The Monarchists

The Monarchists

The Monarchists, Mike and Aaron, sit down with Old Dominion University (ODU) alums, athletes and coaches (current and former) to discuss the school, their experiences and how their lives have been impacted by the school and their athletic programs.

  1. 5 dgn geleden

    Brandon Carr Helped Build ODU Football. Now He’s Building Young Men

    Brandon Carr helped build Old Dominion Football from the ground up. Now the former Monarch offensive lineman is building football players, leaders and young men as the head coach at Indian River High School. Coach Carr joins Aaron and Mike to pull back the curtain on ODU Football’s original era, including the brutal offseason workouts that established the program’s standard, the moment the Monarchs realized they belonged, the comeback from 21 points down at JMU and what made ODU’s explosive 2011 offense so difficult to stop. Brandon also explains how an aspiring baseball player and future FBI agent discovered his calling as a football coach. He breaks down his relationship-driven coaching philosophy, the importance of consistency and accountability, and how Indian River has created a culture in which players fall in love with the work. The offensive line talk gets deep, too. Brandon discusses how he evaluates young linemen, why fundamentals and athleticism create a true mean streak, the meaning behind “Doing Simple Great” and why he partnered with former UVA and NFL linebacker Eli Harold to develop the next generation of big men in the 757. Plus: • The lessons Brandon learned at Fork Union • Why he chose ODU and believed in Bobby Wilder’s vision • What happened inside the locker room during the JMU comeback • The brotherhood that makes offensive line rooms different • Why relationships still matter in the NIL era • His most important advice for recruits: “Love who loves you” • A preview of Indian River’s experienced 2026 team • His DMX pregame soundtrack • The former Monarch he would add to Indian River’s roster • Why ODU Football’s best days are still ahead This episode is brought to you by the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation. Because of you, we create winners in the classroom, in athletic competition and in life. Become an ODAF member today. Like the episode, subscribe to The Monarchists and tell us your favorite memory from the original era of ODU Football. Go Monarchs! #ODUFootball #MonarchNation #757Football Chapters 00:00 ODAF Intro 00:17 Meet Brandon Carr 00:48 From Baseball Dreams to Football 03:31 Fork Union and Relentless Determination 05:19 Building ODU Football From the Ground Up 08:10 Delaware, Belief and the Explosive 2011 Offense 10:28 Wing-T Roots and Becoming ODU’s Center 12:05 Why Brandon Chose Old Dominion 14:20 From FBI Plans to a Coaching Calling 17:05 Inside ODU’s Comeback at JMU 19:35 Brandon Carr’s Coaching Philosophy 22:35 Becoming Indian River’s Head Coach 24:50 Creating Buy-In Through Consistency 27:45 Falling in Love With the Work 28:40 How Brandon Develops Offensive Linemen 30:10 Building the 757’s Big Men With Eli Harold 31:30 What “Doing Simple Great” Really Means 32:32 Technique, Athleticism and the Mean Streak 35:06 How Offensive Line Play Has Evolved 36:40 Teaching Football Without Overcomplicating It 38:25 Recruiting Advice: “Love Who Loves You” 40:20 Brandon’s Advice to His Younger Self 42:03 Previewing Indian River’s 2026 Team 43:25 The Game Everyone Circles 44:00 Rapid Fire: O-Line Life, DMX and Nick Mayers 47:05 The Most Rewarding Part of Coaching 48:05 Brandon’s Message to Monarch Nation

  2. 7 jul

    He Walked On at ODU, Won a Ring, Now He's a Head Coach at 27 | Robbie Duncan

    He walked on at Old Dominion with zero scholarship offers from the D1 level — and left as a 4-year starter, team captain, and CAA Champion. Now Robbie Duncan is the Head Football Coach at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, building a program from the ground up in Hampton Roads. In this episode of The Monarchists Podcast, Robbie sits down with Mike and Aaron to talk about: 🏈 Walking onto ODU's brand-new program in 2008 and turning a preferred walk-on spot into a full ride 🏈 The legendary 2010 ODU offensive line — Ryan Jensen, Brandon Carr, Jeremy Hensley, and the infamous "Prick of the Week" t-shirt 🏈 His (very good) impressions of Coach Bobby Wilder, Bro Scott, and Bill Dee 🏈 Why he turned down a shot at pro football because of a herniated disc 🏈 Building a coaching philosophy at Western Branch before taking over at NSA 🏈 The public vs. private school football debate — and why he thinks private programs get disrespected 🏈 The insane story of how he met his wife, Kelly (she hit his car) 🏈 A zombie apocalypse survival squad built entirely out of former ODU offensive linemen 🏈 Why the Norfolk Academy rivalry game is a must-see this fall Whether you're a Monarch die-hard, a Hampton Roads high school football fan, or you bleed Saints green and gold at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, this one's for you. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS BELOW 👇 Subscribe for more ODU Football, Baseball, and Women's Basketball coverage all season long. Follow The Monarchists: X: @ODUMonarchists Instagram: @odumonarchists Facebook: @ODUMonarchists Website: odumonarchists.com This episode is brought to you by the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation. Because of you, we create winners in the classroom, in athletic competition, and in life. Become a member today. #ODUFootball #Monarchs #NansemondSuffolkAcademy #HamptonRoadsFootball #757Football #CAAFootball #FCSFootball #OffensiveLine #HighSchoolFootball #virginiafootball 00:00 Intro — Welcome Coach Robbie Duncan 00:12 Falling in love with football (and a full-pads panic attack) 02:00 The coach who leveled up his game in high school 03:00 Why Northern Virginia keeps producing great offensive linemen 04:00 Why ODU: his Hall of Fame grandfather and choosing ODU over CNU 06:00 Redshirt year, 4-year starter, and winning a CAA Championship 07:00 The scholarship call at Nags Head — and getting bumped to full ride 09:00 Breaking down the legendary 2010 O-line — Jensen, Carr, Hensley & more 12:00 The "Prick of the Week" T-shirt story 13:00 Robbie's coach impressions: Bobby Wilder, Bro Scott & Bill Dee 17:00 Why he chose coaching over chasing pro football 19:00 Why ODU O-linemen keep becoming coaches 22:00 Learning the ropes at Western Branch High School 23:30 His coaching philosophy: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) 27:30 Position coach vs. head coach — and how Madden helped him learn play-calling 30:00 Landing the head coaching job at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy 32:30 Building culture and getting O-linemen to camp together 34:00 Public vs. private school football — setting the record straight 37:00 Keeping multi-sport athletes fresh and healthy 42:00 The state semifinal loss and NSA's new motto: "Raise the Stakes" 44:00 Play like it's your last — the Charles Walls story 46:00 Robbie's pitch to parents considering NSA football 48:00 What football teaches you about life 50:00 Family life — his wife Kelly and daughters Riley & Claire 52:00 LIGHTNING ROUND: How he met Kelly (she hit his car) 54:00 Ideal weight room music: Metallica, Disturbed & Pearl Jam 55:30 Zombie apocalypse squad: 3 former ODU teammates he'd bring 56:30 Superstitions and Jonathan Plisco's legendary pregame punt routine 58:00 Best pregame team meals — Spanish rice wins 1:00:30 The one NSA game you have to see this fall (Norfolk Academy rivalry) 1:02:00 Message to ODU fans & memories of beating JMU twice 1:04:30 The William & Mary "All Blacks" jersey reveal — an ODU history nugget 1:05:30 Closing — Go Monarchs

  3. 15 jun

    The Monarchists Podcast - Charles Walls, Philadelphia Eagles VP of Player Personnel

    How do NFL teams really build championship rosters? This week, The Monarchists sit down with ODU football pioneer and Philadelphia Eagles Vice President of Player Personnel Charles Walls for an incredible conversation about football, leadership, scouting, roster construction, and the journey from the very first ODU football team to helping build Super Bowl champions. Charles shares stories from ODU's early days under Bobby Wilder, working alongside Taylor Heinicke, Thomas DeMarco, Nick Mayers, Ronnie Cameron, and Deron Mayo, breaking into the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, learning from some of the league's top executives, and eventually helping the Eagles build one of the NFL's premier rosters. We also dive into: 🏈 How NFL scouting actually works 🏈 What teams are really looking for in prospects 🏈 Transfer Portal & NIL impacts on NFL evaluations 🏈 Eagles Super Bowl championship culture 🏈 Lessons from Green Bay, Cleveland, and Philadelphia 🏈 ODU's rise from startup program to national brand 🏈 The future of roster building in college football This is one of the most fascinating football conversations we've ever had on The Monarchists. If you love football, scouting, leadership, team building, the NFL Draft, or ODU Football, this episode is for you. 🔵 Subscribe for more ODU Football, ODU Basketball, and Monarch Athletics coverage. #ODU #OldDominion #PhiladelphiaEagles #NFLDraft #NFLScouting #CharlesWalls #ODUFootball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Why Charles Chose ODU Over Kent State 02:45 Life on ODU's First Football Team 07:00 Building a CAA Powerhouse 08:00 ODU Players Who Don't Get Enough Credit 10:00 Transitioning from Player to Coach 12:00 The Conversation That Changed Everything 13:30 Breaking Into the NFL with Green Bay 18:30 Career Growth & Lessons for Young Professionals 21:30 Why Relationships Matter in Football 24:30 What NFL Scouts Really Do 25:15 Inside an NFL Draft Cycle 28:15 How Teams Handle Scout Disagreements 30:00 Evaluating Character in the Transfer Portal Era 32:30 Why the Transfer Portal Isn't All Bad 36:00 The Hidden Work of NFL Scouting 38:30 Scouting ODU Legend Rick Lovato 40:30 Life on the Road as an NFL Scout 42:00 Charles' Favorite Concert & Jay-Z Story 44:00 Winning a Super Bowl with Philadelphia 45:30 Could NFL Roster Building Work in College Football? 47:00 Why Charles Always Gives Back to ODU 49:00 Seeing SB Ballard Stadium for the First Time 50:30 Rapid Fire Questions 56:45 Final Thoughts & Go Monarchs

  4. 8 jun

    The Monarchists Podcast - ODU Football Coach Ricky Rahne on Spring/Summer, Recruiting Camps, & More

    ODU Football head coach Ricky Rahne joins The Monarchists to talk spring ball, the importance of summer development, recruiting camps, roster retention, NIL/revenue sharing, offensive line progress, and why Monarch fans should embrace the team in front of them right now. Coach also explains why summer workouts shape the heart and soul of a football team, what ODU looks for during camps, how player leadership develops in June and July, and why the best days of college football can still be ahead. Plus: golf tournament stories, Coach Snodgrass praise, honest recruiting insight, and a surprise wrestling detour at the end. Subscribe, like, comment, and share with Monarch Nation. Go Monarchs! Chapters 00:00 Intro & ODAF shoutout 01:00 Spring ball recap: 15 practices, not 16 02:35 Offensive line progress 04:00 Coach Snodgrass and the importance of summer development 06:45 ODU Football golf tournament 09:50 Football camps and players coaching campers 12:45 What makes a successful summer? 16:20 NCAA recruiting calendar and rule complexity 19:15 What ODU evaluates at camps 23:05 What can be taught vs. what traits are harder to change 25:25 Recruiting measurables and why height exaggerations hurt players 29:25 NIL, revenue sharing, recruiting, and roster retention 34:00 Post-camp evaluations and offer decisions 35:45 Evaluating camp data and long-distance campers 37:00 How ODU treats every camper 38:25 New offensive line coaches 40:45 What ODU fans should do before the season 41:45 “The good old days are never coming back” 44:00 Bonus wrestling talk with Coach Rahne 47:00 Coach Rahne thanks The Monarchists 48:00 Go Monarchs

  5. 7 jun

    The Monarchists Podcast - Taylor Heinicke

    Monarch Nation… this one belongs in the ODU Hall of Fame. Taylor Heinicke finally joins The Monarchists Podcast and delivers an all-time conversation that every Old Dominion fan needs to hear. From the real recruiting story that brought him to Norfolk, to getting thrown into the fire against ranked UMass, to 730 yards in one afternoon, to JMU heartbreakers (for them), to NFL playoff chaos, Busch Light fines, and the moment he knew it was time to walk away from football — nothing is off limits. This episode is raw, hilarious, emotional, and deeply Monarch-proud. Taylor reflects on: - The improbable moments that built ODU Football - His relationship with Thomas DeMarco, Larry Pinkard, and teammates - Life-changing NFL moments (including that Tampa Bay playoff game) - Why he’s retiring — and why Virginia Beach is home next - And yes… the full Busch Light plane story 🍺😅 If you love Old Dominion. If you lived those early ODU Football seasons. If you still get chills thinking about JMU, New Hampshire, or Washington vs Tampa… 👉 This episode is for you. 🎙️ The Best — and ONLY — ODU Podcast 👑 Be a Monarchist. Join The Pride. ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 – Presented by The Pride of ODU 1:00 – Taylor Heinicke finally joins The Monarchists 3:05 – The real story of how Taylor ended up at ODU 6:45 – Late recruiting chaos & betting on himself 9:35 – Arriving as a freshman & the Oregon-style offense 12:40 – Thomas DeMarco injury & getting thrown into the fire vs UMass 16:30 – Campus fame, Heineke shirts & pre-NIL madness 19:05 – 730 yards vs New Hampshire (and surviving the heat) 23:00 – Punting, fake punts & Kevin Byard ending it 26:40 – That JMU scramble + Larry Pinkard catch 31:20 – Transitioning ODU from FCS → FBS 35:30 – Favorite ODU moment (it’s not his play 👀) 38:30 – Wild off-field team stories 41:00 – Golf talk (yes, a lot of golf talk ⛳) 43:45 – Lowest moment → NFL comeback mindset 46:10 – Washington playoff game vs Tom Brady 48:55 – Taylor announces his retirement 🏈❤️ 51:40 – Taylor’s message to Monarch Nation 52:55 – Go Monarchs 👑

Info

The Monarchists, Mike and Aaron, sit down with Old Dominion University (ODU) alums, athletes and coaches (current and former) to discuss the school, their experiences and how their lives have been impacted by the school and their athletic programs.

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