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2024 Richmond Spiders Football - Opponents Countdown - Virginia Cavaliers

Yep. Manhandled them up front in 2016 (Mendenhall’s first game at UVA). Should be VERY competitive game. I suppose Spides will be 10 point ‘dogs
Montana State welcomed Mendenhall to New Mexico last night by beating them 35-31 for the first FCS over FBS scalp of the season.

2024 Richmond Spiders Football - Opponents Countdown - William and Mary

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there's a lot of football to be played by the Spiders and Indians between now and November 23, but wouldn't it be something if this game had CAA Championship implications for the third year in a row?...obviously things have to go well for both squads, but playing almost identical CAA schedules it could happen again!

I need to get the name of this rivalry straight...it's been played 134 times according to the UR Football Record Book...the Spiders retook the all time lead with last year's dramatic win...UR now leads 65-64-5...most publications call it "The Oldest Rivalry in the South", but I believe even non UVA fans acknowledge that the Cavs played UNC before our series with the Indians began in 1898...there is no question that the series is the "Most Played Rivalry in the South"...we've played the Indians 134 times...Virginia has played North Carolina a measly 128 times...UR v. W&M is the 4th most played rivalry in D-1 football...

Coach London believes the Tribe are ready to bounce back from last year's disappointing season...he's especially optimistic about his offense...they return nine starters, three of which were voted All CAA Preseason...included are star RB Bronson Yoder who leads a set of players at the skilled positions that London says are the best since he arrived on The Reservation! QB Darius Wilson also returns for his 4th season as a starter...the Indians will have to fill some big holes on the defensive side with less experienced players and newcomers...

with William and Mary picked to finish 4th and the Spiders 2nd this could be another classic battle perfect for this historic rivalry...what could be better than a late November afternoon at The Brick House as the CAA era of Richmond football comes to a close!

once again this season it's been my pleasure to put together the Opponents Countdown, but I'm sure glad it's over...it's time for some real football...I'm hopeful and optimistic that Spiders fans are going to have a lot to enjoy in the next 13 weeks...get your UR mojo going and support the program any way you can!

enjoy the Countdown!

Go Spiders!

Next year

Is this the same guy who had the lowest shooting percentage among starters, but took the most shots by far? Is this the guy that frequently took ill advised shots relative to game situation and shot clock? Is this the guy that took it upon himself to jack up ridiculously difficult shots at critical times rather than looking for an open teammate? Is this the guy who took a future NBA player to play second fiddle to his game?

Francis will forever be an esteemed Spider, but the adulation relative to the stats is suspect. Thin line between fearless and foolish, ask Custer.
To answer your questions:

1. Yes. In, 2020, but not 2021. When you shoot about the same number of 3s than 2s, chances are really good you won't be near the FG% leaders on your team. And, in 2021, Jacob had the worst FG% among starters, not Blake. In 2020, did you really have an issue with Blake after he was the leading scorer on a 24-7 team? A team that won 12 and 13 games the 2 seasons before Blake got there, with many of the same starters who started with Blake?

2. No.
3. No.
4. No.
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Next year

I'm of the opinion that every good team needs an alpha. King was that for us last year. Blake Francis was an alpha. Gilly was an alpha during our A-10 tourney/NCAA run, he was not most of that year which is why we didn't live up to the hype most of the year. The alpha is the guy who wants the ball in their hands when we need a bucket or play needs to be made or at the end of the game.

Hunt to me is the most likely to be our alpha this year. He has the leadership ability to do so, but not sure if he will be the guy we entrust to make that critical bucket and or play.
97 great point! I think Hunt had Alpha moments when it was needed but not many while King was on the floor. Spiders seemed to be a better team when we had effective Alpha. it took pressure off others and they played more relaxed and opened up scoring opportunities for entire team.

Next year

I think we will be more balanced, but agree you want to have that go to guy. You want him to be versatile, someone like Blake Francis, who could make the 3, drive to the basket, handle the ball, be quick with the ball, draw some contact to get fouled at times, finish at the basket, and create his own shot, including making a pull up mid range jumper if everything else is taken away. This has Hunt written all over it. He might not average 17 a game like Blake did, but I could see him as our leading scorer at 12-14 and the go to guy.
Is this the same guy who had the lowest shooting percentage among starters, but took the most shots by far? Is this the guy that frequently took ill advised shots relative to game situation and shot clock? Is this the guy that took it upon himself to jack up ridiculously difficult shots at critical times rather than looking for an open teammate? Is this the guy who took a future NBA player to play second fiddle to his game?

Francis will forever be an esteemed Spider, but the adulation relative to the stats is suspect. Thin line between fearless and foolish, ask Custer.

2024–25 schedule

2 seasons ago, we had 8 OOC games announced by early June, and 12 OOC games announced before the start of August after adding Clemson as our 12th in late July.
Yeah … when I renewed my senior tix this week I asked my normal contact when we should expect to hear the rest of the schedule and he said before Labor Day but we will see …

2024–25 schedule

Definitely some passion out there on this topic. I will be very happy to see a full OOC slate so the prognosticators can weigh in on record and associated topics.

I think the hope of an at-large is fool’s gold for the following reasons in no particular order:
1) A10 is no longer a guaranteed multi-bid league. Two teams seems to be the ceiling and other A10 teams have more appeal than UR. The days of the giant killers are way in the rear view.
2) Mooney’s history - others have detailed this. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
3) Power conferences have changed how they schedule and the NCAA has shifted the deck to favor P5 schools inclusion in the dance. A historical good enough record will likely not be good enough.
4) Player movement- NIL and the portal has changed team construction and now uncertainty rules in terms of the team strength. Another poster mentioned this and I agree (sorry not digging through thread to find, but kudos to the person).

I do want the staff to build the best schedule possible, but saying that it should be built to maximize the possibility of an at-large bid is simply folly, but it does fill up the time while waiting for something concrete to discuss (the bells, sirens and lights are getting very irritating /s).

Couldn't have said it better, if we couldnt get at large bids when the A10 was a powerhouse and the deck wasn't totally stacked against us institutionally from the NCAA in all forms it is pretty hard to imagine getting them now. All you have to do is look at our conference run last season to know that.
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