Old Dominion to Host Spring Football Game on Saturday

As shown on Recruit757.com. Here's the link:

http://www.recruit757.com/saturdays-spring-game-big-odu-football/

ODU Head Coach Bobby Wilder (File Photo: Andy Hilton/recruit757)

The ODU football team will host its annual Spring Game this Saturday at 3 PM, as part of an array of events to take place on the Norfolk campus.

The Monarchs will take the field at Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium following the 48th annual Priority Toyota Charity Bowl game, which will begin at 1.

For this year’s game, Monarch coach Bobby Wilder decided to take a different approach.

We decided to let the players pick the teams,” said Wilder, now entering his eighth season as Old Dominion’s only chief whistle since the program was reborn in 2009. “We drafted our teams. We have a Unity Council, which consists of 12 members who are voted in by the players. The Council met and held a draft. That’s how we got our 86 players, which is our roster for spring practice, into two teams of 43.

The scrimmage will serve as the Monarchs 12th practice of the spring. The game itself will consist of four eight-minute quarters and will be followed by an autograph session on the field, where fans can meet both the ODU coaches and players.

After 11 days of practice, Wilder likes what he has seen so far.

Speaking of Wednesday’s session, he noted, “I was most surprised by how physical the practice was. It happens across the country as guys are getting tired of going against the same person every day.”

But he likes the way the “draft” went for matchups. “I’m looking forward to a hard fought, spirited game on Saturday,” said Wilder, who has a career record of 57-27 with ODU.

There are other reasons for Wilder to be happy as the team prepares for its 2016 campaign. Returning to the fold are quarterbacks Shuler Bentley and David Washington, who combined for almost 2,600 yards passing and 20 TD’s last year. Ray Lawry (1,136 rushing yards as a sophomore) will be back, as well as leading receiver Zach Pascal (68 catches, 970 yards and 8 TD’s). In all, most of Wilder’s team will be returning.

“We should be really competitive from last year,” said Wilder, whose team has gone 11-13 since beginning BCS play in two years with Conference USA. “We were the youngest team in the conference last year, and the fourth youngest of 128 Division I (BCS) teams. But we’re returning 44 of our 50 position players – that is, the top two on the depth chart for offense, defense, punter, kicker and returner.”

The Monarchs will complete their spring practices with three sessions next week, keeping them aligned with the NCAA limit of 15.