Richmond Spiders football

Football team for the University of Richmond

Richmond Spiders football

| | 2024 Richmond Spiders football team

|

First season| 1881; 144 years ago
Athletic director| John Hardt
Head coach| Russ Huesman
7th season, 52–36 (.591)
Stadium| Robins Stadium
(capacity: 8,217)
Field surface| FieldTurf
Location| Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
NCAA division| Division I FCS
Conference| CAA Football
(Patriot League in 2025)
All-time record| 593-673-53 (.470)
Bowl record| 1-1 (.500)
Claimed national titles| 1 (2008)
Conference titles| 14
Rivalries| William & Mary (rivalry)
James Madison (rivalry)
VMI (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans| 1 (1969)
Colors| Blue and red[1]

Uniform outfitter| Adidas
Website| RichmondSpiders.com

The Richmond Spiders are a college football team representing the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond was the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision champion for the 2008 season. Richmond competes in CAA Football, a legally separate football league operated by the multi-sports Coastal Athletic Association that competes in the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision. Former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga head coach Russ Huesman was named head coach of the Spiders, on December 14, 2016, replacing Danny Rocco who had departed to become head coach at the University of Delaware a day earlier.[2]

In 2008, No. 7 Richmond beat Eastern Kentucky, Appalachian State, and Northern Iowa to advance to the NCAA Division I Football Championship against Montana. In the FCS National Championship Game on December 19, 2008, they defeated Montana 24–7 to win the first team NCAA national title for the University of Richmond in any sport.

## Rivals

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Richmond's traditional rival in many sports is the College of William & Mary. Richmond and William & Mary have met 135 times since 1898, making the rivalry (sometimes referred to as "the South's oldest rivalry") the fourth most-played in Division I college football. Only Lafayette–Lehigh, Princeton–Yale, and Harvard–Yale have played more games. The winner of the annual W&M–Richmond match-up claims the Capital Cup (formerly the I-64 Trophy), which reflects the historical significance of the cities of Williamsburg and Richmond as the last two capitals of the Commonwealth of Virginia.[3]

## Conference affiliations

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* 1881–1900: Independent
* 1900–1920: Eastern Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association (EVIAA)
* 1911–1921: South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SAIAA) – participated simultaneously as a member of both organizations
* 1922–1926: Independent
* 1927–1935: Virginia Conference
* 1936–1975: Southern Conference
* 1976–1977: NCAA Division I independent
* 1978–1981: NCAA Division I-A independent
* 1982–1985: NCAA Division I-AA independent
* 1986–1996: Yankee Conference
* 1997–2006: Atlantic 10 Conference
* 2007–2024: CAA / CAA Football
* 2025–future: Patriot League[4]

## All-Americans

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* Walker Gillette, SE- 1969 Consensus 1st Team (FWAA-1st; NEA-1st; TSN-1st; Time-1st)
* Walker Gillette, WR- 1969 (AP-1st)
* Barty Smith, RB- 1973 (AP-3rd)
* Jeff Nixon, DB- 1976 (AP-3rd)

## Richmond Spiders in the NFL Draft

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Main article: List of Richmond Spiders in the NFL draft

### Undrafted players and non-NFL draftees

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Aerial view of E. Claiborne Robins Stadium, the Spiders home

* Rick Sowieta, LB, Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Rough Riders
* Carmen Cavalli, Oakland Raiders draft pick (1960)
* Reggie Evans, RB
* Bruce Gossett, K
* Matt Joyce, G/T
* Paris Lenon, LB
* Matt Snider, FB
* Brendan Toibin, K
* Stacy Tutt, FB
* Josh Vaughan, RB
* Danny Desriveaux, Montreal Alouettes
* Eric Ward, QB, Edmonton Eskimos (2011)
* Winston October, DB/KR, Montreal Alouettes, WR/KR, Washington Redskins and Edmonton Eskimos
* Ben Edwards, WR/KR, New York Giants
* Seth Williams, CFL player
* Martin Parker, DT
* Kerry Wynn, DE
* Kendall Gaskins, RB
* Mike Burkhead, QB
* Jacob Ruby, OL, Edmonton Eskimos
* Kyle Lauletta, QB, New York Giants
* Winston Craig, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
* David Jones, DB

Brian Brown| WR (Dallas cowboys)

## Playoffs

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The Spiders have appeared in the Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs 14 times. Their combined record is 17–13. They were FCS National Champions in 2008.

Year  | Round  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|

1984 | First Round
Quarterfinals | Boston University
Rhode Island | W 35–33
L 17–23
1987 | First Round | Appalachian State | L 3–20
1998 | First Round | Lehigh | L 23–24
2000 | First Round
Quarterfinals | Youngstown State
Montana | W 10–3
L 20–34
2005 | First Round
Quarterfinals | Hampton
Furman | W 38–10
L 20–24
2007 | First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals | Eastern Kentucky
Wofford
Appalachian State | W 31–14
W 21–10
L 35–55
2008 | First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game | Eastern Kentucky
Appalachian State
Northern Iowa
Montana | W 38–10
W 33–13
W 21–20
W 24–7
2009 | First Round
Quarterfinals | Elon
Appalachian State | W 16–13
L 31–35
2014 | First Round
Second Round | Morgan State
Coastal Carolina | W 46–24
L 15–36
2015 | Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals | William & Mary
Illinois State
North Dakota State | W 48–13
W 39–27
L 7–33
2016 | First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals | North Carolina A&T
North Dakota
Eastern Washington | W 39–10
W 27–24
L 0–38
2022 | First Round
Second Round | Davidson
Sacramento State | W 41–0
L 31–38
2023 | First Round
Second Round | North Carolina Central
Albany | W 49–27
L 13–41
2024 | First Round | Lehigh | L 16–20

## Bowl games

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During their time as an NCAA University Division (Major College) team, Richmond appeared in two bowl games, both times in the Tangerine Bowl against the champion of the Mid-American Conference. They have a record of 1–1.

Year  | Coach  | Bowl  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|
|

1968 | Frank Jones | Tangerine Bowl | Ohio | W 49–42
1971 | Frank Jones | Tangerine Bowl | Toledo | L 3–28

## Future non-conference opponents

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Announced schedules as of February 1, 2025[5]

2025  | 2026  | 2027  | 2028  | 2029  | 2030  | 2031

|
|
|
|
|
|

at Wofford | at NC State | at Louisville | at VMI | VMI |  | at Virginia
at North Carolina | Norfolk State | at Norfolk State | at Virginia | at Pittsburgh |  |
VMI | Furman |  |  |  |  |
Howard |  |  |  |  |  |
at William & Mary |  |  |  |  |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Palettes – University of Richmond". Retrieved December 5, 2022.
2. ^ "Huesman Named Head Coach Of Spiders Football". RichmondsSpiders.com. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
3. ^ Richmond, William & Mary Rename Football Rivalry As Capital Cup Archived June 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ O'Connor, John (May 14, 2024). "Richmond Spiders shifting from CAA Football to Patriot League". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
5. ^ "Future Richmond Spiders Football Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richmond Spiders football.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Richmond Spiders football

Venues|

* Tate Field (1891–1893, 1925–1928)
* West-End Park (1894)
* Broad Street Park (1897–1916)
* Boulevard Field (1917–1920)
* Stadium Field (1921–1924)
* City Stadium (1929–2009)
* E. Claiborne Robins Stadium (2010–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* 1968 Tangerine Bowl
* 1971 Tangerine Bowl
* James Madison
* VMI
* William & Mary

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1881
* 1882
* 1883–1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

National championship seasons in bold

* v
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University of Richmond

Richmond, Virginia

Academics|

* School of Arts & Sciences
* E. Claiborne Robins School of Business
* Jepson School of Leadership Studies
* School of Law
* School of Professional & Continuing Studies

Athletics|

* Atlantic 10 Conference
* Richmond Spiders
* Men's basketball
* Capital City Classic
* Women's basketball
* Football
* Capital Cup
* Men's lacrosse
* Baseball
* Robins Center
* E. Claiborne Robins Stadium
* Malcolm U. Pitt Field

People|

* Alumni
* Former presidents
* Kevin Hallock (President)

Student life|

* The Collegian
* WDCE
* Fraternities and sororities

Miscellaneous|

* Gottwald Center for the Sciences

* Commons
* Category

* v
* t
* e

CAA Football Conference

Teams|

* Albany Great Danes
* Bryant Bulldogs
* Campbell Fighting Camels
* Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (leaving in 2025)
* Elon Phoenix
* Hampton Pirates
* Maine Black Bears
* Monmouth Hawks
* New Hampshire Wildcats
* North Carolina A&T Aggies
* Rhode Island Rams
* Richmond Spiders (leaving in 2025)
* Stony Brook Seawolves
* Towson Tigers
* Villanova Wildcats
* William & Mary Tribe

Championships & awards|

* All-time standings

Seasons|

* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020–21
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Predecessors|

* New England Conference (not officially recognized)
* Yankee Conference
* Atlantic 10 Conference

* v
* t
* e

Patriot League football

Teams|

* Bucknell Bison
* Colgate Raiders
* Fordham Rams
* Georgetown Hoyas
* Holy Cross Crusaders
* Lafayette Leopards
* Lehigh Mountain Hawks

Future members|

* Richmond Spiders (joining in 2025)

Championships & awards|

* All-time standings
* 2021 Patriot League Football Championship Game

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