WKU Football: Old Dominion Q&A with Underdog Dynasty’s Reese Becker
We’re one day away from WKU‘s road trip to Norfolk, Virginia to take on ODU. With WKU having a chance to avenge last year’s heartbreaking…
We’re one day away from WKU‘s road trip to Norfolk, Virginia to take on ODU. With WKU having a chance to avenge last year’s heartbreaking loss and move to 3–0 in conference, we thought that we’d get an ODU perspective on the game. Luckily for us, we got Reese Becker from Underdog Dynasty to give us his thoughts on this ODU team, the program, the game, and his predictions. Without further adieu, here is our conversation with Reese.
ODU is off to a 1–3 start but they were in every game. Do you attribute the results to competition level or inexperience?
The competition level thus far in the Monarchs season has been fierce, no matter what the public may think of Virginia Tech, that is still a national brand, and whenever you play them at Lane Stadium, it’s going to be a tough one. UVA was ranked 21st at the time ODU traveled to Charlottesville and that was a big challenge. I think the Monarchs proved they can hang with those kinds of teams, leading UVA 17–0 at the half before falling to the Cavs.
There have been a few key injuries this season, and that played a part in the ECU game, but in college football, luck also has to be there and a few calls have to go your way, if the Stone Smartt fumble is ruled a touchdown, I don’t think this team is 1–3 and this team is more talented than their record indicates.
Geographically Old Dominion is the only FBS school in the highly populated Hampton Roads region (1.7 million people) with the closest P5 school 2.5 hours away (UVA). What is the support level for the program and the potential of the school?
Fans here love the Monarchs and it shows walking around town, as a resident of this area for 18 of my 27 years on God’s green Earth, I can tell you that this area loves college football. Old Dominion has an amazing fanbase and I think all you have to do is go on social media and see all the people talking about the Monarchs on Saturday’s, or go to a local Walmart and see that it’s ODU merch in the aisles much more than it is VT or UVA nowadays.
The Potential, especially after the new Kornblau Field at S.B Ballard Stadium project is unlimited. I have told people countless times that I could very well see a Gameday visit one day, and a sellout streak beginning. In the 11 years of football at ODU the team and fans have come a very long way, they continue to win over Tech and UVA fans and gain popularity. This is very much Hampton Roads’ team.
Now onto the game…
After losing last year’s starting quarterback Blake LaRussa to the seminary, ODU has settled on Juco transfer Stone Smartt at quarterback. How has he done? What kind of player is he?
Stone is an amazing young man and a very good quarterback, he is a good leader and in my eyes reminds me of Cam Newton with his ability to run the ball and his size, 6ft 4in, 220lbs for Smartt vs Cam’s 6ft 5in, 245lbs. Stone is a very talented runner and can also burn you with his arm.
I think the loss of three key players versus ECU hampered his ability, but two of those players should be back this week. Stone Smartt is a very exciting young man to watch on the field.
After years of having strong running back play (Ray Lawry & Jeremy Cox), ODU hasn’t gotten nearly as much production out of the unit. What are the factors leading to the decline at the crucial position?
I think Stone Smartt’s running ability has changed the face of the rushing attack, that and Lala Davis’ and OL Nick Saldivieri’s absence changed the way the Monarchs ran versus ECU but the combo of Lala Davis, Kesean Strong, and the others in the backfield has great potential.
Who are some other skill position players that WKU should worry about on Saturday?
If WKU is looking to skill players to be worried about I would say RBs Lala Davis and Kesean Strong, WRs Eric Kumah and Hasaan Patterson, and TE Chris Cunningham would all be good choices.
Kumah and Cunningham are transfers from Virginia Tech, Patterson and Strong are redshirt seniors, and Davis is a redshirt freshman.
Tyson Helton raved about ODU’s Defense during Monday’s press conference. The unit has only allowed 306 yards per game. Why has it been so successful thus far?
I think the ODU defense is actually the better side of the ball from redshirt junior LB Lawrence Gardner to redshirt freshman DE James Valle to the improved backfield with FSU transfer Calvin Brewton. The aggressiveness of the defense is key and new DC David Blackwell has the defense looking very stout.
There are numerous other playmakers on the defense (Ford-Dement, Boykin, etc.) but the key has been David Blackwell coming over from ECU and I think Gardner and the returning starters gained a lot from playing with a guy like Oshane Ximinies last season.
How do you see the game playing out? What is your prediction?
This is going to be a very good game, I’m not much for score predictions but I think ODU will pull the victory out, it should be a close game though.
I want to thank Reese for taking the time to do this q&a with us. You can read his work on Underdog Dynasty and follow his twitter account @ReeseBecker for fun analysis and reaction to Saturday’s matchup. He also writes for VirginiaPreps covering high school sports in the Hampton Roads area.