NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion Univeristy Football held their first spring practice on Saturday afternoon at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex practice fields.
Per NCAA rules, the Monarchs practice in helmets for the approximately hour and a half workout, featuring position drills, seven on seven and special teams drills.
ODU will be back in action on Tuesday. The ODU Spring football game will be on Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m. at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. The game is free of charge.
Opponent Outlook
ODUSports.com will take a look at each Monarch opponent on the year, starting with the season-opener against Albany.
The Quick Facts – Albany
Location: Albany, N.Y.
Nickname: Great Danes
First Year of Football: 1973
Conference: CAA
Head Coach: Greg Gattuso
2016 Record: 7-4
The Game
ODU opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Albany.
About the Great Danes
Albany is coached by Greg Gattuso, who is 17-17 in three years with the Great Danes. Gattuso and Albany finished the 2016 season with a 7-4 record, including a 22-16 season-opening win over Buffalo. The Great Danes started the season 4-0, but followed with three-straight losses, one a triple overtime loss to Richmond and another a 20-16 setback at Maine.
Running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks finished the 2016 season seventh in the FCS in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, carrying the ball 247 times for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns. Quarterback Nevin Sussman passed for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns, while Jordan Crockett is the leading returning receiver with 19 catches for 373 yards.
Linebacker Michael Nicastro tied for fourth in the FCS with 126 tackles and added three interceptions, while Malachi Hoskins (82 tackles) and Josh Wynn (81 tackles) both return as the Great Danes have six players returning with 45 or more tackles.
Series History
ODU leads 1-0
The Monarchs and Albany met in 2013, ODU’s transition season, a game won by ODU 66-10. Taylor Heinicke passed for 365 yards and two touchdowns, while Melvin Vaughn caught three passes for 32 yards. Vaughn and Rob Thompson are the only two players from the 2013 squad on the 2017 team.