CHARLOTTESVILLE – So what have we learned from Old Dominion University’s two back-to-back road games against ACC, in-state opponents in which the Monarchs were four-touchdown underdogs?
We now know that this team is much better than expected. Conference USA coaches picked ODU to finish sixth in the 7-team East Division, and some prognosticators picked the Monarchs to finish last.
And who could blame them? ODU lost 23 seniors, including two NFL draft picks, from last year’s 4-8 team. It had no appreciable experience at quarterback, where a junior college player would have to step in, and little experience at wide receiver or the offensive and defensive lines.