Advertise on podcast: The Monarchists

Old Dominion’s defense keeps giving the Monarchs chances. The offense keeps struggling to cash them in. ODU fell 23-15 to Georgia Southern on a night that began with plenty of energy: Taylor Heinicke’s No. 14 jersey retirement, a military flyover and another Thursday night atmosphere in Norfolk, but ended with another frustratingly winnable game slipping away. Aaron, Mike and Justice break down what went right, what went wrong and why the offensive questions are getting harder to ignore. ODU opened the game with a beautiful 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Later, Ryan Huff connected with TJ Johnson for the explosive play the Monarchs desperately needed. In between? Very little offensive consistency. The running game never got going. ODU once again struggled attacking between the tackles despite having shown more success running outside. Penalties and turnovers continued to hurt drives, and the Monarchs finished another game asking why the offense doesn’t simply lean harder into the things that have actually worked. Meanwhile, the defense did enough to give ODU a chance late. So what changes now? With Quinn Henicle’s status uncertain, Ryan Huff may get another opportunity at quarterback — and that could require a very different offensive approach. Then we turn our attention to Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs are 4-2, unbeaten in Sun Belt play and dangerous on both sides of the football. Jalen Mickens leads a talented group of offensive weapons, Louisiana Tech has one of the league’s strongest linebacker groups, and its defense creates turnovers. If Huff gets the start, can ODU simplify the passing game, get the ball out quickly and finally throw the football well enough to open running lanes? Because continuing to do what hasn’t worked and hoping for different results isn’t an answer anymore. **Can this ODU offense be fixed, and can it happen quickly enough to save the season?** Drop your thoughts and your ODU vs. Louisiana Tech prediction in the comments. 👑 Go Monarchs. **Presented by Brandon Johnson State Farm** For your insurance and financial needs, call **757-264-6267** or visit: https://brandonjohnsonagency.com 🧸 **Toys for Tots:** We’ll once again be collecting new, unwrapped toys at the October 31 ODU home game. Help Monarch Nation make this year’s drive our biggest yet. 🌐 odumonarchists.com 📱 Follow **@ODUMonarchists** #ODUFootball #OldDominion #LouisianaTech #SunBeltFootball #CollegeFootball #TheMonarchists **CHAPTERS** 00:00 Georgia Southern Recap Begins 01:30 ODU’s Military Flyover 03:00 Taylor Heinicke’s No. 14 Is Retired 04:00 Reviewing the Drone Show 06:00 Sun Belt Commissioner Stops By 08:00 Rick Lovato’s Super Bowl Rings 11:00 Isaac Weaver Returns to Norfolk 12:00 ODU’s Defense Did Enough to Win 14:00 Shaq Leaks Gets His First INT 15:00 The Roughing-the-Punter Momentum Killer 16:00 ODU’s Beautiful Opening Drive 18:00 The Offense Falls Apart 19:00 Why Didn’t ODU Run Outside? 21:00 The Offensive Play Calling Questions 22:00 What Georgia Southern Did Differently 24:00 ODU’s Offensive Numbers Are Ugly 27:00 The Run Game Has Completely Disappeared 28:00 Late-Game Decisions Under the Microscope 31:00 Why Every Game Still Feels Winnable 32:00 What Is ODU’s Offensive Identity? 34:00 Penalties, Turnovers & Officiating 38:00 Is Louisiana Tech a Must-Win? 39:00 Brandon Johnson State Farm 39:15 Toys for Tots 41:00 Louisiana Tech Preview 43:00 How Good Are the Bulldogs? 44:00 Louisiana Tech Players to Watch 48:00 Blake Baker & the Two-QB Look 50:00 Could Ryan Huff Start Again? 52:00 How Aggressive Should ODU Be? 54:00 The Best We’ve Seen Ryan Huff Look 56:00 Throw the Ball to Open the Run? 58:00 Can ODU Score Enough to Win? 1:00:00 Simplify the Offense 1:02:00 Stop Running Into the Wall 1:04:00 Afterglow + ODU Sports Saturday 1:05:00 Early Basketball Takeaways 1:08:00 Final Thoughts

Victory Sunday finally returned to Monarch Nation. Old Dominion went into Boone, battled through miserable weather and came home with a 10-3 win over Appalachian State — ODU’s first-ever victory at App State. It wasn’t pretty. But after everything that has happened over the last several weeks, pretty wasn’t the point. The ODU defense absolutely dominated, holding App State to just 158 total yards and 2.9 yards per play. Javen Gibson tied the program record with four tackles for loss, the Monarchs generated consistent pressure, and one of the Sun Belt’s most productive passing attacks never found a rhythm. And for the first time in weeks, the ODU running game looked alive. The Monarchs rushed for 207 yards, Devin Roche delivered another huge performance, and Quinn Henicle gutted through an injury while giving the offense another dimension with his legs. So did ODU finally find its identity? Aaron, Mike and Justice break down what changed in Boone, why running outside the tackles produced significantly better results, whether the offensive line actually took a step forward and how much of Saturday’s success can carry over when the Monarchs aren’t playing in tropical-storm conditions. Then it’s a short turnaround. Georgia Southern comes to Norfolk Thursday night with one of the Sun Belt’s most dangerous passing attacks. Max Johnson has thrown for more than 1,500 yards with 11 touchdowns, and the Eagles nearly knocked off JMU. For ODU, this one feels enormous. A win would move the Monarchs to 3-4, create some real momentum and keep the path toward bowl eligibility very much alive. And it all happens on a special Thursday night as Old Dominion honors one of the greatest Monarchs ever, Taylor Heinicke, by retiring No. 14. Was Boone simply one good Saturday? Or did we just see the first signs of an ODU turnaround? Drop your thoughts and your ODU vs. Georgia Southern prediction in the comments. 👑 Go Monarchs. **This episode is sponsored by Brandon Johnson State Farm.** For your insurance and financial needs, call **757-264-6267** or visit **brandonjohnsonagency.com**. #ODUFootball #OldDominion #GeorgiaSouthern #AppState #SunBeltFootball #CollegeFootball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 Victory Sunday Returns! 01:00 Ricky Rahne Takes the Victory Slide 03:00 Javen Gibson’s Record-Setting Day 04:00 ODU Shuts Down Malachi Singleton 08:00 App State Couldn’t Convert on Third Down 12:00 ODU’s Running Game Comes Alive 14:00 Why Running Outside Worked 17:00 BJ Bedgood Shows His Speed 18:00 Quinn Henicle’s Gutsy Performance 22:00 Did ODU Need Quinn to Win? 23:00 Devin Roche Delivers Again 25:00 Did the Offensive Line Improve? 29:00 The Penalties Still Have to Stop 30:00 Did ODU Finally Find Its Identity? 34:00 A Historically Good Defensive Day 35:00 Brandon Johnson State Farm 36:00 Georgia Southern Preview 37:00 Thursday Night in Norfolk 39:00 Max Johnson Leads the Eagles 41:00 Georgia Southern Receivers to Watch 43:00 Breaking Down the Eagles Defense 47:00 ODU vs Georgia Southern Matchup 49:00 ODU Has to Pressure Max Johnson 50:00 Can ODU Win the Passing Matchup? 53:00 How Will Georgia Southern Defend ODU? 55:00 Taylor Heinicke’s No. 14 Gets Retired 58:00 Is Thursday Night a Must-Win? 59:00 Can ODU Get Back on Track? 1:02:00 A Huge Weekend for ODU Athletics 1:04:00 First-Ever Win in Boone 1:05:00 Pack the Stadium Thursday Night

Old Dominion is 8-3, but after three straight Sun Belt losses, Tennant McVea says the Monarchs need to remind themselves who they are. Aaron and Mike sit down with Tennant to break down the loss at Kentucky, why ODU has gotten away from its identity, and what has changed defensively over the past few matches. Tennant also explains why defending starts much higher up the field than most fans realize, how ODU uses GPS and analytics to evaluate defensive effort, and why simply running more doesn’t always mean a player is doing his job better. Then we turn the page to Friday night. West Virginia comes to The Den, ODU needs its first Sun Belt result, the band is coming back, and Tennant believes the crowd can help the Monarchs turn the corner. Also on the show: ● Why ODU struggled defensively at Kentucky ● The importance of momentum after scoring ● Lewis Rourke’s return and what he changes offensively ● Where defending actually starts on a soccer field ● How ODU uses GPS, Wyscout and pressing data ● Why statistics can sometimes be misleading ● What 0-3 in the Sun Belt means for the postseason race ● How West Virginia creates overloads and attacks space ● Tennant McVea’s Phrase of the Day: “Catch yourself on” ● Why Friday night’s atmosphere could matter ● The return of the ODU band ● ODU Soccer gear and the spring golf tournament The Monarchs have already shown what they’re capable of. Now they have to find it again. 👑 In the Lion’s Den with Tennant McVea 🌐 odumonarchists.com ⚽ Get your ODU Soccer gear at https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/SoccerODU1 Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews and podcasts. #ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt Chapters 0:00 In the Lion’s Den 0:40 Breaking Down the Kentucky Loss 2:20 “You Can’t Score Two and Get Nothing” 3:20 What Went Wrong Defensively? 4:40 Momentum After ODU’s Equalizer 6:30 27 Goals Early — What Changed? 7:30 ODU’s Crisis of Confidence 8:40 Lewis Rourke Is Back 9:40 Where Does Defending Actually Start? 12:00 How ODU Tracks Defensive Performance 14:20 When Soccer Analytics Become Misleading 16:20 Measuring ODU’s Press 17:10 8-3 Overall, 0-3 in the Sun Belt 18:30 Scouting West Virginia 20:10 Can ODU Make West Virginia Uncomfortable? 21:10 Phrase of the Day: “Catch Yourself On” 23:10 The ODU Band Is Coming Back 24:15 Why The Den Matters Friday 25:30 Club Soccer Night & Monarchs Give Back 27:00 ODU Soccer Gear 28:30 The ODU Soccer Golf Tournament 30:10 Tennant’s Message to Monarch Nation

Old Dominion is 1-4. And after a 42-10 loss at Georgia State, there’s no sugarcoating where this season currently stands. The Monarchs were overwhelmed offensively, repeatedly beaten over the top defensively and never seriously threatened a Georgia State team that controlled the game from start to finish. So where does ODU go from here? Aaron, Mike and Justice dig into a team that seems to have lost both its offensive identity and the confidence it showed earlier in the season. The running game that once defined Old Dominion football has disappeared. The offensive line continues to struggle creating running lanes and protecting the quarterback. Defensively, players appear to be pressing and trying to make game-changing plays instead of simply executing their assignments. And the losses are beginning to snowball. We talk about whether this team is actually getting worse, the growing frustration around the offensive line, the leadership challenge inside the locker room and the increasingly uncomfortable comparisons some fans are making to 2019. There are still players giving Monarch Nation plenty to appreciate. Devin Roche continues to compete on every snap, Mario Thompson is putting together an outstanding season, and there are veteran Monarchs who have invested years into this program and deserve the fan base’s support. But something has to change. Now ODU heads to Boone to face App State. The Mountaineers have one of the Sun Belt’s most productive passing attacks, Malachi Singleton is completing more than 70% of his passes, and App State has weapons capable of attacking the exact areas where ODU has struggled. The question is simple: **Has this season gone off the rails — or can Old Dominion finally find something positive to build on?** We’ll be watching together Saturday at Afterglow Brewing. Come hang out with The Monarchists and other ODU fans for the game. Drop your thoughts below. What needs to change first for Old Dominion to turn this season around? 👑 Go Monarchs. **This episode is sponsored by Brandon Johnson State Farm.** For your insurance and financial needs, call **757-264-6267** or visit **brandonjohnsonagency.com**. #ODUFootball #OldDominion #AppState #SunBeltFootball #CollegeFootball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 A Tough Monday for Monarch Nation 01:00 Georgia State Dominates ODU 02:00 Devin Roche Provides the Lone Spark 04:00 Has Everything Snowballed Since ECU? 06:00 Credit to Georgia State 08:00 Fan Question: Why Is ODU Getting Worse? 10:00 The Offense Is Affecting the Defense 13:00 ODU Has Lost Its Running Identity 14:00 What Happened to the Wide Splits? 16:00 Monarch Nation Is Frustrated 18:00 Can the Offense Even Be Fixed? 20:00 Are We Getting 2019 Vibes? 22:00 Leadership Becomes Critical 24:00 How Much Harder Is the Climb Now? 26:00 Breaking Down the Offensive Line 31:00 When Do You Change the Starting Five? 33:00 The Quarterback Conundrum 35:00 Brandon Johnson State Farm 36:00 App State Preview 38:00 App State’s Passing Attack 40:00 Malachi Singleton Is Dangerous 41:00 App State Players to Watch 43:00 Is This Season Off the Rails? 46:00 How Does ODU Beat the Pressure? 48:00 ODU Needs Explosive Plays 50:00 Why Fans Should Stay Engaged 53:00 Is There Still a Path Back? 55:00 Appreciating the Veteran Monarchs 57:00 Basketball & Soccer Updates 1:01:00 Final Thoughts

Old Dominion is 8-2, but after a difficult night at Georgia Southern, Tennant McVea says this group has reached an important point in the season. The target is on their back. Aaron sits down one-on-one with Tennant to break down what went wrong in Statesboro, why ODU didn't look like itself, and how the Monarchs avoid letting two conference losses erase everything they built through the first 10 matches. The conversation goes beyond one result. Tennant explains why success can create entitlement, how discipline away from the field eventually shows up on it, and why character becomes even more important when things stop going your way. Also on the show: ● Why Georgia Southern was able to disrupt ODU ● Handling momentum swings, VAR and adversity ● Why performance still matters more than chasing points ● The growing connection between ODU Soccer and its alumni ● Tennant McVea's Word of the Day: “Scundered” ● Why Kentucky's record is extremely misleading ● How grass, turf and even pitch dimensions change a match ● An early look at West Virginia's return to Norfolk ODU has already shown what it can do when everything is rolling. Now we find out how it responds. 👑 In the Lion's Den with Tennant McVea 🌐 odumonarchists.com Buy your ODU Soccer gear at: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/SoccerODU1 Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews and podcasts. #ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt Chapters 0:00 In the Lion's Den 0:06 "We Were Second to Everything" 1:30 What Georgia Southern Did to ODU 2:45 ODU Didn't Look Like Itself 3:45 What Changed in the Second Half? 5:00 VAR, Momentum & Emotional Swings 7:30 Sometimes It's Just Not Your Night 8:10 8-2 Overall, 0-2 in the Sun Belt 9:30 The Target Is Now on ODU's Back 10:20 Performance Over Points 11:20 Avoiding Recency Bias 12:15 The Little Details Matter 14:00 ODU Soccer's Alumni Connection 18:00 Tim Hopkinson & the ODU Legacy 19:45 ODU Soccer Gear 20:30 Word of the Day: "Scundered" 22:20 Kentucky Is Better Than Its Record 24:10 What Kentucky Showed Against UCF 25:45 How Different Playing Surfaces Matter 27:20 Soccer Fields Aren't All the Same Size?! 29:20 ODU Is 8-2 — Keep Perspective 30:45 Finally Getting a Full Training Week 32:20 Early Look at West Virginia 34:00 Why West Virginia at ODU Will Be Special 35:00 Can We Get the Band Back? 35:25 Tennant's Message to Monarch Nation

Old Dominion is 1-3. After a 46-20 loss to JMU — the Monarchs’ fifth straight loss to the Dukes — the question isn’t about preseason expectations anymore. It’s simple: **Now what?** Jonathan Plisco and Jarod Brown join Aaron and Mike to break down a frustrating night against JMU and, more importantly, where ODU goes from here. There was at least one major reason for optimism. Freshman quarterback Ryan Huff threw for 261 yards in his first career start and looked extremely comfortable when given a clean pocket. TJ Johnson topped 100 receiving yards, Leon Haughton made another big play in the passing game, and Nathaniel Eichner continues to look like a serious weapon. But the problems are getting harder to ignore. Nine sacks. Thirteen penalties. Continued struggles running the football. Missed assignments. Turnovers. And another game where self-inflicted mistakes made an already difficult matchup even harder. We get into: • What Ryan Huff showed in his first start • Whether ODU needs to lean much harder into the passing game • How the Monarchs clean up the penalties, protection issues and execution problems • Why leadership inside the locker room becomes critical at 1-3 Then we turn the page to Georgia State. The Panthers are 3-1 and playing with confidence, but ODU has won six of seven in the series and three straight. For the Monarchs, the difference between leaving Atlanta 2-3 and falling to 1-4 feels enormous. This may be the biggest game of the season simply because ODU badly needs something positive to build on. Can the Monarchs get right in Atlanta? Drop your thoughts and your ODU vs. Georgia State score prediction below. 👑 Go Monarchs. This episode is sponsored by Brandon Johnson State Farm. For your insurance and financial needs, call 757-264-6267 or visit brandonjohnsonagency.com. #ODUFootball #OldDominion #GeorgiaState #SunBeltFootball #CollegeFootball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 Jonathan Plisco & Jarod Brown Join the Show 01:00 Five Straight Losses to JMU 02:00 What Went Wrong? 03:00 Ryan Huff’s Impressive First Start 05:00 Nine Sacks & ODU’s Protection Problems 06:00 Nathaniel Eichner Continues to Deliver 09:00 TJ Johnson, Leon Haughton & Passing Game Positives 10:00 Is the Play Calling Evolving? 11:00 Why Can’t ODU Run the Football? 13:00 18 Sacks Through Four Games 16:00 ODU Starts Fighting Back 17:00 The Illegal Substitution Backbreaker 22:00 What Happened to the Defense? 25:00 How Does ODU Fix the Penalties? 29:00 Shaq Leaks Steps Up 31:00 Can ODU Become a Good Football Team? 34:00 Fixing the Little Things 37:00 Is 1-3 Really a Surprise? 38:00 It’s HOW ODU Got to 1-3 39:00 Should ODU Just Air It Out? 40:00 Leadership Has to Take Over 48:00 ODU’s Fumbling Problem 50:00 Georgia State Preview Begins 51:00 The Difference Between 2-3 and 1-4 53:00 Is Georgia State a Must-Win? 55:00 Breaking Down the Panthers 59:00 Georgia State Players to Watch 1:01:00 Confidence vs. Confidence 1:03:00 Is Georgia State the Get-Right Game? 1:05:00 Justice Checks In 1:07:00 ODU vs Georgia State Predictions 1:11:00 More Nathaniel Eichner Love 1:16:00 ODU Hall of Fame Weekend 1:18:00 Final Thoughts

The undefeated streak is over. What happened next may tell us even more about this ODU team. George Maire and David “Chapo” Chapman join Aaron and Mike to talk about the battle with now-#1 South Carolina, bouncing back after falling behind William & Mary, and why this group believes it has the mentality to handle adversity. We also get to know George and Chapo away from the pitch — from Liverpool and Nottingham to British food, Scouse accents, locker-room personalities and another round of rapid-fire questions. Then Tennant McVea joins the show to break down what ODU learned from its first loss, the incredible atmosphere against South Carolina, the gritty comeback over William & Mary and how player ownership has helped change the culture inside the program. Plus, we preview Sunday’s Sun Belt road test at Georgia Southern and learn another Tennant McVea Phrase of the Day: “On a sixpence.” The Monarchs are 8-1. Now it’s time to take that mentality on the road. 👑 In the Lion’s Den with Tennant McVea 🌐 odumonarchists.com Get all of your Old Dominion Soccer Team Apparel at: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/SoccerODU1 Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews and podcasts. #ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt Chapters 0:00 In the Lion's Den 0:20 George Maire & David Chapman Join Us 1:00 Liverpool, Nottingham & the Scouse Accent 2:40 What ODU Learned From Its First Loss 4:00 Chapo's Journey to College Soccer 5:00 A 6'4" Center Back Who Scores Goals 6:00 George Maire's Role in the Midfield 6:45 Why Arriving in the Spring Mattered 7:15 Building an International Locker Room 8:15 Responding After Falling Behind William & Mary 9:30 The Growing ODU Soccer Crowd 11:00 Who Has the Strongest Accent? 12:30 Why George & Chapo Chose ODU 14:00 Adjusting to Life in America 15:00 British Food We Need to Try 17:00 British Phrases Americans Don't Understand 18:20 The Story Behind "Chapo" 19:00 Locker Room Rapid Fire 22:00 Best Finisher on the Team 23:15 Who DON'T You Want Beside You on the Bus? 24:30 Georgia Southern Preview 25:30 What They Love About America 29:00 Tennant McVea Joins the Show 29:20 Lessons From #1 South Carolina 31:15 The Disallowed Goal & VAR 33:30 An Incredible Night at The Den 38:45 Bouncing Back Against William & Mary 41:15 ODU Has More Backbone 42:45 How the Culture Changed 45:45 Staying in the National Rankings 48:20 Reconnecting ODU Soccer's Legacy 52:20 Scouting Georgia Southern 54:00 Phrase of the Day: "On a Sixpence" 55:30 Life on the Road in the Sun Belt 58:30 Tennant's 20th Win 1:01:00 Perfect Football Weather 1:03:00 How a Wet Pitch Changes the Game 1:05:00 Hard Ground vs. Soft Ground Boots 1:07:00 Nike, Adidas & British Pronunciation 1:08:40 Tennant's Message to Monarch Nation 1:10:00 Supporting ODU Soccer

CB, Gary and Coach Finny talk about new ODU AD Tim House, stadium construction updates and new uniform combos. Catcher Macaddin Dye joins to give us the inside scoop on how the Monarchs' pitching staff is looking so far and his experience playing for the Pilots this summer.

Old Dominion had every opportunity to beat East Carolina. Instead, the Monarchs let one get away. ODU fell 20-17 to ECU, dropping to 1-2 after a frustrating second half filled with turnovers, penalties, missed opportunities and an offense still searching for consistency. Now comes JMU. The Dukes arrive in Norfolk at 3-0, winners of four straight against Old Dominion, and suddenly Saturday feels much bigger than just another game on the schedule. Aaron, Mike and Justice break down what went wrong against ECU, why the offense continues to struggle finding an identity and whether the offensive line can finally put together four consistent quarters. We also dig into Ricky Rahne’s revealing postgame comments about leadership, accountability and making sure everyone is pulling in the same direction. After back-to-back losses, how this locker room responds to adversity may become one of the defining stories of the season. There were positives, too. ODU’s defense once again played well enough to win. Mario Thompson, Jackson Forrest, Daevon Iles and the rest of the unit kept the Monarchs in the game while the offense struggled to capitalize. But JMU presents an entirely different challenge. The Dukes aren’t necessarily overwhelming opponents with star power — they’re 3-0 because they’re playing sound football, limiting mistakes and winning in the margins. That’s exactly where Old Dominion has struggled. So what has to change Saturday? • Protect the football • Find some rhythm offensively • Get more consistent play up front • Win on third down • Stop beating themselves Conference play starts now. ODU has lost four straight to JMU. The Monarchs are coming off back-to-back losses. And falling to 1-3 is a place nobody in Monarch Nation wants to contemplate. The talent is there. The defense is playing winning football. The offense has shown flashes. But flashes aren’t enough anymore. **How does Old Dominion respond?** Drop your thoughts and your ODU vs. JMU prediction in the comments. 👑 Go Monarchs. #ODUFootball #JMUFootball #OldDominion #JamesMadison #CollegeFootball #SunBeltFootball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 Tim House Makes His ODU Debut 02:45 ODU Soccer Deserves Its Flowers 06:00 The ECU Loss: Where Do We Start? 07:30 ODU’s Offense Owns This One 09:00 Offensive Line & Special Teams Problems 12:00 Devin Roche Provides a Spark 13:00 Is This Offense Still Searching for Its Identity? 16:00 Communication, Execution & Bad Decisions 20:00 Ricky Rahne’s Leadership Comments 23:00 How Serious Is the Buy-In Question? 25:00 ODU’s Defense Deserved Better 27:00 Did ODU Abandon the Pass? 28:00 ODU Gave This Game Away 30:00 Another Strong Defensive Performance 35:00 Nine Fumbles in Three Games 36:00 Why Does Quinn Keep Moving Left? 40:00 Fan Reaction: The Duke of Discipline 42:00 ODU Defenders Who Balled Out 46:00 Flush ECU — It’s JMU Week 47:00 Where JMU Can Be Beaten 49:00 What Makes JMU 3-0? 51:00 JMU Players to Watch 52:00 How Important Is This Game? 55:00 ODU Cannot Afford to Fall to 1-3 56:00 How Do the Monarchs Respond? 59:00 JMU’s Defensive Front 1:00:00 JMU’s Skill Players & Tight End Threat 1:02:00 Can ODU Establish the Run? 1:04:00 ODU Needs Balance 1:05:00 How Many Turnovers Can ODU Survive? 1:07:00 Win in the Margins 1:08:00 No Predictions — Just Play Better 1:10:00 What Happens If ODU Doesn’t Fix It? 1:12:00 Just Win the Damn Game

Old Dominion is 7-0, ranked #13 nationally, and preparing for its biggest test yet: #4 South Carolina under the lights in Norfolk. This week, Alessandro “Niño” Maldonado and Jacopo Caprile join Aaron and Mike first to take us inside the locker room, talk about ODU’s wins over UMBC and VCU, and share the journeys that brought them to Old Dominion. We get into Jacopo’s dangerous long throw, Niño’s time in Croatia and with Colorado Springs, representing Honduras, battling back from injuries, and plenty of locker-room rapid fire. Then Head Coach Tennant McVea joins the show to break down the VCU win, ODU’s rise in the national rankings and what makes Friday night’s matchup with South Carolina such an intriguing battle. Also in the episode: ⚽ Why ODU keeps finding ways to win 🎯 How Jacopo’s throw-in has become another attacking weapon 😂 Best dressed, worst music, toughest teammate to defend and more 📈 What national recognition means for the program 🗣️ Tennant McVea’s Phrase of the Day: “Put it in the mixer” 🔍 What South Carolina does well and where ODU can challenge them 🏆 Why opening Sun Belt play with three points matters Friday night is a big one. Pack The Den. 🌐 odumonarchists.com #ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt Chapters 0:00 In the Lion's Den 0:12 ODU Is 7-0 1:20 Inside the Locker Room 2:30 Breaking Down UMBC 3:40 Finding a Way at VCU 4:40 Jacopo's Long-Throw Weapon 8:00 How Niño Got His Nickname 8:40 Niño's Journey to ODU 10:40 Representing Honduras 11:40 Why Defenders Struggle With Niño 12:40 Jacopo's Journey From Italy 15:20 Why Jacopo Chose ODU 17:30 Growing Up With a Serie A Goalkeeper 19:10 Italian Defending vs. Tennant McVea 20:15 Battling Back From Injuries 23:25 Locker Room Rapid Fire 26:00 Best Trash Talker 27:20 Hardest Monarch to Defend 28:00 Best Finisher 29:45 Who DON'T You Want Beside You on the Bus? 30:40 #13 ODU vs. #4 South Carolina 32:20 What South Carolina Brings 33:00 Pack The Den 35:00 Tennant McVea Joins 36:00 The Growing ODU Soccer Crowd 37:20 Maintaining the Standard 39:00 Eitan, The Suit & ODU Soccer 41:00 Goals Coming From Everywhere 42:40 Surviving VCU 46:00 ODU Climbs to #13 47:40 The Buzz Around ODU Soccer 49:00 "Put It in the Mixer" 50:20 Scouting #4 South Carolina 52:00 Why This Matchup Is So Even 54:00 Comparing South Carolina to Elon 56:20 Sun Belt Play: Three Points Matter 58:00 William & Mary Preview 1:00:00 Pack The Den

ODU is back home — and this one feels BIG. Old Dominion fell 44-21 at Virginia Tech, dropping the Monarchs to 1-1. The offensive line struggled, Quinn Henicle was under constant pressure, and Virginia Tech exposed some real issues ODU has to fix. But there were also some major positives. Quinn showed he can absolutely throw the football. Josh Rodriguez had a breakout performance. The defensive line continued to create havoc. And despite the final score, there are still plenty of reasons to believe this team can be dangerous in the Sun Belt. Now East Carolina comes to Norfolk at 0-2, and the Pirates desperately need a win, too. Aaron, Mike and Justice break down: • What went wrong against Virginia Tech • Why ODU’s offensive line is now the biggest concern on the roster • Seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss — and what has to change immediately • Quinn Henicle’s toughness and impressive deep-ball accuracy • Josh Rodriguez’s breakout game • Lucas Shuck, Malachi Harris and a defense that continues to flash serious potential • ODU’s inability to cover Virginia Tech’s tight ends • Why ECU’s pass rush could be a major problem • Mitch Griffis and ECU’s offensive weapons • Ashton Gray, Jeremiah Melvin and the Pirates players ODU has to stop • Whether Saturday is a MUST-WIN for Old Dominion • Why this game may be even more important for ECU • The offensive line matchup that could decide everything • Where Kody Cook calls the game from — booth or sideline? • Our final ODU vs ECU score predictions ODU has never beaten East Carolina since football returned. 2013: ECU 52-38 in Greenville 2018: ECU 37-35 in Greenville 2019: ECU 24-21 in Norfolk 2022: ECU 39-21 in Greenville 2024: ECU 20-14 in Norfolk The Monarchs have been close. Is Saturday finally the night? Justice: ODU wins on a 50 yd Nathanial Eichner FG Aaron: ODU 27, ECU 23 Mike: ODU 31, ECU 21 Drop YOUR score prediction below. 👑 GO MONARCHS! #ODUFootball #ECUFootball #OldDominion #EastCarolina #CollegeFootball #SunBeltFootball #AACFootball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 Virginia Tech Aftermath 01:40 The Offensive Line Problem 05:00 ODU’s Run Game Has to Change 10:30 Officiating Frustrations 13:30 Virginia Tech’s Tight Ends Run Wild 18:00 Defensive Discipline & Mobile QBs 20:00 Quinn Henicle Stock UP 23:00 Josh Rodriguez Breakout Game 26:00 What Do We Really Know About ODU? 28:30 ODU’s Defensive Line Is Legit 31:30 Pressure, Playmakers & Defensive Depth 34:30 Special Teams Are a Weapon 37:00 East Carolina Preview 39:30 ECU Players to Watch 41:00 Mitch Griffis & the Pirates Offense 43:30 How ECU Lost to App State 46:00 ECU’s Pass Rush vs ODU’s Offensive Line 48:30 How Even Is This Matchup? 50:00 Is ECU a MUST-WIN? 54:00 Who Needs This Game More? 57:00 Is It Finally Time to Beat ECU? 59:30 Score Predictions 1:02:00 Where Will Kody Cook Call the Game? 1:05:00 Final Thoughts

🔥 5-0. Ranked #22. 20 goals. Old Dominion Men's Soccer is officially back in the national conversation. On this week's In the Lion's Den, Aaron heads straight to the ODU Soccer Complex for a two-part episode with Head Coach Tennant McVea, followed by Monarch standouts Micah Wayland and Jason Purks. Tennant breaks down ODU's 3-0 win over Bucknell, why the Monarchs were able to stay patient in a scoreless match, and what changed when Ludovico Vicini broke through with an Olimpico in the 72nd minute. Then Micah and Jason take over. We talk about the chemistry behind ODU's 5-0 start, Micah's emotional return from a broken collarbone, Jason's four-goal start to the season, penalty kicks, locker-room personalities and what this team wants the rest of the Sun Belt to think when ODU shows up on the schedule. Inside this episode: ⚽ ODU's first 5-0 start since 2012 📈 Breaking into the national rankings at #22 🔥 20 goals through five matches 🧠 Why the Bucknell win told Tennant more than the Radford blowout 💪 Micah Wayland's return from a broken collarbone ⚡ Jason Purks' four-goal start 🥅 What really goes through a penalty taker's mind 😂 The players investigate whether Ludo meant the Olimpico 👀 Who has the filthiest finish in training 🧱 The hardest Monarch to defend 🎵 Worst music, best dressed, funniest teammate and more 🏟️ A look ahead to UMBC under the lights at The Den The Monarchs are unbeaten. They're nationally ranked. And they don't think they're anywhere close to finished. 👑 This is In the Lion's Den. Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews, podcasts and everything Monarch Nation. 🌐 odumonarchists.com #ODUSoccer #ODU #Monarchs #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #sunbelt Chapters 0:00 ODAF Intro 0:06 ODU Is 5-0 1:20 What the Bucknell Win Revealed 3:00 The Halftime Message 4:45 Squeaky Bum Time Returns 6:00 Ludo's Olimpico Breaks the Dam 7:00 What Exactly Is an Olimpico? 8:15 Did Ludo Actually Mean It? 10:00 ODU Is Finding Different Ways to Win 11:15 20 Goals From Everywhere 12:30 Playing Through the Wind 15:10 Micah Wayland's Comeback 17:30 How Physical Is College Soccer? 19:20 What Makes Jason Purks Special? 21:00 ODU Is Ranked #22 22:40 What Still Needs to Improve? 24:10 Previewing UMBC 25:15 What to Watch Friday Night 26:00 Tennant's Message to Monarch Nation 28:00 Micah Wayland & Jason Purks Join the Show 29:00 Does It Feel Like 5-0? 29:40 Why Micah Chose ODU 30:40 Why Jason Chose ODU 32:20 The Work Fans Don't See 33:00 Micah Breaks Down His Goal 34:10 Jason Purks' Four-Goal Start 35:00 Taking Penalties Under Pressure 37:00 The Olimpico Investigation 38:20 Who Has the Filthiest Finish? 39:00 Hardest Player to Defend 39:30 The Unsung Heroes 40:15 Noah Dietze's Transformation 41:15 Goal Celebrations 41:40 Rapid Fire Begins 44:15 What Makes ODU Different? 45:20 Proving the Preseason Poll Wrong 46:15 Why Fans Need to Pack The Den 47:00 Go Monarchs

🔥 4-0. 17 GOALS. And Old Dominion Men's Soccer is starting to get some national attention. ODU is off to its first 4-0 start since 2012 after absolutely dismantling Radford, 7-1 — and yet Tennant McVea isn't interested in celebrating records. He's interested in what comes NEXT. On the latest episode of In the Lion's Den, Aaron and Mike sit down with Tennant to break down the Monarchs' red-hot start, the offensive explosion, the growing national recognition and why the scary part might be that this team still has plenty of room to improve. Tennant dives into: ⚽ ODU's 4-0 start and 17 goals through four matches 🔥 The 7-1 "drubbing" of Radford 📈 Why the Monarchs are beginning to get national attention 🧠 Why Tennant is chasing PERFORMANCE — not wins or records 💪 How ODU is deliberately putting opponents under pressure 🚑 Tennant McVea's Word of the Day: "Hospital Ball" ⏱️ David "Chapo" Chapman's lightning-fast goal just 55 seconds into the Radford match 🔄 Why getting 24 Monarchs onto the field against Radford matters ⭐ The emergence of freshman Mile Zivkovic and his two-goal performance 📊 Alexander Aguilar becoming an offensive weapon from goalkeeper 🦬 Revenge against Bucknell after ODU "got bisoned" last season 🔍 What makes Bucknell's unusual style so difficult to defend 🏟️ A look ahead to Bucknell and UMBC at the ODU Soccer Stadium 🏈 Plus: Tennant clears up one VERY important issue — Bengals, NOT Ravens. The Monarchs aren't chasing records. They're chasing performance. And right now? The results are following. 👑 This is In the Lion's Den with ODU Men's Soccer Head Coach Tennant McVea. Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews, podcasts and everything Monarch Nation. 🌐 odumonarchists.com #ODUSoccer #ODU #Monarchs #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt Chapters 0:00 In the Lion's Den 0:06 ODU Is 4-0 — First Time Since 2012 2:45 17 Goals — But Tennant Wants Better Defense 4:30 ODU Is Getting National Attention 6:00 Winning Even When You Don't Play Your Best 8:00 How ODU Is Putting Opponents Under Pressure 10:00 Surviving "Squeaky Bum Time" 11:35 Radford Got a Drubbing 12:50 Tennant's Word of the Day: Hospital Ball 14:45 David "Chapo" Chapman Strikes in 55 Seconds 16:05 How Do You Play Against 10 Men? 18:25 The Pursuit of Excellence 20:30 24 Monarchs Get on the Field 23:20 Convincing Competitors to Come Out of the Game 25:20 Mile Zivkovic's Two Goals & Huge Potential 27:40 How Much Better Can ODU Get? 30:20 "We're Not Chasing Wins" 32:30 Revenge Time: Bucknell Preview 35:00 Why Bucknell's Style Is So Unusual 37:45 Alexander Aguilar: Goalkeeper...and Playmaker? 39:20 Scouting UMBC 41:20 Tennant Is NOT a Ravens Fan 42:30 Get Out to the Den 44:55 Go Monarchs

ODU FOOTBALL IS BACK. 🦁🏈 After a 10-win season and a Cure Bowl championship, the expectations around Old Dominion have changed. So what comes next? Mike, Aaron and Justice are back to kick off the 2026 season and there is A LOT to unpack. Can Quinn Henicle take control of a completely different ODU offense? How concerned should we really be about replacing all five starters on the offensive line? Could Cody Cook's new offense actually fit Henicle better than last year's system fit Colton Joseph? And then there's the defense. With Blake Seiler back, ridiculous depth across the defensive front and linebacker rooms, and a ton of proven production returning, could this legitimately be one of the best defenses in the Sun Belt — or even the Group of Six? Then we get into the question that really matters: What should the expectation be for ODU Football in 2026? Seven wins? Nine wins? Win the Sun Belt East? Or is it time to say CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP OR BUST? Plus, we break down Saturday night's season opener against Norfolk State, including: 🏈 What to expect from the new ODU offense 🦁 Why the Monarch defense could be special 👀 Players to watch for Norfolk State ⚔️ The huge early-season stretch against Virginia Tech, ECU and JMU 🔥 Our new “Are We Allowed to Say This?” segment 📈 Our expectations for Quinn Henicle 🏆 How many wins ODU NEEDS in 2026 🎯 What we need to see against Norfolk State 🔮 Final score predictions Norfolk State enters the game after a 56-0 season-opening win over Winston-Salem State, but the Monarchs have much bigger goals ahead. The road starts at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Monarch Nation: SHOW UP. PACK THE CASTLE. LET'S START THIS THING RIGHT. This episode is brought to you by the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation. Also sponsored by Brandon Johnson State Farm. For insurance and investment needs, call 757-264-6267 or visit brandonjohnsonagency.com. 👑 The Monarchists 🌐 odumonarchists.com LIKE the video. SUBSCRIBE to the channel. And tell us in the comments: How many games does ODU win in 2026 — and what's your final score against Norfolk State? GO MONARCHS! 🦁 Chapters 00:00 ODU Football Is BACK 00:54 The Biggest Question Entering 2026 02:00 Can ODU Replace the Entire Offensive Line? 03:00 Why the Locker Room Believes in Quinn Henicle 06:00 Cody Cook's New-Look ODU Offense 08:00 How Different Will the Offense Look? 10:00 Quinn Henicle vs. Colton Joseph 12:45 Why This ODU Defense Could Be Special 15:00 Defensive Depth Is RIDICULOUS 20:00 Could ODU Have a Top-10 Defense? 22:00 The Stretch That Could Define ODU's Season 25:00 Replacing Leadership vs. Replacing Production 28:00 Virginia Tech, ECU, JMU & the Schedule Gauntlet 31:00 Norfolk State Preview 33:00 Norfolk State's Massive Roster Turnover 34:00 Spartans Players ODU Must Watch 37:00 What Do We Actually Learn From This Game? 40:00 What We NEED to See From ODU 43:00 How Long Should the Starters Play? 47:00 ARE WE ALLOWED TO SAY THIS? 47:10 ODU Should Beat Norfolk State by 4 TDs 47:45 Is Anything Less Than 9 Wins a Disappointment? 50:00 Will the 2026 Defense Be BETTER? 51:00 Best Running Back Duo in the Sun Belt? 53:00 Will Quinn Henicle Account for 30 TDs? 54:00 Will Quinn Be a Better Fit Than Colton? 58:00 What Should ODU's Win Total Really Be? 59:00 Conference Championship or Bust? 1:06:35 Norfolk State Score Predictions 1:08:30 Is Virginia Tech Actually Less Important? 1:10:00 Monarch Nation: PACK THE CASTLE

Old Dominion Men’s Soccer is OFF AND RUNNING. The Monarchs are 2-0 with eight goals through their first two matches, and Coach Tennant McVea joins Aaron and Mike for Episode 2 of Season 3 of In The Lion’s Den to break down what has suddenly made this ODU attack so dangerous. We recap the season-opening road win over George Washington and the wild five-goal performance against Elon, including Jason Purks’ huge night, Lewis Rourke’s fast start and Noah Dietze unleashing an absolute 🚀 to help turn the Elon match around. Tennant also dives into why possession might be one of soccer’s most overrated statistics, the analytics that actually matter to ODU, the culture developing inside this locker room, the goalkeeper competition, the new replay/challenge system in college soccer and why the Monarchs need to once again make The Den a miserable place for opponents. Plus, Josh Spencer takes over at Lionsbridge FC and we resurrect one of our favorite segments: ⚽ Tennant McVea’s Word of the Day Today’s lesson? SQUEAKY. BUM. TIME. Yes. This is now officially an educational podcast. The Monarchs are 2-0 for the first time since 2017. Protect The Den. 👑 Go Monarchs! #ODU #ODUSoccer #OldDominion #Monarchs #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt #TheMonarchists ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to In The Lion’s Den 00:30 2-0 and EIGHT goals to start the season 01:30 ODU takes Washington, D.C. 03:45 What went wrong in the final 10 minutes vs. GW? 05:15 Lewis Rourke hits the ground running 06:30 ODU’s goalkeeper competition 08:15 Scoring just 94 seconds into the Elon match 09:55 Elon punches back — how did ODU respond? 11:45 College soccer’s new replay and challenge system 15:30 A veteran moment from Jake Lane 16:05 Jason Purks: ODU’s “glue guy” 18:05 Noah Dietze unleashes a ROCKET 🚀 20:10 Goals are coming from everywhere 21:45 The home stand and PROTECTING THE DEN 23:55 Why ODU’s offense looks completely different 25:40 Soccer analytics: Is possession overrated? 27:45 What fans might not notice about this team 29:45 Josh Spencer takes over Lionsbridge FC 32:15 WORD OF THE DAY: Squeaky Bum Time 😂 34:20 What is a “yo-yo club?” 35:45 Fly catchers and goalkeeper bloopers 37:45 Coaching young keepers through mistakes 39:45 ODU’s hot start & Tennant’s message to Monarch Nation