ODU Holds Final Football Visitation Day of the Year

February 10, 2004

COLUMBUS, OHIO - For the first time in its 92-year history, Ohio Dominican University will offer intercollegiate football, with its inaugural season to kick off in Fall 2004. Students with athletic ability and an interest in playing football only have one chance left to visit the ODU campus and learn more about Panther Football.

Saturday, March 6, 2004, is the final Football Visitation Day scheduled for this year. The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude at 2:00 p.m. The schedule will include an overview of admissions and financial aid, faculty presentations, and a campus tour. Time will be allotted for a workout that will include a bench press repetition test, an agility run, and position drills so that each player's potential and determination can be observed. Attendees should bring along appropriate workout wear and shoes.

Athletes can reserve their spot for the last remaining by calling the ODU Football Office at 614-251-4556; or by e-mail carlsond@ohiodominican.edu.

The Panthers will be lead by ODU Head Football Coach Dale Carlson, who has more than 20 years of coaching experience. Prior to joining ODU, Carlson was the head football coach at Tri-State University, in Angola, Indiana, where he organized, directed and managed the university's football program from its inception. Under his direction, Tri-State launched a highly competitive, nationally-ranked National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) football program, which developed into a leading program within the NAIA, finishing in the NAIA national rankings from 1998 through 2002. Like Tri-State, Ohio Dominican will play in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA), an affiliate of the NAIA.

Carlson will work closely with ODU's Director of Football Operations, John Pont, also a veteran coach. Pont's college coaching career spans five decades. He served as head football coach and associate athletic director for the College of Mount St. Joseph; head football coach for Miami University of Ohio and Yale University; and head football coach and athletic director for both Indiana and Northwestern universities. Pont holds the distinction of being the only coach to ever guide Indiana to a Rose Bowl. In 1967, he led the Hoosiers to a 9-2 record and a Big Ten co-championship appearance in the Rose Bowl against eventual national champion USC. That year, Pont was named "College Football Coach of the Year" by the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America, joining an elite class of coaches that included Woody Hayes, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Ara Parseghian, Joe Paterno and Bo Schembechler.