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Old Dominion University Libraries

Special Collections & University Archives

Events & Exhibits

Hours

Monday - Friday 9 am - 4:30 pm
Other times by appointment

Location

The Special Collections is located on the east side of the Library on the 3rd floor. Take the stairs and turn left or take the elevator nearest the Circulation desk and turn right.

Contact Information

Patricia W. & J. Douglas Perry Library
Norfolk, Virginia 23529-0256
telephone (757) 683-4483
fax (757) 683-5954

 

The Records of the ODU Athletic Department

HISTORICAL TIMELINE

Staff

  • Thomas L. Scott was appointed athletic director of the athletic department of the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary (which was later to become Old Dominion University) in July 1930. 
  • Joseph C. Chandler became athletic director of the Norfolk division in 1942.  Starting as a coach for basketball and baseball, he also taught physical education.  Swimming and track resumed operations in Norfolk following the end of the war.  Chandler concentrated on coaching swimming and track and swimming as an intercollegiate sport was re-instated in 1945.
  • Arthur “Bud” Metheny was hired as the coach of the baseball and basketball programs in 1949.  Metheny was a former professional player and saw action with the Yankees between 1943 and 1946.  Under Metheny, the basketball program witnessed an improvement in its schedule and stayed competitive.  With the aid of some star players, Metheny improved the success of the baseball program as well.  Metheny became athletic director in 1963 and stopped coaching basketball in 1965.  He stopped coaching baseball in 1969 only to take the post again two years later.  He retired from coaching in 1980.

Growth of the Athletic Department

  • The Norfolk Division played mainly high school teams during the 1930s. 
  • In 1959 the Norfolk Division became an associate member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and gained eligibility to participate in N.C.A.A. sponsored post-season events.
  • The athletics department of the old Norfolk division, re-named Old Dominion College in 1962, had success during the 1960s.  Also in 1962 O.D.C. became the 16th member of the Mason-Dixon Conference; a large step forward in gaining ground towards major athletic status. 

Baseball

  • Baseball began in the early 1930s yet was dropped in 1940 due to lack of facilities, money and opponents. 
  • The baseball program saw irregular schedules during 1943 and 1944 and was suspended in 1945. 
  • Jack Callahan and Everett Tolson revived the program in 1946 and 1947. 
  • The biggest mover in terms of Norfolk division athletics in the 1950s, the baseball program was able to play against better teams as those teams in the north came south in the winter. 
  • Their first major opponent was against Dartmouth College in the spring of 1953. 
  • National recognition was gained during the1960s for its high level of success, including winning N.C.A.A. regional championships played at Yankee Stadium.

Basketball

  • Basketball at the Norfolk division received its foundation during the 1930s. 
  • The basketball program weathered the time of war and former Norfolk division player Julius Rubin became the coach in 1946 and succeeded by Jack Callahan, his former teammate. 
  • During the 1950s the Norfolk division’s athletics progressed significantly, including basketball.  The regular venue for basketball was moved from the school’s gymnasium to the Norfolk Arena with the first game in the Norfolk Arena being played on the 4th of January, 1960. 
  • The 1950s saw the basketball program step forward and gain better opponents with the last junior college dropped from the schedule in 1956. 

Football

  • The first game was played on September 26, 1930 against Suffolk High School.
  • During their 10 years the Braves won 62 games, lost 19, and tied 4.
  • Lack of an audience and debt caused football operations to cease at the Norfolk division in 1941. 
  • The football team was returned to ODU in 2009.
  • For more information on the history of ODU Football, see our online exhibit at:
    http://www.lib.odu.edu/special/exhibits/football_fall2009/index.htm

Swimming and Track

  • Swimming and track started at the Norfolk division in the 1930s.
  • Under Joseph C. Chandler the swimming team won conference titles in 1956 and 1957. 

Women’s Athletics

    • By 1931, the Norfolk Division had a women’s basketball team. They played their first game in March 1931 against William and Mary’s freshman team.
    • The women’s athletics program began in 1936. 
    • Originally, the women’s athletics program was limited to field hockey and basketball on a competitive level, the rest being intramural athletics.
    • Since 1975, the Lady Monarchs have proven themselves as a formidable team.
    • In 1984-1985, the Lady Monarchs won their first NCAA championship, and their third national title with a victory over the University of Georgia.
    • Women’s field hockey extends back to the early history of the Norfolk Division.
    • From 1982 to 1984, the women’s field hockey teams won consecutive NCAA national championships in those years.

    SCOPE AND CONTENTS

    Includes guides, programs, publicity, newsletters, tickets, bumper stickers for men and women’s basketball, football, lacrosse, sailing, golf and other sports. Administrative correspondence is also included.

    SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

    Series I: General Athletics. This series contains information on ODU athletics from the 1950s to the present day. Sports include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, intramural sports, lacrosse, sailing, soccer, swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, wrestling, and other athletics and sports programs. Material is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically.
     
    Series II: Football. This series is a compilation of items documenting the history of football at the Norfolk Division of William and Mary, the periodic interest in reviving the football team over the decades since it was discontinued in 1941, and its final return to the University in 2009. Included are programs, photos, scrapbooks, and news articles. Much of this material was used to create an online digital exhibit on the history of ODU Football.  This exhibit can be found at: http://www.lib.odu.edu/special/exhibits/football_fall2009/index.htm

    PROVENANCE

    Unknown

    ACCESS

    Open to researchers without restrictions. Questions on literary property rights should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian.

    SIZE

    11 document cases

    COLLECTION NUMBER

    RG 2-8A

    CONTAINER LISTING

    Series I: General Athletics

    Box 1

    Folder 1: Athletics Basketball Guides, Men’s, 1955-1980
    Folder 2: Athletes, Basketball, Men’s, 1957-1981
    Folder 3: Monarch Booster Club, 1968-1984
    Folder 4: Athletes, Golf, 1968-1995
    Folder 5: Athletes, Miscellaneous, 1969-1989
    Folder 6: Athletes, Basketball, Men’s, Season Tickets Information, 1970-1982
    Folder 7: Dr.Robert A. Magoon, ODU Football, 1971-1990
    Folder 8: Sports News, Publications, February 1974
    Folder 9: Sports News, Publications, March 1974
    Folder 10: Sports News, Publications, April 1974
    Folder 11: Sports News, Publications, May 1974
    Folder 12: Sports News, Publications, June 1974
    Folder 13: Sports News, Publications, July 1974
    Folder 14: Sports News, Publications, August 1974
    Folder 15: Sports News, Publications, September 1974
    Folder 16: Sports News, Publications, October 1974

    Box 2

    Folder 1: Sports News, Publications, November 1974
    Folder 2: Sports News, Publications, December 1974
    Folder 3: Athletes, 1974-1980
    Folder 4: Sports News, Publications, January 1975
    Folder 5: Sports News, Publications, February 1975
    Folder 6: Sports News, Publications, March 1975
    Folder 7: Sports News, Publications, April 1975
    Folder 8: Sports News, Publications, May 1975
    Folder 9: Sports News, Publications, June 1975
    Folder 10: Sports News, Publications, July 1975
    Folder 11: Sports News, Publications, August 1975
    Folder 12: Sports News, Publications, September 1975
    Folder 13: Sports News, Publications, October 1975
    Folder 14: Sports News, Publications, November 1975
    Folder 15: Sports News, Publications, December 1975
    Folder 16: Athletes, Swimming 1975-1985

    Box 3

    Folder 1: Sports News, Publications, January 1976
    Folder 2: Sports News, Publications, February 1976
    Folder 3: Sports News, Publications, March 1976
    Folder 4: Sports News, Publications, April 1976
    Folder 5: Sports News, Publications, May 1976
    Folder 6: Sports News, Publications, June 1976
    Folder 7: Sports News, Publications, July1976
    Folder 8: Sports News, Publications, August 1976
    Folder 9: Sports News, Publications, September 1976
    Folder 10: Sports News, Publications, October 1976
    Folder 11: Sports News, Publications, November 1976
    Folder 12: Sports News, Publications, December 1976
    Folder 13: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s-1976 NCAA South Atlantic Regional at ODU-March 11-12-1976
    Folder 14: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s Schedule cards and Bumper Stickers, 1976-1984
    Folder 15: Athletics, Wrestling, 1976-1985
    Folder 16: Athletics Tennis, 1976-1985
    Folder 17: Athletics, Field Hockey, 1976-1992
    Folder 18: Basketball, Women, 1976-1995
    Folder 19: Sports News, Publications, January 1977
    Folder 20: Sports News, Publications, February 1977
    Folder 21: Sports News, Publications, March 1977
    Folder 22: Sports News, Publications, April 1977
    Folder 23: Sports News, Publications, May 1977
    Folder 24: Sports News, Publications, June 1977
    Folder 25: Sports News, Publications, July 1977
    Folder 26: Sports News, Publications, August 1977
    Folder 27: Sports News, Publications, September 1977
    Folder 28: Sports News, Publications, October 1977
    Folder 29: Sports News, Publications, November 1977
    Folder 30: Sports News, Publications, December 1977

    Box 4

    Folder 1: Parsons, Pam, 1977, Women’s basketball coach
    Folder 2: Athletes, Basketball, Women’s, 1977-1980
    Folder 3: Athletics Women Basketball, 1977-1992
    Folder 4: Athletes, Sports information, 1980-1982
    Folder 5: Athletes, ODU Sponsored Camps, 1977-1987
    Folder 6: Athletes Soccer, 1977-1988
    Folder 7: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s, 1977-1986

    Box 5

    Folder 1: Athletics, Basketball, Women’s 1977-1993
    Folder 2: Athletics, Baseball, 1977-1994
    Folder 3: Sports News Publications, January 1978
    Folder 4: Sports News Publications, February 1978
    Folder 5: Sports News Publications, March 1978
    Folder 6: Sports News Publications, April 1978
    Folder 7: Sports News Publications, May 1978
    Folder 8: Sports News Publications, June 1978
    Folder 9: Sports News Publications, September 1978
    Folder 10: Sports News Publications, October 1978
    Folder 11: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s, Schedules, 1978-1980

    Box 6

    Folder 1: Sports News Publications, January 2, 1979
    Folder 2: Sports News Publications, October –December, 1979
    Folder 3: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s, Non ODU Publications, 1979
    Folder 4: The Monarch Club, 1979
    Folder 5: Sports News Publications, May, 1979
    Folder 6: Basketball Rules and Regulations, 1979-1980
    Folder 7: Big Blue Club, 1979-1989
    Folder 8: Sports News Publications, January-March, 1980
    Folder 9: Sports News Publications, April-June, 1980
    Folder 10: Sports News Publications, July-September, 1980
    Folder 11: Sports News Publications, November-December, 1980
    Folder 12: Athletes, Intramurals, 1980

    Box 7

    Folder 1: Sports News 1980-1983
    Folder 2: Athletics, Basketball Guides, Men’s, 1980-81
    Folder3: Intramural and Recreation, 1981
    Folder 4: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s, Media Cover sheet, 1981-1982
    Folder 5: Recreational Athletics, 1981-1989
    Folder 6: Sports Recreational, 1982-1983
    Folder 7: Dr. Robert A. Magoon ODU Football (III), 1984-1992
    Folder 8: Athletic Summary, 1985-1989
    Folder 10: Cross Country 1986-1994
    Folder 11: Lacrosse, 1986-1995
    Folder 12: Soccer, 1986-1994

    Box 8

    Folder 1: Basketball, Men, 1986-1988
    Folder 2: Tennis, Men’s, 1986-1995
    Folder 3: Athletics Honors Banquets, 1986-1991
    Folder 4: Baseball, 1987-1992
    Folder 5: Wrestling, 1987-1995
    Folder 6: Swimming, 1988-1995
    Folder 7: Tennis, Women’s, 1988-1995
    Folder 8: Sailing, 1988-1995
    Folder 9: Basketball, 1988-1995
    Folder 10: Athletic Summary, 1989
    Folder 11: Athletics-Golf 1989-1990

    Box 9

    Folder 1: Athletics Basketball, 1990-1991
    Folder 2: Athletics Department 1990-1991
    Folder 3: Athletics-Field Hockey, 1990-1992
    Folder 4: Athletics Soccer, 1991
    Folder 5: Handbooks- Student Athlete, 1991-1992
    Folder 6: Dr. Robert A. Magoon, ODU Football, 1992-1993
    Folder 7: Athletic Summary 1995-2000
    Folder 8: Athletic Field Hockey, 1997-1998
    Folder 9: Athletic, Golf, 1997-1999
    Folder 10: Athletics, Wrestling, 1997-1999
    Folder 11: Athletics, Sailing, 1997-1999
    Folder 12: Athletics, Soccer, Men’s, 1997-1999
    Folder 13: Athletics, Basketball, Women’s, 1997-1999
    Folder 14: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s, 1997-1999
    Folder 15: Athletics, Tennis, 1997-2000
    Folder 16: Athletics, Swimming and Diving, 1997-2000

    Box 10

    Folder 1: Athletics, Women’s Soccer, 1997-2002
    Folder 2: Athletics, Baseball 1998-1999
    Folder 3: Athletic Honors Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 1998-2000
    Folder 4: Athletics, Cross Country 1998-2000
    Folder 5: Athletics, Lacrosse, 1998-2000
    Folder 6:11th Annual Endowed Athletic Scholarship, Recipient Luncheon, October 1, 1999
    Folder 7: Bulletin Board Announcements. Sporting Event, 1999
    Folder 8: Athletics, Baseball, 1999-2000
    Folder 9: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s 1999-2000
    Folder 10: Athletics, Basketball, Women’s 1999-2000
    Folder 11: Athletics, Field Hockey, 1999-2000
    Folder 12: Athletics, Golf 1999-2000
    Folder 13: Athletics, Sailing 1999-2000
    Folder 14: Athletics, Soccer, Men’s 1999-2000
    Folder 15: Athletics 2002
    Folder 16: Athletics 2003
    Folder 17: Athletics, Basketball, Women’s NCAA 2004
    Folder 18: Athletics, Roster 2004
    Folder 19: Athletics, Men’s basketball schedule, 2008-2009
    Folder 20: Athletics, Men’s basketball, 2010
    Folder 21: Athletics, Aerobic Program, no date
    Folder 22: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s Kiwanis ODU Classic, no date
    Folder 23: Athletics, Basketball, Men’s ODU Basketball Questionnaire, no date
    Folder 24: Athletics, Big Blue (Misc.), no date
    Folder 25: Athletics, Martial Arts, no date
    Folder 26: Big Blue Bumper Stickers

    Series II:  Football

    Box 11

    Folder 1:  ODU Football, Norfolk Division, William and Mary, Scrapbook 1930-1941
    Folder 2:  ODU Football, VA Pilot Articles, 1980-1981
    Folder 3:  ODU Football, VA Pilot Articles, 2000-2005
    Folder 4:  ODU Football, VA Pilot Articles, 2005-2009
    Folder 5:  ODU V. Georgetown, 31 Oct. 2009
    Folder 6:  Football Scans, ODU Archives, no date
    Folder 7:  Athletics, Football, no date
    Folder 8:  Football Photos from Sergeant Memorial, ODU Football, Norfolk Public Library, no date
    Folder 9:  Items to Add to Web Exhibit Later, no date
    Folder 10:  ODU Football, Books that have Information on ODU Football History, no date
    Folder 11:  ODU Football, Other News Sources, no date
    Folder 12:  ODU Football, Mace and Crown Articles, no date
    Folder 13:  ODU Football, no date
    CD 1:  ODU Football Programs, .Pdf, no date
    CD 2:  Football Scans, no date
    CD 3:  ODU Football, Scrapbook Articles, no date
    CD 4:  ODU Football Programs, .Pdf, JPEG, Thumbnails
    CD 5:  ODU Football Programs, Braves_Vs_Ectc , no date
    CD 6:  ODU Football, Jpegs, Mace and Crown, Univ. Photos, Yearbook, no date
    CD 7:  ODU Football Programs, UVA_Vs_William_And_Mary, no date

     

    Revised: 3/17/2011