker Drew Hareza (McDonald, Pa.) score 71 points on extra points and field goals.

SIGNAL CALLING: Also returning is quarterback Thomas DeMarco (Palm Desert, Calif.), the nation's second-leading rushing signal caller inthe FCS. DeMarco ranked ninth in the country in scoring, 21st in the country in total offenese, and 32nd overall in rushing.

COMING UP THE RANKS: Even though much of the talent from last year returns, they can't rest on their laurels and hope to make the two-deep. Joining the roster this spring are seven newcomers - defensive tackles Dominik Davenport (Hampton, Va./Phoebus/West Virginia) and Ronnie Cameron (Westbury, N.Y./Holy Trinity/Hofstra), defensive end Deron Mayo (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan/Hofstra), quarterback Dominique Blackman (Los Angeles, Calif./Carson/Los Angeles Harbor College), tailback Angus Harper (Alexandria, Va./Edison), linebacker Ken McAdow (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run/Northeastern), and kicker Jared Brown (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) - with each of them eager to showcase their talent this spring and make their case to the coaching staff for a starting position.

WINS FOR A START-UP PROGRAM: Here are how some of the more recent collegiate football start-up teams have faired in their first seasons.
School - FCS/FBS - Year Started: - Record First Season:
Old Dominion - FCS - 2009 - 9-2
Robert Morris - FCS - 1994 - 7-1-1
Coastal Carolina - FCS - 2003 - 6-5
FIU - FBS - 2002 - 5-6
South Florida - FBS - 1997 - 5-6
Florida Atlantic - FBS - 2001 - 4-6
Jacksonville - FCS - 1998 - 4-5
Bryant - FCS - 1998 - 2-5
Campbell - FCS - 2008 - 1-10

FIELD GOALS IN A HALF:
Drew Hareza had five field goals in the first two quarters against Chowan in the season opener to tie the FCS record for field goals in a half.(Dean Biasucci, Western Caro. vs. Mars Hill, Sept. 18,1982 (1st); Tony Zendejas, Nevada vs. Northern Ariz., Oct. 16, 1982 (2nd); Ryan Weeks, Tennessee Tech vs. Chattanooga, Sept. 9, 1989 (2nd).)

BLOCKED KICKS IN A GAME:
Edmon McClam set an NCAA Division I record for most blocked PAT's by a single player in a game (FCS or FBS) with three against Chowan in the season opener. The previous FCS record was held by EverettePedescleaux of Northern Iowa with a pair of blocked extra point attempts against the Delaware Blue Hens onDecember 1, 2007. Four FBS athletes have blocked two PAT's in a single game (Corey Nelson, Air Force vs.Colorado St., Nov. 11, 2000; Josh Buhl, Kansas St. vs. Syracuse, Dec, 29, 2001; Kareem Bland, Middle Tenn.vs. North Texas, Nov. 23, 2002; Linval Joseph, East Carolina vs. Kentucky, Jan. 2, 2009) but never three.

COMBINED BLOCKED KICKS IN A GAME:
Edmon McClam's blocking prowess also ties the FCS record for combined block kicks in a game (includesblocked punts, PATs, FGs). The last time an FCS student-athlete blocked three kicks of any type in one gamewas Brandon Tinson of Colgate vs. Towson on Sept. 30, 2000 (all three were punts).

BLOCKED PATs IN A SEASON:
Edmon McClam blocked his fifth PAT of the season in the October 3rd contest at Fordham. The block becamea new FCS record for blocked PATs in a season replacing the previous mark of four set by both Tim Hauck ofMontana in 1988 and Ed Groszewski of Cornell in 1991.

OPENING WITH A BANG:
And no, we're not talking about the howitzer you heard being shot off before the Monarchs run onto ForemanField. Old Dominion has scored on the first drive in seven of its 11 games of the 2009 season.

WIN STREAK:
The Monarchs will enter the 2010 season riding a six-game winning streak.

12th MONARCH:
There may be 11 Monarchs on the field, but the 12th Monarch is in the stand. Thanks to all the noise of being"Loud and Proud" from the 12th Monarchs at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium, the opposition wascharged with 41 penalties this season.
12th Monarch Stats:
Chowan: Seven Penalties
Virginia Union: Eight Penalties
Monmouth: Three Penalties
Presbyterian: Four Penalties
Campbell: Eight Penalties
Georgetown: Five Penalties
N.C. Central: Six Penalties

SO MANY MONARCHS, SO MANY OPTIONS:
In 2009, 16 different Monarchs put points onto the scoreboard. "It's not necessarily one or two guys who areforcing the defense to defend multiple personnel and different personnel groupings," said head coach BobbyWilder. "It's making us a team that's able to do different things. We're not an easy team to defend on offenseright now."

SERVING ON AND OFF THE FIELD:
For the second straight year, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Chad King (Springfield, Va.) was selectedto attend the All American Bowl as an escort for this year's high school athletes. King, who is a cadet inODU's Army ROTC program, is a member of a unit that encompasses six difference states and over 40 ROTCprograms that are in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia. Twocadets from the unit were selected as escorts with King ranked as number one cadet of those nominations submitteddue to his athletic and academic successes. While at the All American Bowl, King will serve as a mentorto the high school athletes helping to escort the players throughout the weekend to each event and giveadvice to those about to enter the college ranks about the experiences of a collegiate student-athlete.

2010 SLATE FINALIZED:

NOTE: Dates and times subject to change