ODAC member Emory & Henry to make leap to DII
MEADOWVIEW, Va. (BVM) — After almost 50 years of being members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and even being founding members, the Emory and Henry college football program has decided to make the leap to Division II.
Over the past nine years, the Wasps have averaged just under five wins a season, however they have had some recent success. In 2019, the Wasps went 7-3 and in a four-game spring season, the Wasps had three wins with one cancellation due to COVID-19.
Despite the caveats that come with athletics during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some signs that the announcement of moving to Division II had an impact on recruiting. Offensively, they landed a Division I transfer at running back and landed another Division I transfer at defensive end. Former Last Chance U star Isaiah Wright even took a visit to the college.
The reason for the transition remains unclear. Despite the recent success and positive effect on recruiting, E & H still could not manage an ODAC Championship in the past two years, which have arguably been their two best years in recent memory. Therefore, there is no sign that E & H has outgrown their competition.
What is clear is that E & H is moving from what is a highly competitive conference to another. Despite Randolph-Macon having recent domination in the conference, it is rare to find back-to-back conference champions in the ODAC. Each year, each team finds itself with a clean slate. The South Athletic Conference will be more of the same.
Emory and Henry will have a chance to compete for the conference championship in the SAC. In the five years from the 2014-15 season to the 2018-19 season (there was no 2020-21 season due to COVID-19), there were four different conference winners. Without a perennial winner, E & H does have a chance of making waves in its first season as a member of the SAC.
The Wasps’ season however, brings about more challenges than just the level of play. While there is a marked difference in the level of play, there is also a marked difference in facilities between divisions as well. To have any success in their first season, they will have to upgrade their facilities.
However, this first season will still have to wait. The Wasps are still waiting approval for their transfer into the SAC, however they do plan on playing a full conference schedule in the 2022-23 football season. In the meantime, E & H will have an opportunity to measure themselves against the ODAC one more time.
With a full season expected to be played in the ODAC, the Wasps can measure their growth as a program without the caveats of COVID-19. However, E & H will not be the only team that no longer has to face the challenge of COVID-19. Every team having a full offseason will provide E & H an opportunity to truly see if they are ready for the transition.
