Jan 25, 2024

The Virginia Beach Rovers are the Victor Bowl VII champions. A fifth different FCS champion in seven years. How did we get here? A roller coaster, really. We have seen a quick rebuild by the Little Rock Capitals that resulted in a Victor Bowl, but this one feels different. Owner Haydn Neese suffered the previous two seasons from the decisions he made his first year in the FCS. Going all in in 2020 not only resulted in a disappointing divisional round exit, but also resulted in financial hardships and a lack of talent. To be frank, Neese did not have the assets to make it a quick rebuild. But all of the struggles and lack of excitement the last two seasons has made this magical year that much sweeter.

So how did we get here? If you have listened to the Watermelon Podcast since its conception, this resurgence shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The writing has been on the wall. While Neese could have acquiring players that may have been more productive, he was in no position to bid for superstars. However, he could have acquired mid-level talent to garner more wins, yet have no realistic shot at a title. Instead, he played the long game. The Rovers shifted their focus to acquiring young, controllable players in the hope of competing with the big boys down the road. This conversation of young, controllable players can’t start anywhere else than the free agent acquisition of Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2021. St. Brown has become the cornerstone piece of Virginia Beach’s success. St. Brown finished this year as the WR3. How about rookie success? Chris Olave has become the crown of the 2022 rookie draft class. While largely boom-or-bust this year, Olave showed up in a big way with a boom week in the Eastern Conference Championship.

Let us also not forget about this year’s diamond on the rough draft signing of rookie Tank Dell. Dell’s back half of the year surge is largely why the Rovers even made the playoffs. We haven’t even mentioned the MVP of the Rovers’ season Rachaad White. White was acquired before week 3 of this year for the soon-to-be injured Kirk Cousins and Jaylin Hyatt. Fast forward to the end of the year where he finished as the RB4. A late season trade landed Derrick Henry. Throw in a sleeper tight end in Jake Ferguson and two QBs in Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott and it resulted in a roster that was poised to win a title.

Back to the Watermelon Podcast-- Trent and I had been calling our shot on the Rovers for two years. We thought 2023 was going to be the year. That is until the year began. It would be nice to say that I never doubted the Rovers this year, but that is just not true. A 4-4 start to the year certainly left more to be desired. Just how easy would it have been for Neese to trade away pieces to retool for 2024? In particular Amon-Ra. I know I can’t be the only guy that continually tried to pry away St. Brown. Neese never gave an inch of interest in moving his stars. After all, he spent years waiting for the chance at a championship window. Credit to him for seeing it when I would venture to say much of the league did not. The playoffs for Neese resulted in a 36-point schlacking of his rival Anarchy, a 58-point schlacking of the 2-time defending champs and favorites Capitals, and a Victor Bowl victory as a cherry on top. The 2023 Virginia Beach Rovers left no doubt.  Off-season decisions loom, but by all accounts, Neese and the Rovers have cemented themselves as a premier FCS franchise. The have laid the blueprint for how to weather the long-term rebuild. Patience. Here’s an ode to the Pirates of the East Ciast.