2009 Old Dominion Monarchs football team
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Old Dominion Monarchs football team
represented Old Dominion University
in American football
. The team compiled a 9–2–0 record in this, the first season under the guidance of head coach Bobby Wilder
. The Monarchs were members of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as an independent and will join the Colonial Athletic Association
for the 2011 season.
The team's home games are held at Foreman Field
.
played its first football game in 69 years against a Division II school from North Carolina
, the Chowan Hawks, in front of a sold-out 19,782 fans. Old Dominion won 36–21.
The defensive line dominated Chowan's offensive line and ODU's defense forced 5 turnovers. ODU quarterback, Thomas DeMarco, hooked up with wide receiver Marquel Thomas for a 50 yard pass play that marked the first touchdown for ODU in 69 years. DeMarco ended the game going 11 for 20 for 123 yards, 6 of those completions were to Reid Evans, who finished the game with 93 yards receiving.
Edmon McClam set a new FCS record with three blocked XP attempts in one game.
ODU's defense only gave up 237 yards of total offense, and gained 443 yards themselves. ODU forced 4 turnovers, and quickly jumped out to a 21–0 lead in the 2nd quarter due to an unexpected onside kick. By halftime ODU was winning 35–10 and quarterback Thomas DeMarco had already scored 4 touchdowns, 2 in the air and 2 on the ground. DeMarco finished with 198 yards passing and 39 yards rushing. Running back Mario Crawford led the game with 71 yards rushing and wide receiver Dorian Jackson led the game with 79 yards receiving.
to face the Jacksonville Dolphins. ODU won 28–27.
Jacksonville was the first opponent that was supposed to be a challenge. Coming off two easy wins against smaller opponents, this was ODU's first test. Trailing 20–7 at halftime, ODU opened the 2nd half with a quick score by Mario Crawford and headed into the 4th quarter trailing 20–14. After trading touchdowns early in the 4th quarter, ODU received the ball with just over 1:30 left in the game. Thomas DeMarco quickly marched his team down the field and found Dorian Jackson for a 32 yard touchdown pass with only 45 seconds remaining in the game.
Thomas DeMarco finished with 175 yards passing and 136 yards rushing. Reid Evans had 7 receptions for 86 yards, and the ODU defense forced 4 turnovers.
Hawks, in front of another sold-out ODU crowd, 31–28.
ODU did not have an answer for Monmouth's running back David Sinisi who ran the ball 41 times for 216 yards, and also threw a 24 yard touchdown pass on an halfback option play. Sinisi ran for 2 first-downs on Monmouth's final possession of the game when ODU was trying to force a punt, in hopes of possibly winning the game. Because of that Monmouth ended the game with possession. Thomas DeMarco passed for a season high 215 yards while running for 42 more. ODU only forced 2 turnovers while averaging 4.3 takeaways a game coming into this game. Time of possession was very lopsided, with ODU's TOP being 20:49 and Monmouth's being 39:11.
to face off against the Fordham University
Rams and future NFL draft pick John Skelton
. On the wet and muggy day, the Rams managed to outperform the Old Dominion Monarchs as Skelton threw for two touchdowns and 402 yards . Down 25–7 at halftime, the Monarchs took advantage of Fordham turnovers. Old Dominion quarterback Thomas DeMarco threw for 240 yards and 3 touchdowns.. After a two point conversion play and a Carlos Davis touchdown, the Monarchs took a 29–28 lead with just under 7 minutes left in the game. The Rams regained possession with very little time left and managed to score on the pursuing drive to lead 34–29. On Old Dominion's last possession, with under a minute left, Fordham's Bryson Wilson recovered a Thomas DeMarco fumble at midfield to seal the Fordham victory, 34–29.
ODU improved to 6–2 while Savannah State (1–6) saw its losing streak extended to six games.
Old Dominion Monarchs football
The Old Dominion Monarchs football team is the college football program for Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The Monarchs compete at the NCAA Division I-FCS level. The university did not compete between 1941 and 2009. The team was reborn beginning in 2009, competing for two years as an...
represented Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
in American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. The team compiled a 9–2–0 record in this, the first season under the guidance of head coach Bobby Wilder
Bobby Wilder
-External links:*...
. The Monarchs were members of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as an independent and will join the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
for the 2011 season.
The team's home games are held at Foreman Field
Foreman Field
Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium is a 19,818-seat multi-purpose stadium on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. It opened in 1936 with a football game between the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary's Norfolk Division...
.
Preseason notes
- Season tickets for the Monarchs' inaugural 2009 season more than sold out and the school had to refund 1,065 orders.
Regular season notes and standings
Schedule
Coaches and support staff
| Name | Type | College | Graduating year |
| Bobby Wilder | Head Coach | Maine | 1987 |
| Brian Scott | Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line | Maine | 2000 |
| Andy Rondeau | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers | Syracuse | 1991 |
| Dealton Cotton | Defensive Line | East Carolina | 1995 |
| Zohn Burden | Defensive Backs | VMI | 2006 |
| Michael Zyskowski | Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs | Maine | 2006 |
| Keita Malloy | Wide Receivers/Tight Ends | Delaware | 1995 |
| Ron Whitcomb | Quarterbacks | Maine | 2006 |
| Chip West | Assistant Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Defensive Backs | Livingstone | 1993 |
Chowan University
September 5, 2009 was a new start, and proved to be the perfect ending. Old DominionOld Dominion
Old Dominion may refer to:*Old Dominion, nickname for the U.S. State of Virginia*The Old Dominion, a reference to the Colony of Virginia, which became the "Dominion of Virginia"*Old Dominion , former Amtrak passenger train...
played its first football game in 69 years against a Division II school from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, the Chowan Hawks, in front of a sold-out 19,782 fans. Old Dominion won 36–21.
The defensive line dominated Chowan's offensive line and ODU's defense forced 5 turnovers. ODU quarterback, Thomas DeMarco, hooked up with wide receiver Marquel Thomas for a 50 yard pass play that marked the first touchdown for ODU in 69 years. DeMarco ended the game going 11 for 20 for 123 yards, 6 of those completions were to Reid Evans, who finished the game with 93 yards receiving.
Edmon McClam set a new FCS record with three blocked XP attempts in one game.
Virginia Union University
On September 12, 2009 ODU hosted the Division II Virginia Union Panthers and won in front of another sellout crowd, 49–17.ODU's defense only gave up 237 yards of total offense, and gained 443 yards themselves. ODU forced 4 turnovers, and quickly jumped out to a 21–0 lead in the 2nd quarter due to an unexpected onside kick. By halftime ODU was winning 35–10 and quarterback Thomas DeMarco had already scored 4 touchdowns, 2 in the air and 2 on the ground. DeMarco finished with 198 yards passing and 39 yards rushing. Running back Mario Crawford led the game with 71 yards rushing and wide receiver Dorian Jackson led the game with 79 yards receiving.
Jacksonville University
September 19, 2009 marked ODU's first road game. It was ODUs first Division I-AA opponent, and was ODU's first come-from-behind win. ODU traveled to FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to face the Jacksonville Dolphins. ODU won 28–27.
Jacksonville was the first opponent that was supposed to be a challenge. Coming off two easy wins against smaller opponents, this was ODU's first test. Trailing 20–7 at halftime, ODU opened the 2nd half with a quick score by Mario Crawford and headed into the 4th quarter trailing 20–14. After trading touchdowns early in the 4th quarter, ODU received the ball with just over 1:30 left in the game. Thomas DeMarco quickly marched his team down the field and found Dorian Jackson for a 32 yard touchdown pass with only 45 seconds remaining in the game.
Thomas DeMarco finished with 175 yards passing and 136 yards rushing. Reid Evans had 7 receptions for 86 yards, and the ODU defense forced 4 turnovers.
Monmouth University
September 26, 2009 was the day of ODU's new football team's first loss. The loss came at the hands of the MonmouthMonmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
Hawks, in front of another sold-out ODU crowd, 31–28.
ODU did not have an answer for Monmouth's running back David Sinisi who ran the ball 41 times for 216 yards, and also threw a 24 yard touchdown pass on an halfback option play. Sinisi ran for 2 first-downs on Monmouth's final possession of the game when ODU was trying to force a punt, in hopes of possibly winning the game. Because of that Monmouth ended the game with possession. Thomas DeMarco passed for a season high 215 yards while running for 42 more. ODU only forced 2 turnovers while averaging 4.3 takeaways a game coming into this game. Time of possession was very lopsided, with ODU's TOP being 20:49 and Monmouth's being 39:11.
Fordham University
On October 3, 2009 the Monarchs suffered the second loss of the 2009 season. The Monarchs traveled to The BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
to face off against the Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
Rams and future NFL draft pick John Skelton
John Skelton (American football)
-2010 season:Skelton was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He was signed on July 14. After Matt Leinart was released, he was named the 3rd-string quarterback for the Cardinals....
. On the wet and muggy day, the Rams managed to outperform the Old Dominion Monarchs as Skelton threw for two touchdowns and 402 yards . Down 25–7 at halftime, the Monarchs took advantage of Fordham turnovers. Old Dominion quarterback Thomas DeMarco threw for 240 yards and 3 touchdowns.. After a two point conversion play and a Carlos Davis touchdown, the Monarchs took a 29–28 lead with just under 7 minutes left in the game. The Rams regained possession with very little time left and managed to score on the pursuing drive to lead 34–29. On Old Dominion's last possession, with under a minute left, Fordham's Bryson Wilson recovered a Thomas DeMarco fumble at midfield to seal the Fordham victory, 34–29.
Presbyterian University
Campbell University
Savannah State University
ODU quarterback Thomas DeMarco threw for 198 yards (14-of-20 passing) and three touchdowns without an interception as the Monarchs defeated fellow FCS Independent Savannah State 38–17 in Savannah, Georgia.ODU improved to 6–2 while Savannah State (1–6) saw its losing streak extended to six games.