Old Dominion University (1-2, Independent) at Monmouth University (0-2, 0-0 NEC)
Saturday, September 25, 2010; 1 p.m.
Kesser Field, West Long Branch, N.J.
Radio Coverage: Shore Sports Network, WOBM 1160AM and1310AM, shoresportsnetwork.com
Ticket Info:
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Day of game tickets can be purchased at the MAC's ticket window.
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A look at the game:
Monmouth comes into today's game against Old Dominion University with an 0-2 record after falling at home two weeks ago to Maine. The Hawks are looking to avoid an 0-3 start for just the sixth time in school history. ODU brings a 1-2 record to Kessler Field, dropping the season opener to Jacksonville and last week's game to William & Mary. The Monarchs romped Campbell 44-13 in week two for their first win of the season.
The Hawks have surrendered an average of 30.5 points per game and just under 430 yards per game with a defense that was hit hard with preseason injuries. While the Monmouth rushing attack sputtered against the Black Bears, QB Kyle Frazier recorded a career high in completions, attempts and rushing yards as he accounted for 304 yards of total offense. MU's 26.0 points per game is second in the NEC behind Robert Morris, which is averaging 26.33 ppg.
Old Dominion comes into today's game after almost pulling off the program's biggest upset last weekend against 13th ranked William & Mary. The Monarchs took a fourth quarter lead on a field goal but the Tribe scored a TD with under five minutes to play to escape Foreman Field with a win. ODU features the 17th best passing attack in the nation, averaging 264 yards through the air per game. Defensively, they also rank in the top-15 in sacks while not allowing one on the offensive side of the ball.
The coaching matchup:
Kevin Callahan is in his 18th season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 101-74 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to five Northeast Conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Callahan has earned NEC Coach of the Year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006. Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as defensive coordinator at Colgate for eight seasons and at Wagner for three years. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Albany (1977-79) and Syracuse (1980) before becoming a Seahawk assistant in 1981.
Bobby Wilder is the first and only head coach in Old Dominion football history, leading the Monarchs to a 9-2 record in its inaugural season (2009). Before taking the reigns at ODU, Wilder previously served as the associate head football coach at the University of Maine. He was promoted to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the CAA school in 2000 before moving to associate head coach of the Black Bears in 2001. Wilder was named the Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in 2004, which is presented annually to the top assistant coach in New England. Upon graduation from Maine, Wilder served as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons under Jack Bicknell at Boston College.
Inside the MU-ODU series:
Today marks just the second time in history that the Hawks and the Monarchs have met on the gridiron, with Monmouth earning a 31-28 victory at Old Dominion last year. The Blue & White handed ODU their first loss of the season in front of 19,000-plus fans, behind David Sinisi's career-high 41 carries. It took ODU nine plays to jump out to a 14-0 lead on the Hawks, but MU answered with a pair of Sinisi TDs to even the score. The Hawks took a three point lead on a field goal but Monarch QB Thomas DeMarco put the home team back ahead with a nine yard touchdown run. MU pulled ahead on a Sinisi to Bobby Giles touchdown pass while Tyler George gave MU a 31-21 lead with just over 10 minutes to play. ODU scored again to cut the lead to seven but the Hawks were able to shut down any further attempt at a comeback. Sinisi finished with 216 yards and two touchdowns while DeMarco led the Monarchs with 215 yards passing and 42 yards rushing.
Old Dominion would go on the lose the following week to Fordham, but win out the rest of its games to finish 9-2, the best record for a start-up FCS program in history.
MU Participates in Coach to Cure MD:
Today Monmouth University's coaching staff will be donning patches for Coach to Cure MD, a charity aligned with the American Football Coaches Association to raise money and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The program, which is in its third year of existence, is a game day charity project to help fun research for the disease, which is the most prolific lethal genetic disorder of childhood. Last season a total of 5,245 coaches from 351 schools participated in the program. For more information visit http://www.coachtocuremd.org/
