Tag: Old Dominion

Sun Belt Preseason Predictions For Every Game: Preview 2022

Sun Belt predictions for every team and every game in the 2022 college football season

The Sun Belt just got a whole lot more interesting with the addition of Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss from Conference USA – and getting them a year before it seemed possible – and also brought in FCS powerhouse James Madison to a be a part of the fun.

The divisions are staying for now, but the great additions will make it far, far tougher for Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, and Louisiana to keep on dominating – even though they might not take that big a step back, if any.

While it might seem a bit cut-and-dry with the way the league is set up, watch out for some potentially big moves from some teams that struggled. The problem will be the schedules for Troy, South Alabama, and Arkansas State. Georgia State and Old Dominion programs that got to bowl games last season will have to fight, too.

The Sun Belt is stronger than ever and the season should be the best yet. The Sun Belt predictions for 2022 are …

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Sun Belt Preseason Predictions: West

Sun Belt East Predicted Finish

1. Coastal Carolina
2. Appalachian State
T3. Georgia State
T3. Marshall
T5. Georgia Southern
T5. James Madison
T5. Old Dominion

Appalachian State Mountaineers

2022 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2022 Sun Belt Prediction: 6-1
2021: 10-4, Prediction: 9-3
2020: 9-3, 2019: 13-1, 2018: 11-2

Sept 3 North Carolina L
Sept 10 at Texas A&M L
Sept 17 at Troy W
Sept 24 James Madison W
Oct 1 The Citadel W
Oct 8 at Texas State W
Oct 15 OPEN DATE
Oct 19 Georgia State W
Oct 29 Robert Morris W
Nov 3 at Coastal Carolina L
Nov 12 at Marshall L
Nov 19 Old Dominion W
Nov 26 at Georgia Southern W
Appalachian State 2022 Preview
Appalachian State 10 Best Players 

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

2022 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2022 Sun Belt Prediction: 7-1
2021: 11-2, Prediction: 10-2
2020: 11-1, 2019: 5-7, 2018: 5-7

Sept 3 Army W
Sept 10 Gardner-Webb W
Sept 17 Buffalo W
Sept 22 at Georgia State W
Oct 1 Georgia Southern W
Oct 8 at ULM W
Oct 15 Old Dominion W
Oct 22 OPEN DATE
Oct 29 at Marshall L
Nov 3 Appalachian State W
Nov 12 Southern Miss W
Nov 19 at Virginia L
Nov 26 at James Madison W
Coastal Carolina 2022 Preview
Coastal Carolina 10 Best Players 

Georgia Southern Eagles

2022 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2022 Sun Belt Prediction: 3-5
2021: 3-9, Prediction: 6-6
2020: 8-5, 2019: 7-6, 2018: 10-3

Sept 3 Morgan State W
Sept 10 at Nebraska L
Sept 17 at UAB L
Sept 24 Ball State W
Oct 1 at Coastal Carolina L
Oct 8 at Georgia State L
Oct 15 James Madison W
Oct 22 at Old Dominion L
Oct 29 OPEN DATE
Nov 5 South Alabama W
Nov 10 at Louisiana L
Nov 19 Marshall W
Nov 26 Appalachian State L
Georgia Southern 2022 Preview
Georgia Southern 10 Best Players 

Georgia State Panthers

2022 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2022 Sun Belt Prediction: 5-3
2021: 8-5, Prediction: 6-6
2020: 6-4, 2019: 7-6, 2018: 2-10

Sept 3 at South Carolina L
Sept 10 North Carolina L
Sept 17 Charlotte W
Sept 22 Coastal Carolina L
Oct 1 at Army L
Oct 8 Georgia Southern W
Oct 15 OPEN DATE
Oct 19 at Appalachian State L
Oct 29 Old Dominion W
Nov 5 at Southern Miss W
Nov 12 ULM W
Nov 19 at James Madison W
Nov 26 at Marshall L
Georgia State 2022 Preview
Georgia State 10 Best Players 

James Madison Dukes

2021 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2021 Sun Belt Prediction: 3-5
2021: 12-2, 2020: 7-1, 2019: 14-2, 2018: 9-4

Sept 3 Middle Tennessee W
Sept 10 Norfolk State W
Sept 17 OPEN DATE
Sept 24 at Appalachian State L
Oct 1 Texas State W
Oct 8 at Arkansas State W
Oct 15 at Georgia Southern L
Oct 22 Marshall W
Oct 27 OPEN DATE
Nov 5 at Louisville L
Nov 12 at Old Dominion L
Nov 19 Georgia State L
Nov 26 Coastal Carolina L
James Madison 2022 Preview
James Madison 10 Best Players 

Marshall Thundering Herd

2022 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2022 Sun Belt Prediction: 5-3
2021: 7-6, Prediction: 9-3
2020: 7-3, 2019: 8-5, 2018: 9-4

Sept 3 Norfolk State W
Sept 10 at Notre Dame L
Sept 17 at Bowling Green W
Sept 24 at Troy L
Oct 1 Gardner-Webb W
Oct 8 OPEN DATE
Oct 12 Louisiana W
Oct 22 at James Madison L
Oct 29 Coastal Carolina W
Nov 5 at Old Dominion W
Nov 12 Appalachian State W
Nov 19 at Georgia Southern L
Nov 26 Georgia State W
Marshall 2022 Preview
Marshall 10 Best Players 

Old Dominion Monarchs

2022 Preseason Prediction: 4-8
2022 Sun Belt Prediction: 3-5
2021: 6-7, Prediction: 2-10
2020: 0-0, 2019: 1-11, 2018: 4-8

Sept 2 Virginia Tech L
Sept 10 at East Carolina L
Sept 17 at Virginia L
Sept 24 Arkansas State W
Oct 1 Liberty W
Oct 8 OPEN DATE
Oct 15 at Coastal Carolina L
Oct 22 Georgia Southern W
Oct 29 at Georgia State L
Nov 5 Marshall L
Nov 12 James Madison W
Nov 19 at Appalachian State L
Nov 26 at South Alabama L
Old Dominion 2022 Preview
Old Dominion 10 Best Players 

NEXT: Sun Belt Preseason Predictions: West

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Old Dominion Monarchs Preview 2022: Season Prediction, Breakdown, Key Games, Players

Old Dominion College Football Preview 2022: Team breakdown, season prediction, keys to the campaign, and what you need to know

Old Dominion Monarchs Preview 2022: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Old Dominion season with what you need to know and keys to the season.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

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Old Dominion Monarchs Preview
Ricky Rahne: 6-7, 2nd year at Old Dominion,
2nd year overall, 6-7, 2021 Preview
2021 Record: Overall: 6-7, Conference: 5-3
Keys To The Season | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Old Dominion Top 10 Players | ODU Schedule

Old Dominion Monarchs Preview 2022

It’s been an interesting ride for Old Dominion football since joining FBS world back in 2013.

It closed out its 8-4 first season in 2013 – playing mostly FCS teams – giving up 80 to North Carolina, went bowling with a great ten-win season in 2016, spiraled downward from there over three years before missing all of 2020 thanks to the pandemic, and now, after eight years in Conference USA it’s taking off for the Sun Belt.

Granted, it’s on a run of four straight losing seasons – when it played – but it’s got a good young head coach in Ricky Rahne who knows how to get an offense going, the talent base was built up and worked on thanks to the year off, and after going really, really, really young, 17 starters are back with one of the most experienced teams in the Sun Belt.

This will be one of the more interesting teams in the expanded new conference. It’s got the upside to be a big surprise, but the slate is tough and the overall depth is just okay.

However, this is a program with a whole lot of pieces in place to become a factor in a Sun Belt full of teams planning on having big seasons.

Old Dominion Monarchs Preview 2022: Offense

The offense wasn’t always great, but it kicked in when needed over the back half of the regular season on the five-game winning streak to close things. There needs to be more of a running game, but the passing attack stepped up. With ten starters expected to be back, the O should be even more consistent.

The offensive line wasn’t great in pass protection, but it’s about to be a factor in the Sun Belt with four starters back and Donta Anthony ready to step in at center. Khadere Count and Nick Saldiveri are all-star caliber tackles to work around.

Leading rusher Blake Watson is back after taking off for 1,121 yards and eight scores, and Elijah Davis is also back adding a little more size after running for six touchdowns. Both averaged over five yards per carry, and they have to do the running because there isn’t much coming from …

Hayden Wolff is a big passer who’ll be the star of the attack over the next few years. The sophomore hit 63% of his passes for close to 2,000 yards and ten touchdowns with seven touchdowns, and backup DJ Mack stepped in and added a rushing punch with six touchdowns to go along with 856 passing yards and five scores.

The Sun Belt has some weapons to deal with. Ali Jennings averaged over 17 yards per catch with five scores as the No. 1 wide receiver, and Zack Kuntz was a First Team All-Conference USA performer with a team-high 73 catches for 692 yards and five touchdowns. Depth is a problem across the board for ODU – except at receiver.

Old Dominion Monarchs Preview 2022: Defense

The Old Dominion defense doesn’t have the returning talent the offensive side does, but there’s enough to be okay. It was great against the run but struggled against the better passing attacks. It needs to be more consistent and it has to generate a pass rush. However …

The main sackers are back. Marcus Hayes wasn’t a regular starter, but he led the way at one end with 5.5 sacks, but good interior pass rusher Sokoyo McDuffie left for UConn. Even so, the team’s top two tackles – Tyre Bibby and Alonzo Ford – are back.

Leading tackler Jordan Young is done, but Ryan Henry is an all-star in the middle who made 75 stops to anchor the two in the 4-2-5. The team’s No. 3 tackler Jason Henderson will find a role somewhere.

The secondary needs more big plays from the corners. Roger Cray was the main all-around playmaker, but he’s gone. Tre Hawkins was an all-star on the other side making 76 tackles, and now he’ll be the No. 1 cover-corner.

The safety tandem of R’Tarriun Johnson and Terry Jones should combine for over 150 stops, and on the way is Shawn Asbury from Boston College to push for the open spot.

Keys To The Season | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Old Dominion Top 10 Players | ODU Schedule

Old Dominion Monarchs: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats NEXT

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Old Dominion Monarchs Top 10 Players: College Football Preview 2022

Who are the top 10 Old Dominion players going into the 2022 college football season?

Old Dominion Monarchs Preview 2022: Who are the top 10 players going into the season?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

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Old Dominion Monarchs Preview 
Offense, Defense Breakdown | Keys To The Season
Season Prediction, What Will Happen | Schedule 

College Football Rankings, Season Predictions: Sun Belt Spring Version 2022

Sun Belt spring football rankings and predictions with best and worst case scenarios for every team

Sun Belt college football rankings and predictions with the realistic best and worst case records and quick analysis – the 2022 spring version.

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The Sun Belt just got a whole lot bigger, cooler, and more interesting with a shocking expansion that should take the conference up another level.

FCS powerhouse James Madison gets to join in right away, and Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss were able to leave Conference USA and get in for the 2022 football season.

Here’s the problem – several Sun Belt programs that made strides last year are going to have tougher schedules to deal with. Several teams should be better, but might not have the results to show it.

The rankings are based on how good the teams should be and not the final projected records. Keeping in mind that this all could/might/will change when we make the final calls in August …

– 2022 College Football Schedules By Teams: All 131 Schools

Watch: Notre Dame’s appearances in ‘One Shining Moment’

The Irish have made appearances in the annual NCAA Tournament montage.

When I was 14, I had the opportunity to visit the NCAA Hall of Champions during a family trip to Indianapolis. It was there when I was properly introduced to the annual video montage that has wrapped up TV coverage of every NCAA Tournament since 1987.

While I had seen “One Shining Moment” once before, I figured it was just a typical montage like any that played whenever the NBA Finals or World Series wrapped up. My discovery that this happened every year was my main takeaway from the museum that afternoon, and I’ve looked forward to it every year since.

Notre Dame has not appeared in “One Shining Moment” every year it has made the tournament since the montage began, but let’s not pretend it’s done something significant in every appearance. Case in point, the Irish were not featured prominently in any montage until the three straight years it qualified from 2015 to 2017, which included back-to-back Elite Eights. Take a look at all of them below:

Auburn options to address the quarterback coach vacancy

If they pick an offensive coordinator from the current staff, who could be in play at QB coach?

Spring football will officially get started on Mar. 14 as they work their way towards the spring game on Apr. 9.  This gives head coach Bryan Harsin less than a month to make some key hires for the 2022 staff.

There are several options on the offensive side of the ball. With Austin Davis stepping down, he created two vacancies for the staff. Harsin will need to address not only the quarterbacks coach spot on his staff but also the offensive coordinator position.

We circled Eric Kiesau in our initial list of offensive coordinator options. He has experience as an OC at the collegiate level and doing so under Bryan Harsin. Kiesau was the offensive coordinator for 2019 and 2020. In the former season, it was as the co-OC and wide receivers coach. He moved to quarterbacks for the 2020 season.

Kiesau has also served as offensive coordinator for the Colorado Buffaloes (2009-10), Washington Huskies (2012-13), Kansas Jayhawks as the interim (2014), and Fresno State Bulldogs (2016). There might not be a more experienced candidate on the staff and one that would be an easy transition.

Perhaps another option from Harsin’s past?

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Stage is set—literally—for first Concert in Coliseum on 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale

The 16th hole is one of golf’s more famous holes. On Saturday, the par 3 becomes a concert venue.

Always looking to push the envelope, WM Phoenix Open tournament organizers The Thunderbirds have done just that with its first Concert in the Coliseum.

The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is one of golf’s more famous holes. On Saturday, the par 3 becomes a concert venue.

Construction on a stage started on Wednesday and will take three days to complete. On Friday, the light towers will be installed. On Saturday, it’s show time as country music stars Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett will rock the house in the arena that surrounds the hole.

The two bands will perform on a stage that sits between the tee box and the green.

The gates to the venue open at 3 p.m. local time and the concert starts at 5 p.m..

The event kicks off tournament week. The stage will be disassembled on Sunday and the course will be open for practice rounds on Monday.

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No. 1 Tennessee victorious against Old Dominion

Top-ranked Tennessee victorious against Old Dominion.

The top-ranked Tennessee men’s tennis team kept its perfect record intact with a 4-0 victory over Old Dominion in the ITA Kickoff Weekend Tournament at Knoxville’s Goodfriend Tennis Center.

The Volunteers (5-0) set the tone early and made short work of the Monarchs (1-2).

Tennessee claimed the double by sweeping two matches.

The Vols’ tandem of Pat Harper and Adam Walton defeated Younes Lalami and Oliver Nolan, 6-1.

Tennessee notched another doubles win as Johannas Monday and Martim Prada teamed to defeat Francois Le Tallec and Yevhen Sirous, 6-2.

In singles, Monday defeated Lalami, 6-1, 6-4. Monday, a second-year player for the Vols, is ranked No. 10 in the nation. Lalami is the No. 91 player in the nation.

Emile Hudd, No. 51 in the nation, defeated Codie Van Schalkwyk, 6-1, 6-1.

Freshman Shunsuke Mitsui defeated Nolan, 6-1, 6-3. Mitsui is ranked No. 125 in the nation.

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Notre Dame quarterback announces transfer destination

All the best to Brendon Clark!

Has anything been going on in college football the last day or two?  It seems like news has been really slow on the coaching search and College Football Playoff projection fronts.

Kidding aside, Notre Dame football is in the news today as quarterback Brendon Clark, who was at one time seen the possible replacement for Ian Book, has announced his transfer destination.

Related: Updated College Football Playoff Ranking Projections

Clark, a Virginia native and former Wake Forest commitment, announced he was entering the transfer portal back in October and over the weekend announced his next move will be to Old Dominion.

Clark never quite bounced back how he would have liked and was passed on the depth chart by both Drew Pyne and Tyler Buchner while Jack Coan transferred in for the 2021 season.

All the best to him with his move to the Monarchs football team.

Waste Management Phoenix Open to kick off tournament week with a concert on 16th hole

The concert will take place on a stage built in the middle of the 16th hole fairway.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Waste Management Phoenix Open has added a Concert at the Coliseum to its live music programming for 2022.

Thomas Rhett and Old Dominion will take the stage at the iconic 16th hole for the inaugural Concert at the Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 5, providing fans with an earlier start date for the festivities.

The Phoenix Open week runs Monday, Feb. 7, through Sunday, Feb. 13.

General admission tickets for the Concert at the Coliseum are $150 and go on sale at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, at WMPhoenixOpen.com.

A limited number of suites with all-inclusive food and beverage are also available. The Concert at the Coliseum is a 21-and-older event.

Doors open at 3 p.m. Old Dominion will kick things off at 5 p.m., with Thomas Rhett taking the stage at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The concert will take place on a stage built in the middle of the 16th hole fairway strictly for this show.

In a news release, tournament chairman Dr. Michael Golding said, “We’ve all seen the energy fans bring to cheer on the PGA Tour players at the 16th hole. We can’t wait to see and feel that buzz at night for Thomas Rhett and Old Dominion.”

Birds Nest concerts for 2022

Live music will, of course, continue at the festival’s popular Coors Light Birds Nest.

The Birds Nest will bring Sam Hunt, Macklemore and Kygo to the big tent when the popular concert series returns on the weekend of Feb. 9-12, 2022, for the golf tournament. Tickets are on sale at coorslightbirdsnest.com.

The Wednesday headline act and remaining Birds Nest lineup will be announced as more artists are confirmed.

Thomas Rhett performs “What’s Your Country Song” at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday, on April 17, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by George Walker IV/The Tennessean

In a release, Golding said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome music fans back to the Coors Light Birds Nest and to kick things off with an incredible lineup of musicians.”

Headlining the Thursday, Feb. 10, show is American country music star Sam Hunt with special guest, multi-platinum recording artist Russell Dickerson.

More about Sam Hunt, Macklemore, Kygo

A former college football quarterback, Hunt has topped the country airplay charts eight times since breaking through with “Leave the Light On” in 2014, including the multi-platinum smashes “Take Your Time,” “House Party,” “Make You Miss Me” and “Body Like a Back Road.”

Four-time Grammy winner Macklemore will headline Friday, Feb. 11. Macklemore earned his four Grammy’s in 2014: Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (“The Heist”), and Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for hit single “Thrift Shop,” one of his two No. 1 singles that year.

He also earned two American Music Awards in 2013 for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album as well Billboard Music Awards in 2013 and 2014 for Rap Song of the Year (“Thrift Shop”) and Top Rap Song (“Can’t Hold Us”).

Rounding out the lineup is Norwegian-born producer/DJ Kygo, along with special guests Sam Feldt and Forester on Saturday, Feb. 12.

Kygo has built a career on popular remixes, sellout shows in North America and Europe and headline performances at Coachella and Ultra Music Festival with 15 billion global streams. The multiplatinum “It Ain’t Me” (feat. Selena Gomez) cracked the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 with more than 2.5 billion streams worldwide.

This is Kygo’s second Birds Nest appearance, following his successful debut in 2020.

Changes are coming

The Birds Nest will see some changes this year to the outdoor patio area.

The live performances will still take place inside the 48,000-square-foot-tent, but the area outside the tent will offer an enhanced fan experience with more of a festival atmosphere.

In a news release, chairman Eric Brandt said, “We wanted to take a look at how we could improve the overall fan experience, especially before the headliners take the stage.”

Brandt said ticket holders “can expect a much more fan-friendly atmosphere where they can meet friends for drinks after golf, come early to have a bite to eat at food trucks, play outdoor party games and enjoy the various outdoor bars and seating areas.”

Birds Nest general admission tickets start at $75. VIP tickets are available starting at $285, which includes exclusive access to an enhanced VIP area where guests are treated to complimentary food and drinks and access to a premium viewing area for the shows.

Organizers encourage fans to buy their tickets early as ticket prices will increase as the event draws closer.

The Birds Nest is located directly across from the main Phoenix Open tournament entrance. The entertainment venue opens at 3:30 p.m. and closes at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Headline acts will take the main stage each evening at approximately 8:30 p.m. The Birds Nest is a 21-and-over venue.

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