Sept. 29, 2010
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
Game Five
Saturday, October 2nd - 6:00 p.m. (EST)
Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium - Norfolk, Va.
Old Dominion Monarchs (2-2) vs.
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (2-2)
TV: None
Radio: ESPN RADIO - 94.1 FM, WGAI-560 AM
(Ted Alexander - Play-by-Play; Andy Mashaw - Color Analyst; Demetrius Means - Sideline)
Video: Monarch All-Access (Subscription Required>
Livestats: Gametracker
Weekly Press Conference Video: Monarch All-Access (Subscription Required)
Breakfast With Bobby: Episode Five
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SATURDAY, OCT 2nd - What's Going On:
2 p.m. - Parking lots open for football game
2:30 p.m. - Walmart Tailgate and Fanfest opens for activities including alumni tent, student tent,athletic promotions tent, live music, food and beverages for sale
3:40 p.m. - Monarch March - ODU football team walks through Kaufman Mallen route to stadium
4 p.m. - Monarch Maniacs, Suites, and Loge Ticket holders admitted to stadium4:30 p.m. - Stadium gates open
5 p.m. - ODU pre-game radio show begins from Walmart Tailgate and Fanfest
5:15 p.m. - Marching Monarchs, cheerleaders, and dance team perform at Walmart Tailgate and Fanfest then march into the stadium
5:46 p.m. - Marching Monarchs pre-game performance in the stadium
6 p.m. - Kick-off - Old Dominion vs. Gardner-Webb
Post Game - "5th quarter" - Marching Monarchs performance in stadium
ABOUT GARDNER-WEBB:
After opening the 2010 campaign with wins over Brevard (28-14) and a stunning 38-37 overtime win at BCS Akron, the Runnin' Bulldogs have lost two straight. Gardner-Webb dropped a 28-14 decision to Western Carolina and fell 30-14 at Sam Houston State last weekend.
In their last outing, Gardner-Webb went down early, 21-0, to Sam Houston State. The Bulldogs managed to convert 4-of-17 on third down, including an 0-for-10 start in the category.
The Runnin' Bulldogs' win at Akron two weeks ago was the first for a Big South team over an FBS squad, and was the first in Gardner-Webb's history. Liberty would go on to match that feat later that same day, holding off Ball State for a 27-23 win. Both wins are part of six wins in 2010 for FCS teams over teams from the FBS.
Four true Runnin' Bulldog freshman found their way into the starting line-up against Akron and a pair are listing as starters for their contest against ODU. Strong safety Gianni Olivas has totaled 17 sacks and a pass break-up thru four games. Meanwhile, defensive end Preston Pemasa has made 21 stops, including a team-leading four sacks for a loss of 20 yards. Pemasa is ninth among FCS defenders in sacks averaging one quarterback takedown a game.
Gardner-Webb is 4-4 over its last eight road games. They had won two-straight away from Boiling Springs before dropping last weekend's contest at Sam Houston State.
HALL OF FAME/PARENT'S WEEKEND:
Saturday's game with Gardner-Webb will be Parent's Weekend as well as Hall of Fame Weekend. The ODU Hall of Fame Class of '10 includes: Jim Jarrett (former athletic director), Marina DiGiacomo (field hockey), Anne Windover (women's lacrosse), Mery Andrade (women's basketball) and Skip Noble (men's basketball). This year's inductees will be honored on the field 20 minutes prior to kick of Saturday's game.
MORE OF THE CHALLENGING SECOND-YEAR SLATE:
The Monarchs' upgraded second-year schedule continues on Saturday with Gardner-Webb. Old Dominion has already faced nationally-ranked and 2009 NCAA semi-finalist William & Mary and now will face Gardner-Webb, a squad which defeated the BCS' Akron, 38-27 in overtime, two weeks ago.
MORE RECORD BOOK MATERIAL:
While the ODU Football program is only in its second year of existence and 15 games old, another set of records were set in the Monarchs' 35-21 win over Monmouth last weekend.
Wide receiver Prentice Gill (Los Angeles, Calif.) finished the game with 154 yards receiving, the most by a Monarch in a game and only the second time a Monarch receiver has recorded over 100 yards receiving. The junior transfer from LA Harbor College posted two touchdowns and also a two-point converstion on his six catches against the Hawks. He surpassed the previous receiving record of 103 yards held by Nick Mayers (Va. Beach, Va.) in the game last season at Fordham.
Quarterback Thomas DeMarco (Palm Desert, Calif.) connected on 28 of his 47 attempts in the air, including four touchdowns, en-route to his first 400+ yard passing game of his career. The redshirt junior signal caller captured 407 yards in the air, surpassing his previous high of 334 yards registered in the season opener against Jacksonville.
ANOTHER MILESTONE:
Quarterback Thomas DeMarco surpassed the 1,000 career rushing mark in last week's game with Monmouth. With 14 yards on 10 carries against the Hawks, he has totaled 1,010 yards rushing in his 15 games at a Monarch on 202 rushing attempts. Next on the career list is running back Mario Crawford who enters Saturday's contest with 784 yards on 140 careers.
THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING:
Despite the ODU defense allowing quarterback Thomas DeMarco to get sacked for the first time in 2010, the Monarchs are still tied for in sacks allowed. Old Dominion did not allow a sack in the first four contests of the 2010 season before the Hawks managed to take down DeMarco twice in Saturday's game. This week, the Monarchs will face a Gardner-Webb team that ranks eighth among FCS schools in quarterback takedowns, averaging 3.00 per game. Rookie defensive end Preston Pemasa is tied for ninth in individual sacks.
NUMBERS GAME:
With his four touchdowns in the victory at Monmouth last week, quarterback Thomas DeMarco brought his career touchdown pass number to 32. Demarco also has 19 rushing touchdowns to his name, his last coming with a 1-yard jaunt over the endline for the final touchdown in the 44-13 victory at Campbell three weeks ago. He is currently ranked third in the nation in total offense at 329.50 yards a game.
BATTLE OF THE PUNTERS:
Monmouth sported the nation's leader in punting last week in Jack Daniels. Daniels entered last Saturday's game leading the nation at 46.73 yards per punt. Against the Monarchs, he averaged 37.7 yards in his six punts The Monarchs' Jonathan Plisco (Newport News, Va.) led the nation in punting last year at 44.84 per punt. Averaging 45.0 yards per punt through four games, Plisco does not compute into the NCAA rankings not having made the minimum 3.6 punts per game average. Plisco's services were only needed twice in last week's 35-21 win at Monmouth. Although his first attempt only traveled four years, his second punt went for 41 yards.
BLOCK THAT KICK:
Alex Arain registered ODU's first block of the season and the eighth overall in the two-year program. Arain blocked the nation's leading punter, Jack Daniels, in the third quarter. Among the blocks recorded by the ODU specials teams over the last two seasons include Edmon McClam FCS record five blocked PATs in a season and an NCAA Division I record for most blocked PAT's by a single player in a game with three in the historic first game versus Chowan.
ON THE ROAD:
With last weekend's 35-21 at Monmouth, ODU improved to 5-1 on the road in their young history and 2-0 in 2010. In their inaugural season, the Monarchs went 3-1 on the road with wins at Jacksonville (28-27), Savannah State (38-17), and VMI (42-35). The lone setback away from the friendly confines of Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium was a 34-29 loss at Fordham. Other road trips this season include a return date with North Carolina Central, as well as a jaunt over the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to face Hampton.
AT HOME:
Meanwhile, the ODU Football Monarchs are looking for their first home victory of the 2010 campaign after dropping a 25-35 loss to Jacksonville and a 17-21 decision to #12/13 William & Mary.
JERSEY BOYS:
"In all due respect," this note isn't about ODU's trip up to New Jersey last weekend. This note is about the new Nike uniforms brought out for the William & Mary in their last home game. The Monarchs warmed up in their normal dark blue jersey with white numbers, but right before kick head coach Bobby Wilder had a surprise for his team. Entering the locker room for one last time before the game started, the Monarchs walked in to see new black Nike uniforms with dark blue numbers sitting in each of their lockers. What uniforms will the Monarchs wear this weekend?
12th MONARCH MOMENTS:
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 was charged with 41 penalties last season and seven so far in 2010.
2009 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
2010 12th Monarch Stats:
Jacksonville: Seven Penalties
William & Mary:Eight Penalties
OPENING WITH A BANG:
And no, we're not talking about the howitzer you hear being shot off before the Monarchs run onto Foreman Field. Old Dominion scored on opening drive in two of its games of the 2010 season. Last opening drive score was Marquel Thomas' TD reception at the 10:51 of the first quarter at Campbell made it the ninth time in the 15 game history of the program the Monarchs have done so.
For more information on ODU Football see complete game notes