NORFOLK, VA. — The football season kicked off for Old Dominion University (ODU) on Saturday with a poignant tribute to LTC Brandon A. Shah, who tragically lost his life in an on-campus shooting on March 12, 2026. The game against the Norfolk State University (NSU) Spartans not only marked the beginning of another athletic year but also served as an occasion to honor Shah's memory.
Prior to the game, the atmosphere around S.B. Ballard Stadium was vibrant, filled with fans celebrating the start of the season. Jonathan Guess, an ODU alumnus from the class of 2010, remarked on the electric energy surrounding the event. "The atmosphere is electric out here. You have fans all over from Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area. This game is especially significant because we have Norfolk State, which is another big-time school in the area," he said.
Throughout the tailgating festivities, supporters showcased their solidarity by wearing specialized ODU football jerseys emblazoned with LTC Shah's name. These jerseys quickly became a hot commodity, with Guess noting, "I know the jerseys in the bookstore sold out within the first hour. They flew off the shelves. Everybody was super dedicated to this cause." This strong community response highlights the deep connection between the university and the local area.
As the ODU players took the field, they donned the jerseys in a show of respect and remembrance for LTC Shah. Raymond “Juice Man” Wittersheim, a prominent community figure and ODU supporter, expressed his sentiments about the tribute. "It's heartwarming to honor him this way, especially since it’s right across the street from where we are here. It just means so much, and to his family and to the service he gave to this country, we cannot thank him enough," he stated.
The jerseys worn during the game are set to be sold for $300 each, with all proceeds directed to LTC Shah’s family. Isaiah Thompson, a friend of several ODU players, praised the university's initiative, saying, "It's amazing that the university is taking this step and honoring him in that way because at the end of the day, he put his life on the line for us. For my friends to be a part of this and wear those jerseys, with all proceeds going to his family, is amazing."
As fans filled the stadium to honor LTC Shah and usher in a new season of football, Wittersheim, affectionately known in the ODU community as “the Juice Man,” rallied everyone with his enthusiastic call: "Let’s bring the Juice!" This sentiment encapsulates the spirit of unity and remembrance that defined the evening, as the ODU community came together to support a cause that transcends sports.
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