Ryan Odom replaces VCU’s Mike Rhoades

VCU’s basketball forecast has gone from sunny and bright to overcast and complicated.

Here’s the deal:

Last week Mike Rhoades, after six outstanding seasons, resigned to coach at Penn State.

Within hours, VCU replaced Rhoades with Ryan Odom from Utah State.

Immediately, the Rams’ roster for 202324 began to take on an “iffy” look.

Standouts Ace Baldwin (Atlantic 10 Player of Year), Jayden Nunn, Jamir Watkins, Jalen DeLoach and Nick Kern all placed their names in the NCAA transfer portal.

They could all return to the Siegel Center, or they could all land elsewhere (possibly at Penn State to join Rhoades).

Decisions will likely be made throughout April.

VCU went 27-8 this past season with A-10 regular season and tournament titles and an NCAA berth. With most key players expected to return, prospects for 2023-24 were off the charts.

Coach Odom, 48, coached Utah State to a 26-9 record and the NCAA tournament this past season. He may be best known for leading Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) to a stunning win over Virginia in the 2018 NCAAs. It was the first time a No. 16 seed had defeated a No. 2 seed.

The son of longtime Wake Forest Coach Dave Odom, Ryan was a standout guard at

Hampden-Sydney College. He left H-SC as the school’s all-time three-point shooter.

VCU has endured numerous coaching changes in the past with little, if any, reduction in success. There was a smooth transition from Jeff Capel to Anthony Grant to Shaka Smart to Will Wade to Rhoades.

The Rams have enjoyed 23 straight winning seasons (with 11 NCAA bids since 2009) and sellout crowds at The Stu have become commonplace.

Still, there are worries along Broad Street.

Instead of putting on their dark glasses to view what figured to be a glistening 2023-24, Rams fans are holding their breath.

NFL’s John Brockington, 74, dies

John Brockington, among the NFL’s top running backs in the early 1970s, died Friday, March 31, 2023, in San Diego. He was 74.

Following a brilliant career at Ohio State, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1971 with the ninth overall pick.

He then became the first running back in NFL his tory to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons – 1,105 in ’71, 1,027 in ’72 and 1,144 in ’73.

That was all in 14-game seasons.

Mr. Brockington was NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in ’71 and was a three-time All-Pro selection.

For his career (including one season with Kansas City), Mr. Brockington ran for 5,024 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also caught passes for another 1,297 yards and four more TDs.

In 2002, Mr. Brockington underwent a kidney transplant. That led to his formation of the John Brockington Foundation to assist patients with kidney illness.

Mr. Brockington was selected to the Packer’s Hall of Fame in 1984 and was named to the