NORFOLK, Va. – If you thought there were more people in the stands this season at S.B. Ballard Stadium for Old Dominion football games than there were in 2021, you are correct.
ODU set a single-game attendance record this fall, averaging 20,232 fans per home game. That broke the previous record of 20,188 set in 2017, ODU's final season in Foreman Field.
Foreman Field was smaller than S.B. Ballard Stadium, which seats 21,944.
Moreover, according to D1Ticker, ODU had the eighth largest increase in announced attendance among the 131 Football Bowl Subdivision programs that did not play in new or refurbished stadiums.
ODU's attendance increased from an average of 15,966 in 2021 to 20,232 in 2022, or nearly 27 percent. That occurred in large part because of a 72 percent increase in season ticket sales to nearly 12,500.
Most of the other college programs that saw increases, including UConn, Tulane, New Mexico State and Kansas, had surprisingly good records this season. ODU did not, finishing 3-9. However, ODU's attendance increased in part because of a combination of the move to the Sun Belt Conference and a reduction in ticket prices instituted by Dr. Wood Selig, the university's director of athletics.
Prices for thousands of season tickets were reduced and mandatory donations for the stadium's best seats were eliminated.
ODU's schedule was also the strongest the school has ever played. The Monarchs opened at home against Virginia Tech, and hosted Sun Belt foes James Madison, Marshall, Georgia State and Arkansas State as well as Liberty.
The Monarchs twice sold out the stadium, for Virginia Tech and JMU.
ODU coach Ricky Rahne said coaches of some opposing teams noticed ODU's fan following.
"Coaches talked to me about how jealous their kids were with how many fans we have," he said.
"I appreciate everybody coming to our games. I know that there are so many other things you can do with your time and money,
"We'll come back next season and have another team that's going to fight, another team that's going to give everything they have.
"There might be some different faces, but it will be a team that's going to fight and do everything they can to make Monarch Nation proud."
Expect a Lot of New Faces on ODU's 2023 Roster
ODU not only had the youngest coaching staff in America, the Monarchs also had one of the youngest teams.
Of the 114 players on ODU's roster, 85 were underclassmen, including 56 freshmen or redshirt freshmen. The Monarchs had just 12 seniors.
Before the transfer portal came into being, you would expect that a team with only 12 seniors, to be largely unchanged next season. But the portal, along with the NCAA's decision to give players an additional year of eligibility because the pandemic, have changed recruiting.
Because so many players already have degrees in hand, 24 ODU football players were honored on Senior Day, twice the number of seniors on the Monarch roster.
Rahne said he's not sure how many of those 24 players will actually depart but added that ODU's team will have a lot of new faces next season. All 24 players have graduated or will graduate with an ODU degree.
"That's the nature of college football these days," Rahne said. "There's a lot of turnover, especially when you're combining two classes of seniors."
Players can officially enter the portal on Monday although hundreds have already announced on social media their intention to transfer.
ODU coaches head on the road to recruit on Friday, the first day they are allowed to under NCAA rules. ODU can begin signing players on Dec. 21st.
ODU will continue to recruit a mixture of high school players and transfers and the Monarchs are looking for immediate help at most positions.
The portal has increased the workload for coaches. With high school kids, coaches often have years to get to know players and research their backgrounds.
"You have maybe two weeks to do your research" on players in the transfer portal, defensive coordinator Blake Seiler said.
"That makes it much tougher."
Injuries Played a Major Role in ODU's late-season Slide
The Monarchs lost their last six games and although injuries may seem like an excuse, in ODU's case, injuries played a major role in the late-season slide.
The numbers prove it.
ODU only had 24 upper classmen and there are 24 starters on a football team.
"When we had a player go down, he was usually replaced by a freshmen or a sophomore," Seiler said.
Rahne noted that the Monarchs played much better the last six quarters of the season. ODU outscored Appalachian State, 14-10, in the second half of a 27-14 loss and nearly upset South Alabama before losing 27-20. The Jaguars finished 10-2.
ODU was without wide receiver Ali Jennings III, tight end Zack Kuntz and offensive tackle Nick Saldiveri against South Alabama.
"We did not have three guys who are NFL prospects, and we still almost won," quarterback Hayden Wolff said. "We really played hard."
Rahne said his offseason message to his players is that playing hard isn't always enough. You also have to play smart.
"We've got to find a way to play that way and play disciplined and execute," he said, speaking of the loss at South Alabama.
Untimely penalties and other mistakes hurt the Monarchs much of the second half of the season.
Asked about his areas of emphasis for next season he replied: "From A to Z. I'd feel that way if the record was inverted.
"We've got to get stronger. We certainly have to get smarter. We have to be more disciplined. And that's only going to happen if there's a full investment from everyone."
Sun Belt TV Package Lived Up to What Was Promised
One of the reasons ODU moved to the Sun Belt was because of the league's TV contract, which is far more lucrative and provides more national TV opportunities that what the Monarchs had in Conference USA.
ODU had two games televised nationally on ESPNU because of the affiliation with the Sun Belt – the home opener against Virginia Tech, which ODU won, 20-17; and ODU's 49-21 victory at Coastal Carolina.
A road game at Virginia was also televised nationally on the ACC Network. Every other game was on ESPN+.
According to the figures compiled by www.sportsmediawatch.com, ODU's game against Virginia Tech was seen in 334,000 homes, the fourth highest-rated Sun Belt broadcast.
2023 Schedule Also Challenging
ODU played one of the most difficult schedules in the Group of 5 this season, and the schedule doesn't get any easier next season.
ODU opens at Virginia Tech on Sept. 2, is at home against Wake Forest on Sept. 16, is home to Buffalo on Sept. 23 and then travels to Liberty on Sept. 30.
The Sun Belt schedule has yet to be released, but the Monarchs will host East Division rivals Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina and Georgia State and travel to Marshall, James Madison and Georgia Southern.
Two games against West Division opponents have yet to be announced.
An announcement on renewing or purchasing season tickets will be made soon.
Contact Minium at hminium@odu.edu or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
Minium: ODU Set Football Attendance Record in 2022 and the Increase Was Among the Best in FBS
