Coach Wilder won't let Monarchs be content

NORFOLK

It's been said and written many times, but repeating the story again doesn't diminish the achievement of Old Dominion football.

At three years old, Bobby Wilder's baby is the youngest program to reach the playoffs. So it follows that after Saturday's 35-18 victory over Norfolk State, the Monarchs are now the youngest program to advance to the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision tournament.

The firsts just keep coming, along with thrills that should keep ODU fans warm through the winter.

If the final satisfying memory of an improbably successful season is a convincing playoff victory at home on a pleasant, sky-blue afternoon against a crosstown opponent, that should be enough to hold the boosters until next season.

But don't talk that way around Wilder. He's barred contentment from his locker room.

"Otherwise," he said, "we won't have a shot to win next weekend."

No self-respecting football team would ever admit to feeling "just happy to be here," though ODU has every right to as it approaches its game against Georgia Southern, ranked No. 2 in one national poll. The Monarchs are the toddler who tripped up the CAA grownups. No matter what happens Saturday, they've written a story like no other in the FCS.

But that's not what Wilder is thinking now.

"We have to play with the mindset that we want to win the national championship," he said a few minutes after his team, behind five touchdown passes from Taylor Heinicke, showed that the Monarchs can be a handful for anybody.

The toughest opponent an ODU football team has ever played, Georgia Southern presents a unique challenge because of its triple-option attack. The Monarchs' defense has a lot of work to do this week.

"But they've got a short window to get ready for our offense, too," Wilder said matter-of-factly.

Norfolk State's defense thought it was prepared for ODU. Pete Adrian's schemes stopped ODU's running game while often dropping eight men in pass coverage.

On many of Heinicke's 28 pass attempts, his prime receivers were covered. The freshman adjusted by sliding left and right to avoid the rush before picking out a target. When pressed even harder, he sometimes ran the ball.

Adrian called Heinicke's theatrics "offense by accident," adding that "there's a real talent to be able to do that."

While the occasion was far from routine, ODU's scoring totals were; the Monarchs came in averaging 35.8 points per game.

Afterward, ODU players took the result relatively in stride. There were no on-field celebrations usually associated with victories over a big rival.

Maybe that's because the Monarchs are focused on the future. But it also reflected a truth about this embryonic rivalry. Norfolk State simply isn't the biggest hide on ODU's wall. For the time being, the rivalry is more rhetorical than real for Wilder's team.

Fans brought passion to the game - Spartans quarterback Chris Walley said that crowd noise made it difficult for him and the offense - but for ODU's players and its program, victories over William and Mary and James Madison - conference blue bloods - resonate more.

Now Wilder is looking beyond the city limits and CAA horizons to the bigger picture, stressing urgency.

Recently, he had his eight seniors stand up to remind them that this is their last chance for a national title. Then he had his 25 juniors stand up.

"And I said," Wilder related, "'You may not be back to the playoffs, either.' "

Next season's success, he was telling them, isn't guaranteed. The moment is now.

Norfolk State finishes 9-3, and with many reasons to feel good about itself.

For ODU, reflection will have to wait at least another week.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com