ODU bowl eligible in 2014

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Could you soon see Walter Payton Award winner Taylor Heinicke playing in a bowl game? Not as soon as next year, but perhaps his senior season. 

Old Dominion Football Head Coach Bobby Wilder said Wednesday the school could be bowl eligible in 2014. 

If you ask Wilder what he really wanted for Christmas, he would say it was a trip to Frisco, Tx. for the FCS National Championship Game. 

That didn't happen, but as he and his staff head into the off\-season there is a lot of excitement surrounding the ODU football program.

After finishing the season first in nearly every offensive category, Taylor Heinicke and his teammates get to go up against teams like East Carolina, Maryland and North Carolina on the road.

As for being bowl eligible in two years, Coach Wilder said that's what he's been hearing from Conference USA officials.

"That's what we are being led to believe is that we can be eligible for that conference championship and be eligible to play in that conference championship game and also be potentially eligible to play in a bowl game," said Wilder.  "There will be some things that have to happen within the by laws, but that's how we are looking at it right now, that's how I'm moving forward with it, that's how I'm approaching it with our football team."

Old Dominion finished the year 11-2. Nine players will be added to the roster this spring semester.