Anyone from the area have a feel for how ODU will do this year? I know this past season was the start of the rebuilding. How are the facilities?
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I don't think they will ever do well under Coach Meyers. He certainly isn't a head coach. He is a pitching coach but yet he still doesn't understand the concept of a rotation. His 3 transfers that HE recruited had ERA's above 5.00 last season at ODU. A couple kids are more than likey transfering. RF Steve Harris signed a contract with the Cubs about a month ago, I am happy for him. I'm sure Coach Guzzo is having a great time at NC State.
An ERA of 5.00 at the college level is average. And, wasn't the final record roughly the same as it was the year before?
The timing wasn't good for ODU. The school changed coaches at a time when most of the top local talent was spoken for, and in a year when there wasn't a lot of it to begin with.
The big knock on the program was that it ignored much of the local/in-state talent, at least in part because the thought was that out-of-state recruits brought in more money. It has tried to fix that in the last few years. But it takes time.
When it's all said and done, the three D-I programs in the Hampton Roads region (Norfolk State, ODU and W&M) will probably be about even next season.
The timing wasn't good for ODU. The school changed coaches at a time when most of the top local talent was spoken for, and in a year when there wasn't a lot of it to begin with.
The big knock on the program was that it ignored much of the local/in-state talent, at least in part because the thought was that out-of-state recruits brought in more money. It has tried to fix that in the last few years. But it takes time.
When it's all said and done, the three D-I programs in the Hampton Roads region (Norfolk State, ODU and W&M) will probably be about even next season.
I think that Coach Meyers got the most out of the talent he had last year. ODU played well and often played over their heads. Those are signs of good coaching and player committment.
Every program will have players who leave for various reasons. The important thing is how the ones who stay respond.
OldVaman, I must disagree about your last statement. Norfolk St does not have even the talent of the other 2.
Every program will have players who leave for various reasons. The important thing is how the ones who stay respond.
OldVaman, I must disagree about your last statement. Norfolk St does not have even the talent of the other 2.
With all the local talent in this years class of 05----who did myers get???? hudson and malbon--I say he missed the opportunity on a lot of kids that would have gone there
quote:Originally posted by justafan2:
With all the local talent in this years class of 05----who did myers get???? hudson and malbon--I say he missed the opportunity on a lot of kids that would have gone there
Changing coaches in June/July kinda hurt their chances with local kids but they were able to get Hudson, Malbon, Fetterly and Shawler. I think they did pretty well locally. Heck 4 of their 6 recruits were local. Who else should they have gotten?
OldVAMan,
With nall due respect, NSU doesn't have the same level of talent as any of the local D1's and I wouldn't be surprised if Va Wesleyan would win a series against NSU.
With nall due respect, NSU doesn't have the same level of talent as any of the local D1's and I wouldn't be surprised if Va Wesleyan would win a series against NSU.
I wouldn't say an ERA of 5.00 is average, maybe if there home field is 300 all around. If you would know ODU players and given them a survey atleast half of them would say they gave up during the season. Look at their attendance, VWC gets more people per game then ODU! It's a shame. Maybe because Coach Boothe is respected. It is true about the recruiting, they miss a lot of good people. I don't even think they offered Zimmerman a scholarship in high school but JMU and UVA(partial) did. Bottom line is their athletic director is all about the girls teams.
Bobby,
Jarrett has always said he would like the baseball team to compete on a regional level (not national) - that is not ground breaking news.
But, let's give Coach Meyers and his staff some time. His first class was loaded with local kids. Let's see how he does.
Jarrett has always said he would like the baseball team to compete on a regional level (not national) - that is not ground breaking news.
But, let's give Coach Meyers and his staff some time. His first class was loaded with local kids. Let's see how he does.
I would agree if you said depth. But since most folks down our way see NSU only when they play ODU or W&M, not when the weekend pitchers are working, I believe you'd think differently if you did.
As for VWC, they have a nice D-III program. And it is the common refrain of the good D-III teams that it can beat D-I teams. It's good to have dreams.
As for VWC, they have a nice D-III program. And it is the common refrain of the good D-III teams that it can beat D-I teams. It's good to have dreams.
OldVaMan,
No disrespect intended, but I have seen them on the weekend. I was at a couple of series last year. I make my statement as an impartial observer. Let's be realistic...NSU is D1 in name only.
As for VWC, I guess we'll never know but, talent wise, they stack up evenly with NSU.
No disrespect intended, but I have seen them on the weekend. I was at a couple of series last year. I make my statement as an impartial observer. Let's be realistic...NSU is D1 in name only.
As for VWC, I guess we'll never know but, talent wise, they stack up evenly with NSU.
We'll agree to disagree. Then be able to hot stove it for the next how-many months until the season begins.
Old Vaman,
Baseball America rated the MEAC the 28th conference in D1 and the CAA 15th at the beginning of the year.
Boyd's World rated the RPI's of the 3 local teams at the end of the year as Norfolk St 280, ODU 194, and William & Mary 161.
The best thing NSU did was make a coaching change this last year.
Baseball America rated the MEAC the 28th conference in D1 and the CAA 15th at the beginning of the year.
Boyd's World rated the RPI's of the 3 local teams at the end of the year as Norfolk St 280, ODU 194, and William & Mary 161.
The best thing NSU did was make a coaching change this last year.
VaDad
No question. ... last year. You're not going to do well starting freshmen and sophomores against juniors and seniors.
Next year, though, I do believe the three will be much closer. No as much that ODU or W&M will fall, but that NSU, now with a junior-senior lineup, will rise to that level. That's why I wrote what I wrote.
The MEAC will never be as good a league as the CAA; the funding isn't the same. But over certain stretches, individual teams can and do rise and fall.
ODU had a coaching change last year and is in transition. W&M will go through it now, and with a younger team, with all the pro departures. NSU went through stuff last year and now has, on paper, a veteran team.
We'll see how it plays out.
No question. ... last year. You're not going to do well starting freshmen and sophomores against juniors and seniors.
Next year, though, I do believe the three will be much closer. No as much that ODU or W&M will fall, but that NSU, now with a junior-senior lineup, will rise to that level. That's why I wrote what I wrote.
The MEAC will never be as good a league as the CAA; the funding isn't the same. But over certain stretches, individual teams can and do rise and fall.
ODU had a coaching change last year and is in transition. W&M will go through it now, and with a younger team, with all the pro departures. NSU went through stuff last year and now has, on paper, a veteran team.
We'll see how it plays out.
ODU should be better this year. They are still very young. This is Myers first recruiting class and I think he got some good players. Hudson is the real deal. He can be a conference starter right now.
Coach Farr is a pitching coach and he did well at W&M.
VWC is a great baseball school. 2 drafted players last year. How many from norfolk state?
Coach Farr is a pitching coach and he did well at W&M.
VWC is a great baseball school. 2 drafted players last year. How many from norfolk state?
None ... Though NSU had only three players eligible for the draft.
OldVaman-doesn't your son go to NSU?
Yes he does. So clearly I am prejudiced. But my comments are borne at least in part from professional observation (means I do sports for a living).
Coach Meyers is well respected and liked by his team. Yes, he was a first year head coach and therefore had to not only get acclimated to being the top man, he had to get to know his entire team...not just a few new faces. For the most part, the team Meyers had to work with was the team he inherited from Coach Guzzo. He had several players injured in the fall and therefore it took him all fall and part of the spring to really get familiar with his team. I believe the biggest thing Coach Meyers had to teach last year's squad was that they should expect to win. Meyers inherited a team that did not truly expect to win, and in some cases really didn't care if they won. That has changed and now these players expect to beat any team that they play. Remember, ODU beat UVA and Clemson last season. Kyle Dubois pitched an outstanding game against Clemson.
A number of players transferred in in January including Kevin Gunter, one of the pitchers that appears to be being maligned in this thread. Kevin is in fact a great pickup. He pitched and won the championship game in the Valley League this summer.
This year ODU has recruited several fine local players in Hudson, Fetterly, Shawler and Malbon. Remember, they are rising freshmen and may need some time to get acclimated. I'm sure the pitchers will benefit from Jerry's experience as a pitching coach. Since ODU continues to limit the roster to 28 players, these young men will get the chance to make their contributions in the course of next season.
Since Meyers is limited to the 28 man roster, including red shirts, he was not able to take advantage of all the players that had interest in transferring to ODU. There was quite a bit of interest from players who needed committments from the school, but eventually had to go elsewhere because the roster was full. Never the less, ODU picked up some quality transfers who will likely make significant contributions.
As for one ODU parent, I am looking forward to our '06 campain and expect great things.
A number of players transferred in in January including Kevin Gunter, one of the pitchers that appears to be being maligned in this thread. Kevin is in fact a great pickup. He pitched and won the championship game in the Valley League this summer.
This year ODU has recruited several fine local players in Hudson, Fetterly, Shawler and Malbon. Remember, they are rising freshmen and may need some time to get acclimated. I'm sure the pitchers will benefit from Jerry's experience as a pitching coach. Since ODU continues to limit the roster to 28 players, these young men will get the chance to make their contributions in the course of next season.
Since Meyers is limited to the 28 man roster, including red shirts, he was not able to take advantage of all the players that had interest in transferring to ODU. There was quite a bit of interest from players who needed committments from the school, but eventually had to go elsewhere because the roster was full. Never the less, ODU picked up some quality transfers who will likely make significant contributions.
As for one ODU parent, I am looking forward to our '06 campain and expect great things.
Thanks for all the responses. I enjoyed my visit and was impressed with the school and coaches.