Norfolk State–Old Dominion rivalry
Sport | Multi-sport |
---|---|
First meeting | December 20, 1965 (MBB) |
Latest meeting | March 7, 2023 (BSB) |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 100 (all sports) |
All-time series | ODU, 82–18 (all sports) |
The Norfolk State–Old Dominion rivalry (known by the Scope Series in basketball) refers to games between the Norfolk State Spartans of MEAC and the Old Dominion Monarchs of the Sun Belt Conference. The two schools are the only NCAA Division I schools in Norfolk, Virginia.
The rivalry has been described as an "intense but friendly cross-town rivalry".[1]
History
[edit]Both universities have their origins in the 1930s. Old Dominion University formed as the Norfolk branch of the College of William & Mary in 1930,[2] while Norfolk State University formed as the Norfolk branch of Virginia Union University in 1935.[3]
In 1942, Norfolk State became independent of VSU, while Old Dominion became independent of William & Mary in 1962. The first known meeting between the two schools in any varsity sport came in 1965, when the two men's basketball programs met. The game was held at the Rockwell Hall Gymnasium and won by Old Dominion, 86–82. The two programs regularly met from the late 1960s until early 1980s. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the series was dominated by Norfolk State, and in the late 1970s through 1980s the rivalry was dominated by Old Dominion. During this period, both schools played at the NCAA Division II level, with much success. In 1975, Old Dominion won the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. Since 1981 though, the men's basketball programs have met only four times, most recently at the neutral-site Norfolk Scope in 2017, which has called local media to see the series become an annual affair at the Scope.[4] Head coach, Jeff Jones, of ODU has said he sees no plans to broaden the "Scope Series".[5][6] Much of this attributes to the Spartan's traditionally weak conference and low RPI, and playing at a neutral venue, and the politics that is associated with that.[7]
Although the men's basketball series has been more dormant, the two baseball programs have regularly played each other on a home-and-home series since the mid 1990s. The series has largely favored Old Dominion who hold a 31–8 advantage over Norfolk State. The two football programs have met regularly in the 2010s once Old Dominion reestablished their football program.[1]
All-time series results
[edit]Sport | All-time series record | Last result | Next meeting | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Baseball | ODU leads 40–9 | ODU won 16–7 on March 7, 2023 | 4/8/25 at NSU | [8] |
Men's basketball | ODU leads 15–6 | ODU won 68–62 on December 3, 2022 | TBD | [9] |
Women's basketball | ODU leads 24–3 | ODU won 65–44 on December 11, 2022 | TBD | [10] |
Football | ODU leads 4–0 | ODU won 24–21 on August 31, 2019 | 9/06/26 at ODU | [11] |
Football
[edit]Norfolk State and Old Dominion played for the first time on November 26, 2011, in the first round of the FCS playoffs which resulted in a 35–18 Spartan loss. Old Dominion and NSU announced a new deal for a home and away series in 2013 and 2015 to help fill out open game dates for ODU's transition to the FBS.[11] ODU plays at Foreman Field; NSU at Dick Price Stadium.
Norfolk State victories | Old Dominion victories | Tie games |
No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Losing team | Series | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | November 26, 2011 | Foreman Field | #10 (FCS) Old Dominion | 35 | #19 (FCS) Norfolk State | 18 | Old Dominion 1–0 |
2 | October 26, 2013 | Dick Price Stadium | Old Dominion | 27 | Norfolk State | 24 | Old Dominion 2–0 |
3 | September 12, 2015 | Foreman Field | Old Dominion | 24 | Norfolk State | 10 | Old Dominion 3–0 |
4 | August 31, 2019 | S.B. Ballard Stadium | Old Dominion | 24 | Norfolk State | 21 | Old Dominion 4–0 |
5 | September 5, 2026 | S.B. Ballard Stadium |
Basketball
[edit]Men's basketball
[edit]Norfolk State victories | Old Dominion victories |
|
Baseball
[edit]Old Dominion baseball plays their home games at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex, where they have played since 1983. Norfolk State baseball plays their home games at Marty L. Miller Field, where they have played since 1997. Prior to the opening of both venues, Old Dominion played at Foreman Field, and Norfolk State alternated between Harbor Park and Met Park.
Norfolk State victories | Old Dominion victories |
|
Source[8]
See also
[edit]- List of NCAA college football rivalry games
- Battle of the Bay (Hampton–Norfolk State)
- Old Dominion–William & Mary rivalry
References
[edit]- ^ a b "ODU, Norfolk State agree to 2-game football series". The Virginian Pilot. September 11, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "ODU Libraries Exhibit – ODU 75th Anniversary – 2005". Old Dominion University. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ "About Norfolk State". Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
- ^ Minium, Harry (December 19, 2017). "ODU-Norfolk State basketball series is steeped in history. Why isn't it an annual affair?". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- ^ Epstein, Nathan (December 21, 2017). "ODU vs. Norfolk State; Will the 19th meeting be the last?". WAVY-TV. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ Winkler, Adam (December 22, 2017). "ODU survives scare at Scope, pulls away from Norfolk State in crosstown hoops showdown". WTKR. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ Winkler, Adam (December 19, 2017). "ODU coach Jeff Jones has no future plans to broaden "Scope" of hoops rivalry with Norfolk State". WTKR. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ a b "Baseball Media Guide" (PDF). odusports.com. August 21, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ "Norfolk State Men's Basketball Records" (PDF). Norfolk State University Athletics. July 24, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- ^ "2018–19 ODU Women's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). Old Dominion University Athletics. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- ^ a b "FIRST ROUND: Old Dominion vs. Norfolk State".
External links
[edit]- College baseball rivalries in the United States
- College basketball rivalries in the United States
- College football rivalries in the United States
- College sports rivalries in the United States
- College sports in Virginia
- Norfolk State Spartans
- Old Dominion Monarchs
- Sports in Norfolk, Virginia
- Sports rivalries in Virginia
- 1965 establishments in Virginia