By Harry Minium
Former Old Dominion University football star Taylor Heinicke recently boarded a plane in Atlanta, flew to Norfolk and spent more than three hours being videotaped at S.B. Ballard Stadium, all in order to get a message out he wants all of Monarch Nation to hear.
Coach Ricky Rahne, he said, needs your help to rebuild ODU's football program. And that starts with filling S.B. Ballard Stadium on Saturdays.
"I don't think our fans realize how important they are to the players," Heinicke said. "We won so many games because of our fans. That was the thing we most enjoyed about our home games, knowing that so many people were behind us.
"Coach Rahne needs your help. He needs the same support you gave us. We need you to come out and support the guys on the team now."
It's been seven years since Heinicke starred at ODU, where he led the Monarchs to two FCS playoff bids, a CAA title and 14 victories in the two transition seasons into FBS. After a stunning performance in the Washington Football Team's near upset of Tampa Bay in the NFL playoffs, he signed an $8.4 million contract.
To those of us who watched Taylor pass for 14,959 passing yards, the sixth-most ever in Division I, his success in that game was no surprise.
When asked by Athletic Director Wood Selig to be the face for an ODU football season-ticket multi-media campaign, Taylor said yes with no hesitation, and flew to Norfolk in spite of a busy schedule.
"Anything ODU needs," he said.
And that also comes as no surprise. Taylor is a good guy who loves his alma mater.
He is not the only member of Monarch Nation to step up. Dennis Ellmer, one of ODU's most loyal donors, and the President and CEO of Priority Automotive, worked with Selig to put together the advertising campaign.
At Ellmer's request, The Davis Ad Agency, the Virginia Beach advertising agency run by Jerry Davis, jumped in to help ODU create and shoot the advertisements. Meanwhile, Ellmer raised money from other area business leaders to fund the campaign that will hit TV screens in Hampton Roads for a six-week blitz beginning Monday, April 19.
Nine others joined Ellmer in donating to help raise money: William Sheppard Miller III, Alex Mitchum, Elza Mitchum, Stephen Ballard, Tom Johnston, Ed Reed, Murry Pitts, Taylor Franklin and James Somers.
Having Ellmer on ODU's side is a big deal. He not only raised the money, he supported the advertisement production. Ellmer and Jerry Davis command a lot of respect in the media world.
The campaign will largely be focused on local TV but will also be on social media, radio and newspapers, too. I'm not at liberty to say what the ads contain, but suffice it to say, you're going to be entertained and pleasantly surprised.
The gist of Taylor's message:
"Bring Back the Roar" to S.B. Ballard Stadium.
A catchy phrase devised by the Davis Ad Agency that makes the point succinctly.
It's no secret that ODU football hasn't consistently won in a while. After winning 10 games, including the Bahamas Bowl, in 2016, the Monarchs went 5-7, 4-8 and 1-11 the next three seasons, and then did not play in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Taylor came back to a game in 2019 and said he was surprised by how little energy there was on the field and in the stands.
"I want to see ODU football back on the map," he said. "I want them to be in the Top 25. I want them to become the next Cincinnati, the next school in the discussion for a major bowl game.
"I love Old Dominion. I know our fans love ODU. We all need to pull together."
Bring Back the Roar, indeed.
"He didn't have to come all the way here to do this," Rahne said. "But he did and that's pretty awesome. That speaks to how much he cares about the program."
An aside here: If you were hurt by the pandemic and can no longer afford prime seats, you should know that ODU has made it more affordable to attend ODU games. Ticket prices and/or seat memberships were reduced for 4,262 seats on the east and west sidelines. That's nearly one third of the sideline seats. The average price reduction was substantial – $74.67 per season ticket.
Some prices are at or near those offered when ODU first started football in 2009.
The biggest change? Nearly 2,500 seats sideline seats are available for $99 or $150 with no donation or seat membership required. In 2019, the only $99 tickets available were in the north end zone. Now, they are all on the sidelines in a sparkling new stadium with fantastic fan amenities.
Another aside here: as you may have heard, ODU will be wearing light blue jerseys two games this fall. If you'd like a #14 Taylor Heinicke jersey in light blue, purchase four tickets at $200 apiece and well give you one free of charge. The jersey will retail for about $100 at the ODU Bookstore.
ODU's stadium is cozy and comfortable as a result, there's not a bad seat on the sidelines. And while most other FBS schools are raising prices slightly or keeping them the same, ODU is among the few cutting prices.
"Let's be honest," Selig said. "We haven't had the greatest success lately on the gridiron. We've had a coaching change. We have lost some momentum in the community.
"In a way, we're approaching 2021 as if we are starting ODU football all over again. We're rolling some prices back to where they were when we first launched ODU football with a tremendous fan following."
"We want to make sure everyone who wants to attend ODU football games can afford to. Price should not be the determining factor as to whether you can come out and enjoy ODU football. With a $99 season ticket for good sideline seats, we have addressed that issue."
The non-conference schedule for our six-game home schedule this fall includes Hampton and Buffalo, a top 25 team in 2020. We also host an attractive home Conference USA schedule including Louisiana Tech, Charlotte, Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic.
And the schedule gets a lot better in the future. In 2022, Virginia Tech and Liberty come to ODU. And you remember what happened the last time Tech came to Norfolk – the Monarchs upset the Hokies, 49-35, in front of a sellout crowd.
Buying a season ticket this season assures you'll have seats when the Hokies come back in 2022. ODU has signed long-term scheduling deals that brings Tech to Norfolk five times and East Carolina three times over the next decade.
Until the Monarchs are back on the field and begin establishing a new identity, Selig said ODU needs Taylor's high profile. He is ODU's best-known football alumnus, with boyish good looks and a sense of humility that appeals to almost everyone.
"His recognition factor is important," Selig said. "We have an outstanding new staff. Very few people know our student-athletes well. They haven't been on the field for more than a year. That's what athletics is all about, building an affinity with the athletes and coaching staff.
"We don't have that right now. We will. Taylor is the one person who can perhaps bridge that gap we have right now from the past to what we know is going to be a very bright future."
Rahne has signed the two best freshmen classes ever at ODU, according to the 247Sports recruiting service and also recently brought in five transfers from FBS schools, including quarterback D.J. Mack, Jr., from Central Florida and Norview High School.
"He's a good coach," Ellmer said. "He's gone through some difficult circumstances, but I'm confident he's going to get it done."
Ellmer said the campaign will have a two-tiered approach. The first wave of ads will come in mid-April and then another in August, a month or so before the Monarchs open at Wake Forest on Friday, Sept. 3.
"I think there's going to be a lot of pent-up demand," Ellmer said. "I think by August, people will be ready to get out of the house."
ODU is also doing direct marketing and has hired Justin Ross from Taymar Sales U. who will work the phones contacting thousands of former season ticket holders.
In short, we're doing everything we can think of to Bring Back the Roar.
"I think people will respond well to what we're doing," Ellmer said. "I think so many of them have missed going to football games, being outside with their friends, tailgating and just having a good time.
"I know I have. I'm really looking to that first game."
Contact Minium: hminium@odu.edu
Fans interested in learning more about new season ticket price options, or purchasing season tickets can call Justin Ross at 757-683-3360.
Minium: Taylor Heinicke Urges Fans to Support Coach Ricky Rahne in Media Blitz Starting Next Week
