The initial popularity of ODU football, and any effect it has on basketball attendance there in the near term, should not be used as a measuring stick for anything strategic or longer-term... there, here (at VCU), or anywhere else.
For one thing, ODU has always had a more jockish (or is it jock itch?) orientation as a whole than VCU (want to be a doctor? go to VCU, want to be a heath/PE teacher? go to ODU). That isn't necessarily the result of greater athletic successes, but more a matter of student culture over the decades. The difference isn't huge, but it may be big enough to reach an athletics-wide enthusiasm tipping point. There are many similarities between us and ODU, but there are also significant differences.
Also, the initial popularity of football at ODU may be, at least in part, a result of pent up demand. They had no access to the product of 'narch-brand football for a long time. Then, after a long absence, there are several years of build up and anticipation. How much of the initial popularity is a result of that opening rush of built up enthusiasm is hard to say while we're still in the midst of it. How things play out over the next 4 to 10 years will be far more instructive than a razor thin sample in their opening year. As people get used to having football there, will popularity grow and feed on itself in a sustainable way. or will some/many/any start to take it for granted and will enthusiasm wane? Time will tell. I would guess that they'll have better than even luck with it because of the school culture there, and in Tidewater generally. Of course on the field success will also play a major role, because if they keep posting winning records, it will be easier for them to keep the popularity momentum rolling. But if they slide into mediocre/middling results on the field once they stop playing the Washington Generals every week, then we'll be better able to judge if they are the Chicago Cubs, or the Florida Marlins where it comes to fan loyalty under adversity.
Likewise, the impact of 'narch football on 'narch basketball will take a longer time to determine than one or two years. Will the initial burst of enthusiasm lead to a sustainable synergy between the programs, or will attention (not to mention resources) become divided over time? Again, given the way they've gotten things started, and given the school/local culture, I'd say that they have a decent shot at it. But then again, I see other schools with fairly strong athletic culture, like JMU and Delaware, and I consider how they've been at it a much longer time, and yet they have had complete failures of synergy between programs.
It's way too early to know how successful their football program will be over time, as well as how that eventual success, failure, or stasis will effect their other athletic programs. Additionally, differences between the schools/student bodies/alumni base(as well as the timing vis a vie the economic environment) complicate using their results to project what ours might be.
