The Monarchists

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 tournamentThe 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/SoccerODU1Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews and podcasts.#ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBeltChapters0:00 In the Lion’s Den0:40 Breaking Down the Kentucky Loss2:20 “You Can’t Score Two and Get Nothing”3:20 What Went Wrong Defensively?4:40 Momentum After ODU’s Equalizer6:30 27 Goals Early — What Changed?7:30 ODU’s Crisis of Confidence8:40 Lewis Rourke Is Back9:40 Where Does Defending Actually Start?12:00 How ODU Tracks Defensive Performance14:20 When Soccer Analytics Become Misleading16:20 Measuring ODU’s Press17:10 8-3 Overall, 0-3 in the Sun Belt18:30 Scouting West Virginia20:10 Can ODU Make West Virginia Uncomfortable?21:10 Phrase of the Day: “Catch Yourself On”23:10 The ODU Band Is Coming Back24:15 Why The Den Matters Friday25:30 Club Soccer Night & Monarchs Give Back27:00 ODU Soccer Gear28:30 The ODU Soccer Golf Tournament30:10 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 #TheMonarchistsChapters00:00 A Tough Monday for Monarch Nation01:00 Georgia State Dominates ODU02:00 Devin Roche Provides the Lone Spark04:00 Has Everything Snowballed Since ECU?06:00 Credit to Georgia State08:00 Fan Question: Why Is ODU Getting Worse?10:00 The Offense Is Affecting the Defense13:00 ODU Has Lost Its Running Identity14:00 What Happened to the Wide Splits?16:00 Monarch Nation Is Frustrated18:00 Can the Offense Even Be Fixed?20:00 Are We Getting 2019 Vibes?22:00 Leadership Becomes Critical24:00 How Much Harder Is the Climb Now?26:00 Breaking Down the Offensive Line31:00 When Do You Change the Starting Five?33:00 The Quarterback Conundrum35:00 Brandon Johnson State Farm36:00 App State Preview38:00 App State’s Passing Attack40:00 Malachi Singleton Is Dangerous41:00 App State Players to Watch43:00 Is This Season Off the Rails?46:00 How Does ODU Beat the Pressure?48:00 ODU Needs Explosive Plays50:00 Why Fans Should Stay Engaged53:00 Is There Still a Path Back?55:00 Appreciating the Veteran Monarchs57:00 Basketball & Soccer Updates1:01:00 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 NorfolkODU 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.comBuy your ODU Soccer gear at: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/SoccerODU1Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews and podcasts.#ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBeltChapters0:00 In the Lion's Den0:06 "We Were Second to Everything"1:30 What Georgia Southern Did to ODU2:45 ODU Didn't Look Like Itself3:45 What Changed in the Second Half?5:00 VAR, Momentum & Emotional Swings7:30 Sometimes It's Just Not Your Night8:10 8-2 Overall, 0-2 in the Sun Belt9:30 The Target Is Now on ODU's Back10:20 Performance Over Points11:20 Avoiding Recency Bias12:15 The Little Details Matter14:00 ODU Soccer's Alumni Connection18:00 Tim Hopkinson & the ODU Legacy19:45 ODU Soccer Gear20:30 Word of the Day: "Scundered"22:20 Kentucky Is Better Than Its Record24:10 What Kentucky Showed Against UCF25:45 How Different Playing Surfaces Matter27:20 Soccer Fields Aren't All the Same Size?!29:20 ODU Is 8-2 — Keep Perspective30:45 Finally Getting a Full Training Week32:20 Early Look at West Virginia34:00 Why West Virginia at ODU Will Be Special35:00 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 1-3Then 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 #TheMonarchistsChapters00:00 Jonathan Plisco & Jarod Brown Join the Show01:00 Five Straight Losses to JMU02:00 What Went Wrong?03:00 Ryan Huff’s Impressive First Start05:00 Nine Sacks & ODU’s Protection Problems06:00 Nathaniel Eichner Continues to Deliver09:00 TJ Johnson, Leon Haughton & Passing Game Positives10:00 Is the Play Calling Evolving?11:00 Why Can’t ODU Run the Football?13:00 18 Sacks Through Four Games16:00 ODU Starts Fighting Back17:00 The Illegal Substitution Backbreaker22:00 What Happened to the Defense?25:00 How Does ODU Fix the Penalties?29:00 Shaq Leaks Steps Up31:00 Can ODU Become a Good Football Team?34:00 Fixing the Little Things37:00 Is 1-3 Really a Surprise?38:00 It’s HOW ODU Got to 1-339:00 Should ODU Just Air It Out?40:00 Leadership Has to Take Over48:00 ODU’s Fumbling Problem50:00 Georgia State Preview Begins51:00 The Difference Between 2-3 and 1-453:00 Is Georgia State a Must-Win?55:00 Breaking Down the Panthers59:00 Georgia State Players to Watch1:01:00 Confidence vs. Confidence1:03:00 Is Georgia State the Get-Right Game?1:05:00 Justice Checks In1:07:00 ODU vs Georgia State Predictions1:11:00 More Nathaniel Eichner Love1:16:00 ODU Hall of Fame Weekend1:18:00 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.comGet all of your Old Dominion Soccer Team Apparel at: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/SoccerODU1Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews and podcasts.#ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBeltChapters0:00 In the Lion's Den0:20 George Maire & David Chapman Join Us1:00 Liverpool, Nottingham & the Scouse Accent2:40 What ODU Learned From Its First Loss4:00 Chapo's Journey to College Soccer5:00 A 6'4" Center Back Who Scores Goals6:00 George Maire's Role in the Midfield6:45 Why Arriving in the Spring Mattered7:15 Building an International Locker Room8:15 Responding After Falling Behind William & Mary9:30 The Growing ODU Soccer Crowd11:00 Who Has the Strongest Accent?12:30 Why George & Chapo Chose ODU14:00 Adjusting to Life in America15:00 British Food We Need to Try17:00 British Phrases Americans Don't Understand18:20 The Story Behind "Chapo"19:00 Locker Room Rapid Fire22:00 Best Finisher on the Team23:15 Who DON'T You Want Beside You on the Bus?24:30 Georgia Southern Preview25:30 What They Love About America29:00 Tennant McVea Joins the Show29:20 Lessons From #1 South Carolina31:15 The Disallowed Goal & VAR33:30 An Incredible Night at The Den38:45 Bouncing Back Against William & Mary41:15 ODU Has More Backbone42:45 How the Culture Changed45:45 Staying in the National Rankings48:20 Reconnecting ODU Soccer's Legacy52:20 Scouting Georgia Southern54:00 Phrase of the Day: "On a Sixpence"55:30 Life on the Road in the Sun Belt58:30 Tennant's 20th Win1:01:00 Perfect Football Weather1:03:00 How a Wet Pitch Changes the Game1:05:00 Hard Ground vs. Soft Ground Boots1:07:00 Nike, Adidas & British Pronunciation1:08:40 Tennant's Message to Monarch Nation1:10:00 Supporting ODU Soccer