My daughter just committed play at field hockey at ODU

[AppfaninCAALand]

I thought I would mention it here because I have talked on this board in the past about the recruiting process and the frustrations that seem to be a trickle down effect of the changes aimed at the money sport like football. I won't go into all of it here.

We are so proud, and also relieved that this process is over. For the Mrs and I, Norfolk is much closer for us to attend games than the other school she was seriously considering (Ohio State). She has former high school and club friends/teammates on the Monarchs and loves the coaches, who are well established and stable at the school (in other words, not going anywhere).

I told her yesterday as we watched the App-ODU football game together that ONLY the field hockey team once she joins will get the honor of me cheering for the Monarchs over my Mountaineers. At least its ODU not JMU anyway.

Before this process started, ODU started as a far distant 3rd choice. But UVA was only interested in U16 national team girls (not girls that only made the try out like she did), and the App State staff just never seemed to be interested for some reason, despite all of my daughter's pleading about having parent alumni, loving Boone, wanting to go to college at App since she was 5, and play for the Mountaineers since she first picked up a field hockey stick in 3rd grade. With all of her accolades (among nation's top defenders in class of '26, junior olympics, etc) and her offers from top 25 programs, we thought App would be an easy one to get. Oh well, not be be I guess.

[Bootsy]

Fantastic news, I know you and your better half are very proud!

[JTApps1]

I thought I would mention it here because I have talked on this board in the past about the recruiting process and the frustrations that seem to be a trickle down effect of the changes aimed at the money sport like football. I won't go into all of it here.

We are so proud, and also relieved that this process is over. For the Mrs and I, Norfolk is much closer for us to attend games than the other school she was seriously considering (Ohio State). She has former high school and club friends/teammates on the Monarchs and loves the coaches, who are well established and stable at the school (in other words, not going anywhere).

I told her yesterday as we watched the App-ODU football game together that ONLY the field hockey team once she joins will get the honor of me cheering for the Monarchs over my Mountaineers. At least its ODU not JMU anyway.

Before this process started, ODU started as a far distant 3rd choice. But UVA was only interested in U16 national team girls (not girls that only made the try out like she did), and the App State staff just never seemed to be interested for some reason, despite all of my daughter's pleading about having parent alumni, loving Boone, wanting to go to college at App since she was 5, and play for the Mountaineers since she first picked up a field hockey stick in 3rd grade. With all of her accolades (among nation's top defenders in class of '26, junior olympics, etc) and her offers from top 25 programs, we thought App would be an easy one to get. Oh well, not be be I guess.

All coaching staffs should give at least some sort of communication if the kid of an alumni is interested. It doesn't have to be much but don't just ignore them.

[AppfaninCAALand]

Before this process started, ODU started as a far distant 3rd choice. But UVA was only interested in U16 national team girls (not girls that only made the try out like she did), and the App State staff just never seemed to be interested for some reason, despite all of my daughter's pleading about having parent alumni, loving Boone, wanting to go to college at App since she was 5, and play for the Mountaineers since she first picked up a field hockey stick in 3rd grade. With all of her accolades (among nation's top defenders in class of '26, junior olympics, etc) and her offers from top 25 programs, we thought App would be an easy one to get. Oh well, not be be I guess.

All coaching staffs should give at least some sort of communication if the kid of an alumni is interested. It doesn't have to be much but don't just ignore them.

She (and we) are really happy with her decision since she has friends who will also be on the team and its closer to home.

However, we were really suprised she never got more than a "thanks for your interest" form email from App after all the specialized work she did to market herself to them, and she definately has the talent - UNC's coach even called and expressed interest in her, though no offer came of it. We know it was a form email because one of her HS/club teammates - herself bound for the Richmond Spiders - got the exact same email at the exact same time, so it was BCC'ed. We did expect a phone call at least, especially after a former App assistant called to try to get up to Philadelphia where he is now a 1st head coach.

I really like the hockey staff at App and they are doing a great job (they clinched a 2nd straight regular season MAC championship today) so I won't say anymore about it on a public forum, but it was disappointing.

[Stonewall]

Disappointing.

[spacemonkey]

I speak with my children (mostly grown) not to read too much into adult decisions that don't make sense. Some things just aren't meant to be even if you have done all of the necessary work to deserve the respect or the job. Consider the choice...self reflect...make sure you did everything you could and MOVE ON!!!!

I hope she has an awesome journey/career/time at ODU. Wish you all luck and success.

[biggie]

Congrats.

Mine was accepted at App 3 days after applying. But since it is here 4th pick right now there isn’t much chance she goes there. She knows I won’t be wearing her schools gear or anything.

[Mjohn1988]

Trust me when I tell you App doesn’t care at all about “legacy” students. NOT AT ALL!!!

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Congrats.

Mine was accepted at App 3 days after applying. But since it is here 4th pick right now there isn’t much chance she goes there. She knows I won’t be wearing her schools gear or anything.

You gotta wear your kids gear when you visit them. You don’t have to cheer for that school but you gotta wear some of the gear. At least a shirt. This is true even if the child is going to GaSo.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

Trust me when I tell you App doesn’t care at all about “legacy” students. NOT AT ALL!!!

I am not sure if they should. If it is a toss-up then lean into the legacy, but that is as as far as it should go. That is true for any school.

[Bigdaddyg1]

My youngest boys played a lot of baseball. One asked me if I’d be mad if he played ball at another school besides App (never actually played college ball). I said son I’d be the biggest fan of wherever you go! Currently one is a senior at App and twin at NC State. I cheer for the Pack as well but once he’s done I won’t give a crap!

[biggie]

Congrats.

Mine was accepted at App 3 days after applying. But since it is here 4th pick right now there isn’t much chance she goes there. She knows I won’t be wearing her schools gear or anything.

You gotta wear your kids gear when you visit them. You don’t have to cheer for that school but you gotta wear some of the gear. At least a shirt. This is true even if the child is going to GaSo.

I can't do it. She hates everything I like so it's even. She'll most likely be at Chapel Hill or Clemson.

[AppinVA]

Congrats.

Mine was accepted at App 3 days after applying. But since it is here 4th pick right now there isn’t much chance she goes there. She knows I won’t be wearing her schools gear or anything.

You gotta wear your kids gear when you visit them. You don’t have to cheer for that school but you gotta wear some of the gear. At least a shirt. This is true even if the child is going to GaSo.

I can't do it. She hates everything I like so it's even. She'll most likely be at Chapel Hill or Clemson.

I’ll wear “[insert school name here] Dad” shirt, but other than that, I only wear App gear. And I’ve told them I will absolutely refuse to wear a JMU Dad shirt.

[AppfaninCAALand]

Congrats.

Mine was accepted at App 3 days after applying. But since it is here 4th pick right now there isn’t much chance she goes there. She knows I won’t be wearing her schools gear or anything.

You gotta wear your kids gear when you visit them. You don’t have to cheer for that school but you gotta wear some of the gear. At least a shirt. This is true even if the child is going to GaSo.

I can't do it. She hates everything I like so it's even. She'll most likely be at Chapel Hill or Clemson.

I’ll wear “[insert school name here] Dad” shirt, but other than that, I only wear App gear. And I’ve told them I will absolutely refuse to wear a JMU Dad shirt.

I told my daughter I was cool with wearing the ODU stuff but it would have been really hard if she had taken the offers from JMU or Liberty. Luckily, she wasn't interested in those two (though honestly JMU is similar enough to App, I am kind of suprised she didn't like the Dukes - I think it was the coaches that turned her off there).

[AppfaninCAALand]

Trust me when I tell you App doesn’t care at all about “legacy” students. NOT AT ALL!!!

I am not sure if they should. If it is a toss-up then lean into the legacy, but that is as as far as it should go. That is true for any school.

I completely agree. Schools can run into long term problems if they favor legacies in sports, even if they are only filling the practice squad/walkon/benchwarmers with them.

My wife (not an App grad) was a little angry, but I am not upset in the slightest - only suprised because she was getting interest from ACC and BigTen schools.

[biggie]

Congrats.

Mine was accepted at App 3 days after applying. But since it is here 4th pick right now there isn’t much chance she goes there. She knows I won’t be wearing her schools gear or anything.

You gotta wear your kids gear when you visit them. You don’t have to cheer for that school but you gotta wear some of the gear. At least a shirt. This is true even if the child is going to GaSo.

I can't do it. She hates everything I like so it's even. She'll most likely be at Chapel Hill or Clemson.

I’ll wear “[insert school name here] Dad” shirt, but other than that, I only wear App gear. And I’ve told them I will absolutely refuse to wear a JMU Dad shirt.

I may commit to a "school" dad sticker on vehicle (I'm sure wife will have one on hers and I drive hers more than mine due to mpg). Or I'd prefer the ones that say my daughter and my money go to...

[Mjohn1988]

Trust me when I tell you App doesn’t care at all about “legacy” students. NOT AT ALL!!!

I am not sure if they should. If it is a toss-up then lean into the legacy, but that is as as far as it should go. That is true for any school.

Not saying it should be a huge deal but it could be a strategic thing. My daughter didn’t need any help getting into App. She had grades well above Apps standards. But she left App after one semester with a 4.0GPA. I was disappointed when no one from App contacted her to ask why. In our case Lex was a third generation student with both patents and a grandfather who graduated from App. Schools are always trying to get alumni to give back to the school and this is where the potential strategy comes into play. We give to App. and our daughter was going to App. for the nursing program. So here you have a family that is involved with the university and a student who is going into a program that will probably allow her to have some disposable income and you don’t care at all why she is leaving. So I think there could be some value in “legacy” students. I would guess the chance of a “legacy” student with parents who donate to App becoming someone who also donates to App are probably higher than the average student. And Lex starts PA school in January and that will substantially increase her income and thus her ability to give back.

[AppinVA]

Congrats.

Mine was accepted at App 3 days after applying. But since it is here 4th pick right now there isn’t much chance she goes there. She knows I won’t be wearing her schools gear or anything.

You gotta wear your kids gear when you visit them. You don’t have to cheer for that school but you gotta wear some of the gear. At least a shirt. This is true even if the child is going to GaSo.

I can't do it. She hates everything I like so it's even. She'll most likely be at Chapel Hill or Clemson.

I’ll wear “[insert school name here] Dad” shirt, but other than that, I only wear App gear. And I’ve told them I will absolutely refuse to wear a JMU Dad shirt.

I told my daughter I was cool with wearing the ODU stuff but it would have been really hard if she had taken the offers from JMU or Liberty. Luckily, she wasn't interested in those two (though honestly JMU is similar enough to App, I am kind of suprised she didn't like the Dukes - I think it was the coaches that turned her off there).

One of my kids said JMU is like App, but from Temu. She said they’re similar, but not alike enough to confuse one for the other. She has no desire for the JMU campus, which is a relief for me.