Report: Old Dominion close to finalizing two-game series with USF

By Kevin Kelley -

Old DominionThe Old Dominion Monarchs are close to finalizing a 2-game, home-and-home football series with the USF Bulls, Harry Minium of The Virginian-Pilot has reported.

If the series is completed, ODU will host USF in 2014 and then travel to face the Bulls in Tampa in 2016. The two schools have never met in football.

“This is a significant step forward for our program,” ODU head coach Bobby Wilder said. “It makes a huge statement that nationally, we’re on the map, people know who we are and want to play us.”

Senior associate athletics director Bruce Stewart said he “has had extremely positive conversations with South Florida” but told The Virginian-Pilot that “there’s no deal in place yet.”

Old Dominion will be a member of C-USA in 2014 and will be eligible for a spot in the championship game. The Monarchs are also slated to host Hampton and travel to Charlotte that season.

ODU’s 2016 non-conference schedule currently consists of a game at Virginia Tech.

The USF Bulls are set to open the 2014 season at home vs. Western Carolina and later host NC State. In 2016, they open against Towson and travel to Indiana.

ODU 2013 Schedule Update

Old Dominion is currently scheduled to travel to North Carolina on Oct. 12, 2013. However, Bruce Stewart told the Pilot that the game is almost certain to move to Nov. 23, 2013.

Head coach Bobby Wilder also said that the Monarchs could face Syracuse in 2013. The Orange are still seeking their 4th and final non-conference game.

Football Schedules

Comments (10)

2013
Old Dominion University
Tentative Schedule

Aug. 31, at East Carolina
Sept. 7, at Maryland
Sept. 14, Howard
Sept. 21, The Citadel
Sept. 28, Albany
Oct. 5, Liberty
Oct. 12, open date
Oct. 19, open date
Oct. 26, at Norfolk State
Nov. 2, Rhode Island
Nov, 9, at Idaho
Nov. 16, Charlotte
Nov. 23, at North Carolina

USF needs to be doing home and homes with big time BCS programs. It would make sense for powerhouses (like LSU, Okalhoma, Ohio State, etc) because they can get a home game, and then play in an NFL stadium in Florida to create interest for recruits.

It may be an NFL stadium, but it’s not NFL crowds. In 2011, USF only averaged 44,000 a game. Tulane, Temple and UMass play in NFL stadia too. yet i doubt a powerhouse team would schedule a road game there either.

which game would be dropped for cuse addition since if your playing us it will be at carrier dome