SKID COMES AT BAD TIME
With Hokies on way amid renovations, ODU under duress
One of college football’s worst teams on third down, Old Dominion converted a critical third-and-2 on its opening drive of the fourth quarter Thursday. The Monarchs trailed Charlotte by 10 points, but when Jonathan Duhart broke a tackle and turned the short pass from Steven Williams into a 32yard gain, they had a pulse.
On the next snap, from the 49ers’ 35, Williams hit Travis Fulgham in stride on a post route. Fulgham dropped what should have been a touchdown pass.
ODU’s momentum vanished, and sure enough, on second down, Juwan Foggie intercepted Williams’ ill-advised pass in the flat and returned the pick 47 yards.
The sequence captured the Monarchs’ year to date, selfinflicted errors dooming any chance at victory.
ODU lost Thursday 28-25 and is 0-3 for the first time since restarting football for the 2009 season. The Monarchs flopped in their opener two weeks ago at Liberty and squandered a 17-0 lead at home to Florida International a week later. Moreover, with upcoming games against No. 13 Virginia Tech, East Carolina, defending Conference USA
champion Florida Atlantic and Marshall, the program’s collective resolve figures to be tested as never before.
The timing could not be worse. ODU is spending $65 million to rebuild Ballard Stadium, the renovated facility set to debut in 2019. A depressed, perhaps even unruly, fan base leaving seats and suites empty is the last thing the project needs.
Coach Bobby Wilder worked tirelessly to build the program fromscratch, and the dividends were remarkable and immediate. Highlighted by Championship Subdivision playoff appearances in 2011and ’12, the Monarchs’ early success was forged by sage coaching, common-sense scheduling and a signature quarterback in Taylor Heinicke.
Five consecutive seasons with at least eight victories also created expectations when ODU upgraded to the Bowl Subdivision and joined C-USA. Another efficient quarterback, David Washington, helped the Monarchs earn their first FBS postseason invitation in 2016, and the Bahamas Bowl victory over Eastern Michigan capped a 10-3 year.
But Wilder and his staff have yet to find a reliable successor to Washington, and the decline at quarterback is an anvil around the program’s neck.
Williams last season became the second-youngest starting quarterback in FBS history, and his trials were predictable. His completion percentage and passer rating this year are lower than in 2017.
That ODU had/has to rely on such a fledgling speaks to a lack of depth and talent at the most essential position in sports. Williams should have had time to develop as a redshirt and then perhaps a backup. He got neither.
But this isn’t all about
Williams. The Monarchs started 12 seniors Thursday, three each on the offensive and defensive lines.
Yet during this three-game opening stretch, among the schedule’s most forgiving, ODU was outplayed up front.
The Monarchs average 18.3 points per game, 3.7 yards per rush and have converted 28 percent of their third downs. Last season, as ODU went 5-7, those numbers were 20.7 points per game, 4.3 yards per rush and 34 percent on third down.
“Pretty pathetic,” Wilder said of last year’s offense during preseason camp.
Though Ray Lawry, the best running back in program history, completed his eligibility last season, the offense should be improved. Thus far, it’s not.
Nor is the defense. Opponents are scoring more points, gaining more yards and converting more third downs than in 2017.
Charlotte, 1-11 last season, was 9 of 17 on third down and bogarted possession for 38:17, running 80 plays to ODU’s 56.
The Monarchs went 3 for 3 on third down after falling behind 28-18 in the fourth quarter. But theywere 2 of 8 previously, a third-and-1 failure fromtheir own 45 in the second quarter especially glaring— Nick Martin stuffed Jeremy Cox for a 1-yard loss.
In previous seasons, confident in his offense, Wilder might well have disdained a punt on fourthand-2 from near midfield. Not now. ODU punted, and on the subsequent possession Charlotte drove 63 yards to a field goal and 13-6 lead.
There are encouraging signs. Duhart and defensive end Oshane Ximines are playing to their allconference status. In his Monarchs debut Thursday, true freshman running back Lala Davis rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns on10 carries.
Those folks need help. A lot of help.
Saturday’s date with Virginia Tech has created unprecedented ticket demand for an ODU home game, but much of that is driven by Hokies faithful. The Monarchs need similar enthusiasm from their fans as they look ahead to opening their upgraded stadium and perhaps funding additional infrastructure enhancements.
“We gotta go,” Wilder said when ODU’s Board of Visitors approved the stadium project in June 2016. “We’ve got work to do.”
Now more than ever.
Teel can be reached by phone at 757-247-4636 or by email at dteel@dailypress.com.