2012 Old Dominion Monarchs football team

2012 Old Dominion Monarchs football
FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal, L 35–49
vs. Georgia Southern
ConferenceColonial Athletic Association
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 6
FCS CoachesNo. 6
Record11–2 (7–1 CAA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrian Scott (4th season)
Offensive schemeHurry-up spread option
Defensive coordinatorBill Dee (1st season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumForeman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium
Seasons
← 2011
2013 →
2012 Colonial Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 6 Old Dominion ^   7 1     11 2  
No. 18 Richmond +   6 2     8 3  
No. 13 New Hampshire +^   6 2     8 4  
No. 15 Villanova +^   6 2     8 4  
No. 17 Towson +   6 2     7 4  
No. 19 James Madison   5 3     7 4  
Maine   4 4     5 6  
Delaware   2 6     5 6  
William & Mary   1 7     2 9  
Rhode Island   0 8     0 11  
Georgia State   0 0     1 10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
  • Georgia State's conference record was 0–0, and it did not occupy a spot in the overall standings. Old Dominion was ineligible for the conference championship because of its announced departure for Conference USA in 2013.
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2012 Old Dominion Monarchs football team represented Old Dominion University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Bobby Wilder and played their home games at Foreman Field at S. B. Ballard Stadium. This was their final year as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). In 2013, they began a two-year transition to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), where they became a member of Conference USA. They finished the season 11–2, 7–1 in CAA play to finish in first place. As a departing member from the CAA, they were ineligible for the CAA championship. They received an at–large bid to the FCS Playoffs, where they defeated Coastal Carolina in the second round before falling in the quarterfinals to Georgia Southern.

Heinicke's record year

In ODU's 64–61 comeback win over New Hampshire, sophomore quarterback Taylor Heinicke set his first of many records that season. He passed for 730 yards and compiled 791 yards of total offense, setting new Division I records for a single game.

During the loss to Georgia Southern in the FCS playoff quarterfinals, Heinicke passed Steve McNair for the most passing yards in a single season by an FCS quarterback with 5,076 yards. He also became the first quarterback to eclipse the 5,000 yard mark in a season as well as setting the record for most completions in a season with 398 (Villanova's Brett Gordon held the previous record of 386 in 2002). At the conclusion of the season he led the nation in passing yards, passing yards per game, total offense, points responsible for, touchdown passes and total touchdowns.

For his performance and record-setting season Heinicke was named CAA Offensive Player of the Year, a first team All-American, the Dudley Award winner, the FCS Player of the Year, and the Walter Payton Award winner.

Joining Heinicke as All-Americans were teammates P Jonathan Plisco, DT Chris Burnette, WR Nick Mayers, LT Jack Lowney, and LS Rick Lovato.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 16:00 p.m.Duquesne*No. 8W 57–2319,818
September 86:00 p.m.at Hampton*No. 7W 45–75,500
September 156:00 p.m.Campbell*No. 6
  • Foreman Field
  • Norfolk, VA
W 70–1420,068
September 2212:00 p.m.No. 18 New HampshireNo. 5
  • Foreman Field
  • Norfolk, VA
CSNW 64–6120,068
September 293:30 p.m.at RichmondNo. 4W 45–378,700
October 133:30 p.m.VillanovadaggerNo. 3
  • Foreman Field
  • Norfolk, VA
L 14–3820,068
October 207:00 p.m.at No. 18 TowsonNo. 7W 31–207,817
October 2712:00 p.m.No. 20 DelawareNo. 6
NBCSNW 31–2620,068
November 33:30 p.m.at Georgia StateNo. 5W 53–2712,293
November 1012:00 p.m.William & MaryNo. 4
W 41–3120,068
November 177:00 p.m.at No. 13 James MadisonNo. 4NBCSNW 38–2823,051
December 12:00 p.m.Coastal Carolina*No. 3
ESPN3W 63–3520,068
December 812:00 p.m.No. 6 Georgia Southern*No. 3
  • Foreman Field
  • Norfolk, VA (FCS Quarterfinal)
ESPNL 35–4920,068

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre123456789101112Final
Sports Network87654437654436
Coaches65454438754436

Awards

  • All-Americans
Taylor Heinicke - QB
Jonathan Plisco - P
Chris Burnette - DT
Nick Mayers - WR
Jack Lowney - LT
Rick Lovato - LS
Taylor Heinicke - QB
  • FCS Player of the Year
Taylor Heinicke - QB
  • CAA Offensive Player of the Year
Taylor Heinicke - QB
  • American Football Monthly FCS Coach of the Year
Bobby Wilder
  • Old Dominion was named the winner of the Lambert Cup as the best FCS team in the East.

References