Rebuilding of ODU Football Profiled in ESPN Magazine

The resurgence of Old Dominion University's football program is the subject of an online feature story by ESPN The Magazine, headlined "Redshirt Nation." Coach Bobby Wilder was interviewed by ESPN writer Eric Angevine for the story, which also references the Foreman Field renovations, recruiting and ODU athletic successes.

In the story, Angevine links high expectations of the football team with recent examples of ODU athletics excellence: "The commitment to all sports ensures that Wilder and his lion cubs won't get a free pass at Old Dominion. Monarch teams have won multiple national championships in women's basketball, sailing, tennis and field hockey. ODU's Anne Donovan earned a gold medal coaching the U.S. women's basketball team in Beijing, and alum Anna Tunnicliffe won her sailing race to earn more gold. Men's basketball is routinely atop the CAA standings. Dr. Jarrett says, 'We expect our teams to compete for championships and national rankings. We won't take money from established, successful sports to support football.'"

The full story is available at: http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3575449.

The ODU football team will hold an open tryout for walk-ons Sept. 11, and the first full-contact scrimmage is scheduled for Sept. 27. A tailgate party in Norfolk's Town Point Park is on tap for Oct. 4. The first game will be on Sept. 5, 2009, against Chowan University. Tickets are available by calling the Constant Center box office at 683-4444, and may be ordered online at www.odusports.com.