Monday morning at 9 o’clock, the wind chill on Old Dominion’s campus was 27 degrees. Eight hundred miles away in the Bahamas, it was 82 degrees.

You do the math.

Sure, that’s one reason the Monarchs felt like kids on Christmas morning (to use head coach Bobby Wilder’s analogy) as they began their journey to the Bahamas Bowl. But warm weather and beautiful beaches were only part of it.

“We’re excited because we get to go to the Bahamas for five days — sorry if you’re not going,” Wilder said at the team’s sendoff party. “But we just tied for the best record in Conference USA at 9-3 and we have an opportunity to be only the 18th team in (FBS) out of 128 to win 10 games.

“There were a number of players I talked to this morning who said they couldn’t sleep last night. This feels a lot like Christmas morning to us. We’re grateful for everybody allowing us to do this, and I promise you, we will cherish these memories for a lifetime.”

Old Dominion's seasons in pictures, from preseason to its first bowl game in program history.

The team left for the airport at 9:30 a.m., and its charter flight arrived in Nassau around 4 p.m. The Monarchs then will have 3 1/2 days of preparation, along with some fun, before Friday’s bowl game against Eastern Michigan.

Monday’s sendoff at the Webb University Center featured energy music (AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses), special guests (Sen. Mark Warner wore a Monarchs T-shirt), and pep-rally essentials (cheerleaders, mascot, band, decorations). Roughly 300 fans showed up, and the free coffee didn’t hurt their enthusiasm.

ODU president John Broderick praised not only the team’s 9-3 season and first bowl bid but also its accomplishments off the field. He lauded the players’ community service, which has included a program the team established called Children 4 Humanity.

ODU coach Bobby Wilder leads the Monarchs into Monday morning's sendoff party to the Bahamas Bowl. ODU coach Bobby Wilder leads the Monarchs into Monday morning's sendoff party to the Bahamas Bowl. SEE MORE VIDEOS

He also singled out linebacker TJ Ricks, a Kecoughtan High alum who has led the Monarchs in tackles the last two seasons. On Saturday, Ricks graduated with a degree in engineering.

Warner, who was governor when ODU announced it was bringing back football, congratulated the Monarchs for their rapid rise.

“I remember eight or nine years ago when there were folks that said, ‘Football at ODU again? No, the community won’t come,’ ” he said. “You guys have been phenomenal. The way you’ve sold out, the way you’ve won, the way you’ve made us all proud.”

Warner also discussed an old Senate tradition — betting with the senator from the opponent’s state. In this case, Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

“I’m betting a case of O’Connor beer, brewed right here in Norfolk, against some old nasty Michigan beer,” Warner said. “In addition to bringing back that trophy and that good weather, don’t make me send her some of this beer.”

Wilder, the only coach Old Dominion has ever had, couldn’t help but reflect how far the program has come since its rebirth in 2009.

“We’ve been here eight years,” he said. “We’re 66-30 and considered to be the best start-up program in the history of college football. And we feel like it’s only going to get better.”

Johnson can be reached by phone at 757-247-4649.

Bahamas Bowl

WHO: Old Dominion (9-3) vs. Eastern Michigan (7-5).

WHEN: 1 p.m. Friday.

WHERE: Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas.

TV/RADIO: ESPN/94.1FM.