The Monarchists

The Monarchists
  • 4.7 (37)
  • Basketball

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. 20h ago

    ODU vs ECU: Is This a MUST-WIN? | Virginia Tech Recap + ECU Preview

    ODU is back home — and this one feels BIG. Old Dominion fell 44-21 at Virginia Tech, dropping the Monarchs to 1-1. The offensive line struggled, Quinn Henicle was under constant pressure, and Virginia Tech exposed some real issues ODU has to fix. But there were also some major positives. Quinn showed he can absolutely throw the football. Josh Rodriguez had a breakout performance. The defensive line continued to create havoc. And despite the final score, there are still plenty of reasons to believe this team can be dangerous in the Sun Belt. Now East Carolina comes to Norfolk at 0-2, and the Pirates desperately need a win, too. Aaron, Mike and Justice break down: • What went wrong against Virginia Tech • Why ODU’s offensive line is now the biggest concern on the roster • Seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss — and what has to change immediately • Quinn Henicle’s toughness and impressive deep-ball accuracy • Josh Rodriguez’s breakout game • Lucas Shuck, Malachi Harris and a defense that continues to flash serious potential • ODU’s inability to cover Virginia Tech’s tight ends • Why ECU’s pass rush could be a major problem • Mitch Griffis and ECU’s offensive weapons • Ashton Gray, Jeremiah Melvin and the Pirates players ODU has to stop • Whether Saturday is a MUST-WIN for Old Dominion • Why this game may be even more important for ECU • The offensive line matchup that could decide everything • Where Kody Cook calls the game from — booth or sideline? • Our final ODU vs ECU score predictions ODU has never beaten East Carolina since football returned. 2013: ECU 52-38 in Greenville 2018: ECU 37-35 in Greenville 2019: ECU 24-21 in Norfolk 2022: ECU 39-21 in Greenville 2024: ECU 20-14 in Norfolk The Monarchs have been close. Is Saturday finally the night? Justice: ODU wins on a 50 yd Nathanial Eichner FG Aaron: ODU 27, ECU 23 Mike: ODU 31, ECU 21 Drop YOUR score prediction below. 👑 GO MONARCHS! #ODUFootball #ECUFootball #OldDominion #EastCarolina #CollegeFootball #SunBeltFootball #AACFootball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 Virginia Tech Aftermath 01:40 The Offensive Line Problem 05:00 ODU’s Run Game Has to Change 10:30 Officiating Frustrations 13:30 Virginia Tech’s Tight Ends Run Wild 18:00 Defensive Discipline & Mobile QBs 20:00 Quinn Henicle Stock UP 23:00 Josh Rodriguez Breakout Game 26:00 What Do We Really Know About ODU? 28:30 ODU’s Defensive Line Is Legit 31:30 Pressure, Playmakers & Defensive Depth 34:30 Special Teams Are a Weapon 37:00 East Carolina Preview 39:30 ECU Players to Watch 41:00 Mitch Griffis & the Pirates Offense 43:30 How ECU Lost to App State 46:00 ECU’s Pass Rush vs ODU’s Offensive Line 48:30 How Even Is This Matchup? 50:00 Is ECU a MUST-WIN? 54:00 Who Needs This Game More? 57:00 Is It Finally Time to Beat ECU? 59:30 Score Predictions 1:02:00 Where Will Kody Cook Call the Game? 1:05:00 Final Thoughts

  2. 4d ago

    #22 ODU Soccer Is 5-0 — And the Players Are Buying In | In the Lion’s Den

    🔥 5-0. Ranked #22. 20 goals. Old Dominion Men's Soccer is officially back in the national conversation. On this week's In the Lion's Den, Aaron heads straight to the ODU Soccer Complex for a two-part episode with Head Coach Tennant McVea, followed by Monarch standouts Micah Wayland and Jason Purks. Tennant breaks down ODU's 3-0 win over Bucknell, why the Monarchs were able to stay patient in a scoreless match, and what changed when Ludovico Vicini broke through with an Olimpico in the 72nd minute. Then Micah and Jason take over. We talk about the chemistry behind ODU's 5-0 start, Micah's emotional return from a broken collarbone, Jason's four-goal start to the season, penalty kicks, locker-room personalities and what this team wants the rest of the Sun Belt to think when ODU shows up on the schedule. Inside this episode: ⚽ ODU's first 5-0 start since 2012 📈 Breaking into the national rankings at #22 🔥 20 goals through five matches 🧠 Why the Bucknell win told Tennant more than the Radford blowout 💪 Micah Wayland's return from a broken collarbone ⚡ Jason Purks' four-goal start 🥅 What really goes through a penalty taker's mind 😂 The players investigate whether Ludo meant the Olimpico 👀 Who has the filthiest finish in training 🧱 The hardest Monarch to defend 🎵 Worst music, best dressed, funniest teammate and more 🏟️ A look ahead to UMBC under the lights at The Den The Monarchs are unbeaten. They're nationally ranked. And they don't think they're anywhere close to finished. 👑 This is In the Lion's Den. Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews, podcasts and everything Monarch Nation. 🌐 odumonarchists.com #ODUSoccer #ODU #Monarchs #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #sunbelt Chapters 0:00 ODAF Intro 0:06 ODU Is 5-0 1:20 What the Bucknell Win Revealed 3:00 The Halftime Message 4:45 Squeaky Bum Time Returns 6:00 Ludo's Olimpico Breaks the Dam 7:00 What Exactly Is an Olimpico? 8:15 Did Ludo Actually Mean It? 10:00 ODU Is Finding Different Ways to Win 11:15 20 Goals From Everywhere 12:30 Playing Through the Wind 15:10 Micah Wayland's Comeback 17:30 How Physical Is College Soccer? 19:20 What Makes Jason Purks Special? 21:00 ODU Is Ranked #22 22:40 What Still Needs to Improve? 24:10 Previewing UMBC 25:15 What to Watch Friday Night 26:00 Tennant's Message to Monarch Nation 28:00 Micah Wayland & Jason Purks Join the Show 29:00 Does It Feel Like 5-0? 29:40 Why Micah Chose ODU 30:40 Why Jason Chose ODU 32:20 The Work Fans Don't See 33:00 Micah Breaks Down His Goal 34:10 Jason Purks' Four-Goal Start 35:00 Taking Penalties Under Pressure 37:00 The Olimpico Investigation 38:20 Who Has the Filthiest Finish? 39:00 Hardest Player to Defend 39:30 The Unsung Heroes 40:15 Noah Dietze's Transformation 41:15 Goal Celebrations 41:40 Rapid Fire Begins 44:15 What Makes ODU Different? 45:20 Proving the Preseason Poll Wrong 46:15 Why Fans Need to Pack The Den 47:00 Go Monarchs

  3. Sep 4

    4-0. 17 Goals. ODU Soccer Is a PROBLEM. | Tennant McVea

    🔥 4-0. 17 GOALS. And Old Dominion Men's Soccer is starting to get some national attention. ODU is off to its first 4-0 start since 2012 after absolutely dismantling Radford, 7-1 — and yet Tennant McVea isn't interested in celebrating records. He's interested in what comes NEXT. On the latest episode of In the Lion's Den, Aaron and Mike sit down with Tennant to break down the Monarchs' red-hot start, the offensive explosion, the growing national recognition and why the scary part might be that this team still has plenty of room to improve. Tennant dives into: ⚽ ODU's 4-0 start and 17 goals through four matches 🔥 The 7-1 "drubbing" of Radford 📈 Why the Monarchs are beginning to get national attention 🧠 Why Tennant is chasing PERFORMANCE — not wins or records 💪 How ODU is deliberately putting opponents under pressure 🚑 Tennant McVea's Word of the Day: "Hospital Ball" ⏱️ David "Chapo" Chapman's lightning-fast goal just 55 seconds into the Radford match 🔄 Why getting 24 Monarchs onto the field against Radford matters ⭐ The emergence of freshman Mile Zivkovic and his two-goal performance 📊 Alexander Aguilar becoming an offensive weapon from goalkeeper 🦬 Revenge against Bucknell after ODU "got bisoned" last season 🔍 What makes Bucknell's unusual style so difficult to defend 🏟️ A look ahead to Bucknell and UMBC at the ODU Soccer Stadium 🏈 Plus: Tennant clears up one VERY important issue — Bengals, NOT Ravens. The Monarchs aren't chasing records. They're chasing performance. And right now? The results are following. 👑 This is In the Lion's Den with ODU Men's Soccer Head Coach Tennant McVea. Subscribe to The Monarchists for more Old Dominion athletics coverage, interviews, podcasts and everything Monarch Nation. 🌐 odumonarchists.com #ODUSoccer #ODU #Monarchs #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt Chapters 0:00 In the Lion's Den 0:06 ODU Is 4-0 — First Time Since 2012 2:45 17 Goals — But Tennant Wants Better Defense 4:30 ODU Is Getting National Attention 6:00 Winning Even When You Don't Play Your Best 8:00 How ODU Is Putting Opponents Under Pressure 10:00 Surviving "Squeaky Bum Time" 11:35 Radford Got a Drubbing 12:50 Tennant's Word of the Day: Hospital Ball 14:45 David "Chapo" Chapman Strikes in 55 Seconds 16:05 How Do You Play Against 10 Men? 18:25 The Pursuit of Excellence 20:30 24 Monarchs Get on the Field 23:20 Convincing Competitors to Come Out of the Game 25:20 Mile Zivkovic's Two Goals & Huge Potential 27:40 How Much Better Can ODU Get? 30:20 "We're Not Chasing Wins" 32:30 Revenge Time: Bucknell Preview 35:00 Why Bucknell's Style Is So Unusual 37:45 Alexander Aguilar: Goalkeeper...and Playmaker? 39:20 Scouting UMBC 41:20 Tennant Is NOT a Ravens Fan 42:30 Get Out to the Den 44:55 Go Monarchs

  4. Sep 1

    ODU Football 2026: Is This a Sun Belt Championship Team? | Norfolk State Preview

    ODU FOOTBALL IS BACK. 🦁🏈 After a 10-win season and a Cure Bowl championship, the expectations around Old Dominion have changed. So what comes next? Mike, Aaron and Justice are back to kick off the 2026 season and there is A LOT to unpack. Can Quinn Henicle take control of a completely different ODU offense? How concerned should we really be about replacing all five starters on the offensive line? Could Cody Cook's new offense actually fit Henicle better than last year's system fit Colton Joseph? And then there's the defense. With Blake Seiler back, ridiculous depth across the defensive front and linebacker rooms, and a ton of proven production returning, could this legitimately be one of the best defenses in the Sun Belt — or even the Group of Six? Then we get into the question that really matters: What should the expectation be for ODU Football in 2026? Seven wins? Nine wins? Win the Sun Belt East? Or is it time to say CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP OR BUST? Plus, we break down Saturday night's season opener against Norfolk State, including: 🏈 What to expect from the new ODU offense 🦁 Why the Monarch defense could be special 👀 Players to watch for Norfolk State ⚔️ The huge early-season stretch against Virginia Tech, ECU and JMU 🔥 Our new “Are We Allowed to Say This?” segment 📈 Our expectations for Quinn Henicle 🏆 How many wins ODU NEEDS in 2026 🎯 What we need to see against Norfolk State 🔮 Final score predictions Norfolk State enters the game after a 56-0 season-opening win over Winston-Salem State, but the Monarchs have much bigger goals ahead. The road starts at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Monarch Nation: SHOW UP. PACK THE CASTLE. LET'S START THIS THING RIGHT. This episode is brought to you by the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation. Also sponsored by Brandon Johnson State Farm. For insurance and investment needs, call 757-264-6267 or visit brandonjohnsonagency.com. 👑 The Monarchists 🌐 odumonarchists.com LIKE the video. SUBSCRIBE to the channel. And tell us in the comments: How many games does ODU win in 2026 — and what's your final score against Norfolk State? GO MONARCHS! 🦁 Chapters 00:00 ODU Football Is BACK 00:54 The Biggest Question Entering 2026 02:00 Can ODU Replace the Entire Offensive Line? 03:00 Why the Locker Room Believes in Quinn Henicle 06:00 Cody Cook's New-Look ODU Offense 08:00 How Different Will the Offense Look? 10:00 Quinn Henicle vs. Colton Joseph 12:45 Why This ODU Defense Could Be Special 15:00 Defensive Depth Is RIDICULOUS 20:00 Could ODU Have a Top-10 Defense? 22:00 The Stretch That Could Define ODU's Season 25:00 Replacing Leadership vs. Replacing Production 28:00 Virginia Tech, ECU, JMU & the Schedule Gauntlet 31:00 Norfolk State Preview 33:00 Norfolk State's Massive Roster Turnover 34:00 Spartans Players ODU Must Watch 37:00 What Do We Actually Learn From This Game? 40:00 What We NEED to See From ODU 43:00 How Long Should the Starters Play? 47:00 ARE WE ALLOWED TO SAY THIS? 47:10 ODU Should Beat Norfolk State by 4 TDs 47:45 Is Anything Less Than 9 Wins a Disappointment? 50:00 Will the 2026 Defense Be BETTER? 51:00 Best Running Back Duo in the Sun Belt? 53:00 Will Quinn Henicle Account for 30 TDs? 54:00 Will Quinn Be a Better Fit Than Colton? 58:00 What Should ODU's Win Total Really Be? 59:00 Conference Championship or Bust? 1:06:35 Norfolk State Score Predictions 1:08:30 Is Virginia Tech Actually Less Important? 1:10:00 Monarch Nation: PACK THE CASTLE

  5. Aug 31

    ODU Soccer Is ROLLING: 2-0, 8 Goals & Protecting The Den | In The Lion’s Den S3E2

    Old Dominion Men’s Soccer is OFF AND RUNNING. The Monarchs are 2-0 with eight goals through their first two matches, and Coach Tennant McVea joins Aaron and Mike for Episode 2 of Season 3 of In The Lion’s Den to break down what has suddenly made this ODU attack so dangerous. We recap the season-opening road win over George Washington and the wild five-goal performance against Elon, including Jason Purks’ huge night, Lewis Rourke’s fast start and Noah Dietze unleashing an absolute 🚀 to help turn the Elon match around. Tennant also dives into why possession might be one of soccer’s most overrated statistics, the analytics that actually matter to ODU, the culture developing inside this locker room, the goalkeeper competition, the new replay/challenge system in college soccer and why the Monarchs need to once again make The Den a miserable place for opponents. Plus, Josh Spencer takes over at Lionsbridge FC and we resurrect one of our favorite segments: ⚽ Tennant McVea’s Word of the Day Today’s lesson? SQUEAKY. BUM. TIME. Yes. This is now officially an educational podcast. The Monarchs are 2-0 for the first time since 2017. Protect The Den. 👑 Go Monarchs! #ODU #ODUSoccer #OldDominion #Monarchs #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt #TheMonarchists ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to In The Lion’s Den 00:30 2-0 and EIGHT goals to start the season 01:30 ODU takes Washington, D.C. 03:45 What went wrong in the final 10 minutes vs. GW? 05:15 Lewis Rourke hits the ground running 06:30 ODU’s goalkeeper competition 08:15 Scoring just 94 seconds into the Elon match 09:55 Elon punches back — how did ODU respond? 11:45 College soccer’s new replay and challenge system 15:30 A veteran moment from Jake Lane 16:05 Jason Purks: ODU’s “glue guy” 18:05 Noah Dietze unleashes a ROCKET 🚀 20:10 Goals are coming from everywhere 21:45 The home stand and PROTECTING THE DEN 23:55 Why ODU’s offense looks completely different 25:40 Soccer analytics: Is possession overrated? 27:45 What fans might not notice about this team 29:45 Josh Spencer takes over Lionsbridge FC 32:15 WORD OF THE DAY: Squeaky Bum Time 😂 34:20 What is a “yo-yo club?” 35:45 Fly catchers and goalkeeper bloopers 37:45 Coaching young keepers through mistakes 39:45 ODU’s hot start & Tennant’s message to Monarch Nation

  6. Aug 28 ·  Bonus

    S3E21 - Stadium Updates and Newcomer Deep Dive - Hudson Homers

    CB, Gary and Coach Finny have good news about stadium construction and pictures of the progress. Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Paul Panik joins the guys for a deep dive on the 20 new guys joining the team. Plus Rodeo Clowns and Zonkeys?

    S3E21 - Stadium Updates and Newcomer Deep Dive - Hudson Homers

  7. Aug 24

    Why ODU Tennis Keeps Winning | Dom Manilla & Dominik Mueller

    Why does Old Dominion continue to win at such a high level in college tennis? ODU Women's Tennis Head Coach Dom Manilla and ODU Men's Tennis Head Coach Dominik Mueller join Aaron and Mike for a wide-ranging conversation about the championship culture both programs have built — and what it takes to sustain that success as college athletics changes around them. The two Doms take us inside their different approaches to recruiting, roster construction, NIL and the transfer portal, including why Mueller believes the portal has actually opened doors for ODU to land better freshmen. They also tackle a much bigger issue facing college athletics: tennis programs around the country being eliminated as athletic departments face increasing financial pressure. Manilla explains why winning, fundraising, community support and running a first-class program have never been more important. Plus: 🎾 Why ODU tennis has been so consistently successful 🎾 The culture behind both programs 🎾 International recruiting and developing players at ODU 🎾 Why Fowlkes-Stevens is a major advantage 🎾 ODU's changing campus and student-athlete experience 🎾 The addition of Ashley Anthon to the women's tennis staff 🎾 NIL, the transfer portal and college tennis' new “money race” 🎾 The alarming disappearance of college tennis programs 🎾 Pickleball invading the tennis world 🎾 ODU's growing pipeline to professional tennis 🎾 Yuliia Starodubtseva's rise on the pro tour 🎾 Who wins if Dom plays Dom? 🎾 Rafa, Djokovic, Sabalenka and the best players they've seen live 🎾 Why college tennis is NOTHING like the country-club version you see on TV 🎾 And the proper way for Monarch Nation to get LOUD at an ODU tennis match Manilla's challenge to Monarch Nation is simple: come to one ODU tennis match and see if you don't want to come back. ODU Women's Tennis opens its home schedule January 30 against Florida State, followed by home matches with Kansas and Maryland in early February. 🌐 ODUMonarchists.com Subscribe to The Monarchists for conversations with the players, coaches and people who make Old Dominion athletics what it is. Be a Monarchist. This episode is presented with support from the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation. Become a member and help create winners in the classroom, in athletic competition and in life. Go Monarchs! #ODU #OldDominion #ODUTennis #OldDominionTennis #Monarchs #MonarchNation #TheMonarchists #CollegeTennis #sunbelt Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Dom & Dommer 01:00 The State of ODU Tennis 02:30 The Pressure to Keep Winning 04:00 Why Does ODU Tennis Win So Much? 07:30 Building Fowlkes-Stevens 09:30 Recruiting Internationally 11:30 What Makes the Ideal ODU Tennis Recruit? 13:30 Bringing International Players to ODU 15:45 How Much Has ODU Changed? 18:00 The Student-Athlete Dining Hall & Selling ODU 20:00 Ashley Anthon Joins ODU Women's Tennis 23:00 NIL, the Transfer Portal & 5-for-5 24:00 Why the Transfer Portal Has HELPED ODU 27:00 The New “Money Race” in College Athletics 27:30 Why College Tennis Programs Are Disappearing 30:00 Winning, Fundraising & Protecting Your Program 32:00 Pickleball Takes Over 35:00 Agassi, Jack Sock & Tennis Stars Playing Pickleball 38:30 ODU's Pipeline to Professional Tennis 40:00 Yuliia Starodubtseva & ODU on the Pro Tour 42:00 Rapid Fire: Dom vs. Dom 43:30 Where ODU Tennis Players Eat 45:30 Grass, Clay or Hard Court? 48:00 Rafa, Djokovic & Sabalenka 49:00 Creating an Elite ODU Tennis Atmosphere 50:00 College Tennis Is NOT a Country-Club Sport 54:30 How Monarch Nation Should Cheer at Tennis 58:00 Players, Officials & Talking Trash 1:00:00 Florida State Comes to Norfolk 1:01:00 Go Monarchs!

  8. Aug 12

    Kent Bazemore: ODU Glory Days, NBA Stories & Why Monarch Nation Can Rise Again

    Old Dominion legend Kent Bazemore joins The Monarchists for a wide-ranging conversation about his remarkable journey from a tiny North Carolina town to ODU basketball and a decade in the NBA. Baze takes us back to the beginning — arriving at Old Dominion as a raw 164-pound redshirt, battling his way up the depth chart, becoming one of college basketball’s elite defenders, winning championships and helping create one of the greatest eras in Monarch basketball history. Then we head to the NBA. Kent tells us how an undrafted opportunity with Golden State changed his life, why he embraced being the best teammate he could be even when he wasn’t playing, what it was like sharing locker rooms with Steph Curry, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, and why those 60-win Atlanta Hawks were so special. And yes, there are stories. The infamous Warriors popcorn-car prank. His first encounter with Kobe. Battling LeBron. The heartbreak of Butler. Life as a Laker. His Atlanta years. Going back to the G League after a decade in the NBA. And how golf became much more than another sport. Kent also gets candid about fatherhood, burnout, life after the NBA, what he wants to do next in basketball, and why he believes Old Dominion can build something special again. For Monarch Nation, this one is personal. Like. Subscribe. Share it with a Monarch. Go Monarchs! 👑 #ODU #OldDominion #KentBazemore #ODUBasketball #MonarchNation #NBA #CollegeBasketball #TheMonarchists Chapters 00:00 – Welcome, Kent Bazemore 01:00 – From a Town of 300 to Old Dominion 04:00 – Why Baze Chose ODU 06:00 – The Redshirt Year That Changed Everything 09:00 – Humility, Development & Not Skipping Steps 12:00 – The ODU Teammates Who Made Him Better 15:00 – Becoming an Elite Defender 19:00 – The ODU-VCU Rivalry & Richmond Coliseum 21:00 – When the Monarchs Knew They Were Good 24:00 – The Game Kent Still Remembers 27:00 – BAZE: Explain This Photo 28:00 – Butler Heartbreak & Getting Even With Brad Stevens 29:00 – The Infamous Warriors Popcorn Prank 30:00 – Becoming a Laker & Meeting Kobe Bryant 33:00 – Undrafted: How He Made the NBA 35:00 – The Art of the Chase-Down Block 38:00 – Guarding the Best Players on Earth 40:00 – Battling LeBron James 43:00 – Why the 60-Win Atlanta Hawks Were Special 46:00 – What Atlanta Meant Beyond Basketball 48:00 – Why Kent Fell in Love With Golf 51:00 – Golf vs. Basketball: Which Has More Pressure? 54:00 – Why He Went Back to the G League 58:00 – Fatherhood & Being Present 1:00:00 – Looking Back on an Incredible Basketball Life 1:03:00 – What Kent Bazemore Is Doing Now 1:07:00 – Steph Curry to Boston?! 1:10:00 – Kent’s Message to Monarch Nation

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    The Monarchists
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    272
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The Monarchists
  • Show Website
    The Monarchists

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