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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

CB, Gary and Coach Finny have good news about stadium construction and pictures of the progress. Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Paul Panik joins the guys for a deep dive on the 20 new guys joining the team. Plus Rodeo Clowns and Zonkeys?

Why does Old Dominion continue to win at such a high level in college tennis? ODU Women's Tennis Head Coach Dom Manilla and ODU Men's Tennis Head Coach Dominik Mueller join Aaron and Mike for a wide-ranging conversation about the championship culture both programs have built — and what it takes to sustain that success as college athletics changes around them. The two Doms take us inside their different approaches to recruiting, roster construction, NIL and the transfer portal, including why Mueller believes the portal has actually opened doors for ODU to land better freshmen. They also tackle a much bigger issue facing college athletics: tennis programs around the country being eliminated as athletic departments face increasing financial pressure. Manilla explains why winning, fundraising, community support and running a first-class program have never been more important. Plus: 🎾 Why ODU tennis has been so consistently successful 🎾 The culture behind both programs 🎾 International recruiting and developing players at ODU 🎾 Why Fowlkes-Stevens is a major advantage 🎾 ODU's changing campus and student-athlete experience 🎾 The addition of Ashley Anthon to the women's tennis staff 🎾 NIL, the transfer portal and college tennis' new “money race” 🎾 The alarming disappearance of college tennis programs 🎾 Pickleball invading the tennis world 🎾 ODU's growing pipeline to professional tennis 🎾 Yuliia Starodubtseva's rise on the pro tour 🎾 Who wins if Dom plays Dom? 🎾 Rafa, Djokovic, Sabalenka and the best players they've seen live 🎾 Why college tennis is NOTHING like the country-club version you see on TV 🎾 And the proper way for Monarch Nation to get LOUD at an ODU tennis match Manilla's challenge to Monarch Nation is simple: come to one ODU tennis match and see if you don't want to come back. ODU Women's Tennis opens its home schedule January 30 against Florida State, followed by home matches with Kansas and Maryland in early February. 🌐 ODUMonarchists.com Subscribe to The Monarchists for conversations with the players, coaches and people who make Old Dominion athletics what it is. Be a Monarchist. This episode is presented with support from the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation. Become a member and help create winners in the classroom, in athletic competition and in life. Go Monarchs! #ODU #OldDominion #ODUTennis #OldDominionTennis #Monarchs #MonarchNation #TheMonarchists #CollegeTennis #sunbelt Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Dom & Dommer 01:00 The State of ODU Tennis 02:30 The Pressure to Keep Winning 04:00 Why Does ODU Tennis Win So Much? 07:30 Building Fowlkes-Stevens 09:30 Recruiting Internationally 11:30 What Makes the Ideal ODU Tennis Recruit? 13:30 Bringing International Players to ODU 15:45 How Much Has ODU Changed? 18:00 The Student-Athlete Dining Hall & Selling ODU 20:00 Ashley Anthon Joins ODU Women's Tennis 23:00 NIL, the Transfer Portal & 5-for-5 24:00 Why the Transfer Portal Has HELPED ODU 27:00 The New “Money Race” in College Athletics 27:30 Why College Tennis Programs Are Disappearing 30:00 Winning, Fundraising & Protecting Your Program 32:00 Pickleball Takes Over 35:00 Agassi, Jack Sock & Tennis Stars Playing Pickleball 38:30 ODU's Pipeline to Professional Tennis 40:00 Yuliia Starodubtseva & ODU on the Pro Tour 42:00 Rapid Fire: Dom vs. Dom 43:30 Where ODU Tennis Players Eat 45:30 Grass, Clay or Hard Court? 48:00 Rafa, Djokovic & Sabalenka 49:00 Creating an Elite ODU Tennis Atmosphere 50:00 College Tennis Is NOT a Country-Club Sport 54:30 How Monarch Nation Should Cheer at Tennis 58:00 Players, Officials & Talking Trash 1:00:00 Florida State Comes to Norfolk 1:01:00 Go Monarchs!

Old Dominion legend Kent Bazemore joins The Monarchists for a wide-ranging conversation about his remarkable journey from a tiny North Carolina town to ODU basketball and a decade in the NBA. Baze takes us back to the beginning — arriving at Old Dominion as a raw 164-pound redshirt, battling his way up the depth chart, becoming one of college basketball’s elite defenders, winning championships and helping create one of the greatest eras in Monarch basketball history. Then we head to the NBA. Kent tells us how an undrafted opportunity with Golden State changed his life, why he embraced being the best teammate he could be even when he wasn’t playing, what it was like sharing locker rooms with Steph Curry, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, and why those 60-win Atlanta Hawks were so special. And yes, there are stories. The infamous Warriors popcorn-car prank. His first encounter with Kobe. Battling LeBron. The heartbreak of Butler. Life as a Laker. His Atlanta years. Going back to the G League after a decade in the NBA. And how golf became much more than another sport. Kent also gets candid about fatherhood, burnout, life after the NBA, what he wants to do next in basketball, and why he believes Old Dominion can build something special again. For Monarch Nation, this one is personal. Like. Subscribe. Share it with a Monarch. Go Monarchs! 👑 #ODU #OldDominion #KentBazemore #ODUBasketball #MonarchNation #NBA #CollegeBasketball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 – Welcome, Kent Bazemore 01:00 – From a Town of 300 to Old Dominion 04:00 – Why Baze Chose ODU 06:00 – The Redshirt Year That Changed Everything 09:00 – Humility, Development & Not Skipping Steps 12:00 – The ODU Teammates Who Made Him Better 15:00 – Becoming an Elite Defender 19:00 – The ODU-VCU Rivalry & Richmond Coliseum 21:00 – When the Monarchs Knew They Were Good 24:00 – The Game Kent Still Remembers 27:00 – BAZE: Explain This Photo 28:00 – Butler Heartbreak & Getting Even With Brad Stevens 29:00 – The Infamous Warriors Popcorn Prank 30:00 – Becoming a Laker & Meeting Kobe Bryant 33:00 – Undrafted: How He Made the NBA 35:00 – The Art of the Chase-Down Block 38:00 – Guarding the Best Players on Earth 40:00 – Battling LeBron James 43:00 – Why the 60-Win Atlanta Hawks Were Special 46:00 – What Atlanta Meant Beyond Basketball 48:00 – Why Kent Fell in Love With Golf 51:00 – Golf vs. Basketball: Which Has More Pressure? 54:00 – Why He Went Back to the G League 58:00 – Fatherhood & Being Present 1:00:00 – Looking Back on an Incredible Basketball Life 1:03:00 – What Kent Bazemore Is Doing Now 1:07:00 – Steph Curry to Boston?! 1:10:00 – Kent’s Message to Monarch Nation

Season 3 of In The Lion's Den is here — and we're kicking it off with the entire ODU Men's Soccer coaching crew. Head Coach Tennant McVea is joined by assistant coaches Josh Spencer and Nathan Jones for our complete preview of the 2026 Old Dominion Men's Soccer season. The Monarchs have added another deep recruiting class with talent from Virginia, across the country and around the world. We break down the newcomers, how they fit what ODU wants to become, the returners who have taken another step, and why size, athleticism and character were priorities in building this roster. Then we get to the bigger question: What should ODU Soccer look like in 2026? After a season filled with games decided on a knife edge, McVea talks about turning competitiveness into wins, finding consistency and putting Old Dominion back into the NCAA Tournament conversation. We also dive into: • The 2026 recruiting class • ODU's growing international recruiting network • The goalkeeper competition • Why the Monarchs got bigger and more physical • How the coaching staff divides responsibilities • Sports science, load management and performance data • Which returners could take the next step • The toughest games on the 2026 schedule • West Virginia, Elon and the Royal Rivalry with JMU • The NCAA's new coach's challenge system • The new eight-second goalkeeper rule • Why different college soccer balls actually matter • Which ODU coach is most likely to cost Tennant a yellow card • ODU's new recovery space and athletic dining facility • Why Norfolk itself has become an increasingly strong recruiting pitch Plus, Josh gives us the story of following England around during the World Cup — even if it wasn't exactly the most financially responsible month of his life. The first chance to see the 2026 Monarchs is Friday, August 14 at 4 PM when ODU hosts American in a FREE exhibition at the ODU Soccer Complex. Welcome back to the Lion's Den. Subscribe to The Monarchists for ODU athletics coverage all year long. Go Monarchs! ODUMonarchists.com #ODUSoccer #OldDominion #GoMonarchs #SunBeltSoccer #BeAMonarchist CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Season 3 00:48 What's Changed Around ODU Soccer? 03:00 Josh Spencer's World Cup Adventure 04:40 How the ODU Coaching Staff Works 07:30 Sports Science, Data & Load Management 09:20 Meet the 2026 Recruiting Class 10:30 The Goalkeeper Battle 13:45 ODU's Nottingham Connection 17:00 Adding Size, Experience & International Talent 19:00 Building the Commonwealth Cup 20:30 Why ODU Got Bigger in 2026 23:20 More New Faces Join the Monarchs 26:30 Winning Virginia in Recruiting 28:00 Building the Next Generation 31:00 Roar & Pour + Back to Soccer 32:00 Which Returners Took the Biggest Step? 34:00 What Should ODU Soccer Look Like in 2026? 36:00 Turning Close Games Into Wins 38:20 Breaking Down the 2026 Schedule 39:20 NCAA's New Coach's Challenge Rule 42:45 When Do You Use a Challenge? 44:20 ODU's Sideline Replay Strategy 46:00 The New 8-Second Goalkeeper Rule 48:00 Does the Soccer Ball Actually Matter? 50:00 Which Coach Will Get the Most Yellow Cards? 51:15 The ONE Game You Need to Attend 54:20 What Makes ODU Stand Out to Recruits? 57:00 Norfolk's Underrated Recruiting Advantage 59:30 Final Thoughts + Go Monarchs