THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505240159
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Jim Jarrett is winding up a quarter of a century as athletic director at Old Dominion University. None of his days over those 25 years have been any more pleasant than the recent ones.
Jarrett calls the men's basketball victory over Villanova in the NCAA Tournament ``a game that probably made Old Dominion more well known than at any time in its history.''
The baseball team won the Colonial Athletic Association tournament title and is headed to post-season play. The sailing team is No. 2 in the country. The women's field hockey team was ranked No. 4. The women's lacrosse team was the nation's eighth best.
He's especially proud that ODU has a graduation rate of 86 percent for its student-athletes.
Most frustrating to Jarrett has been the so-so attendance at athletic events.
On a Monday visit to the Portsmouth Sports Club Jarrett made an appeal for its support.
``We know there are thousands around here who want us to win,'' he said. ``But we need those people in the seats at our games. That's our major need for Old Dominion to move up to the next level.
``What we need is about 2,000 more people at our basketball games. And that isn't asking much out of a million and a half people across this area.
``We must convince folks to support Old Dominion, not to come out just to see other teams.
``My dream is to get where we don't need a ticket booth.''
Jarrett says capacity crowds for games at Scope are a good way to keep Jeff Capel as head coach of the Monarchs.
In answering questions about the possible loss of Capel for a higher paying coaching position elsewhere, Jarrett says he hopes ``Jeff will still be coaching at Old Dominion when I retire.''
``Our job is to try to keep him at Old Dominion. He likes the area and he's very happy. I think a full house at the games is the best way to keep him here.''
Capel is under a contract that has three more years.
Other observations by the ODU athletic director:
``One of the real treasures in the commonwealth is the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, which is located in Portsmouth.''
``All three seniors on our men's basketball team graduated two weeks ago. I definitely feel Petey Sessoms will play professional basketball someplace but, regardless, he now has his degree.''
``We're projecting that our new convention center will be ready by the year 2000. The coliseum will be located around 43rd St.''
``In my 25 years at Old Dominion Jeff Capel made the quickest and best transition from new coach to getting the job done.''
``The CAA was rated the third strongest baseball league in the nation this year.''
``We're a little disappointed about the position the basketball coach at Blacksburg has taken. We want to play Virginia Tech. I think the schools should play because it's good for state basketball.'' by CNB