no idea what this means, or what they want.
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They've been promoted under the new NCAA rule that allows two additional staff members to be designated as assistant coaches to perform coaching activities. They are not allowed to do off-campus recruiting though.

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are the Spiders the only football team in the country that has opened the season against three States? Morgan, Michigan and Delaware?...

it's been another long week of all eyes focused on the offense, and hopefully a few on the specialty teams, as they try to become the positive factors Richmond fans thought they would be this season...

the questions continue to be pretty much the same and the answers likewise...often very simple...block better, hold the block, protect the QB etc....facing another MEAC opponent, Coach Huesman and several players acknowledged being better prepared for this one, possessing a sense of urgency and realizing the importance of this game...

we'll see if this combination of intangibles and tangibles removes some of the gloom hanging over the disappointing start...it's our last chance to get things pointed in the right direction before the games become much tougher and more important!

enjoy the Prologue...

Go Spiders!

Newport News was an odd spot anyway.

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D+/C-
Couldn't decide between the two.

Guards
With very little returning known production, we needed some big hits here. Mooney started off with a big one in a smaller package in Jordan King. Looks like a home run, and should give us more scoring than we had at this position, as well as ability to create shots, etc. Great start to portal season. We also added Trevor Smith, who was a pretty highly touted guard out of h.s. I also like the Tyne pick up, another smaller guard, but looks to be able to hit shots. Two solid high school pick ups. We were in the running for Darius Brown, who I think would have formed a super A10 back court with King. That was a big miss. I would have liked to seen one more really productive guard like Brown. I do think between Dji, Roche, transfer add Hunt, and the two promising freshman we should be able to find some production. I think best case scenario is for Dji to be the guy here, cut down TO's and play 25 minutes a game. Hunt and the freshman alongside King makes a very smallish back court. That has worked OK for us in the past, but with no Burton and Quinn not a guy that rebounds outside of his radius, think we need a big athletic guard like Dji to play along with King. As much as we added and have coming back, we really still have a lot of question marks.
Forwards
We had all year to find a replacement for Reed. Did not happen. Mooney seemed to put all his eggs in the Burton returning basket. Big whiff. Tanner coming in is a good pick up, but again in this era of 5 year players it is hard to predict a freshman having a big impact. I love his production at a high level h.s. league. but we could have used another athletic forward to at the very least play defense and rebound. Hopefully Tyler Harris embraces this type of role, though he has been listed as a guard, seems more perimeter oriented. I get that the game has changed and is more perimeter oriented, but when you can't stop people and get out worked and out rebounded badly, it does impact your ability to win. You kind of need to at least be competent in all areas. Noyes fulfilling his promise this year, and being able to guard big forwards and rebound would really cover up this miss. Otherwise this is going to be the area that causes us to be a sub .500 team.

Overall, we brought in King from the portal. And missed or not involved with a lot of other guys we could have used. Likely NIL played a part, but that is part of the the $1.3 Million job description now. Need really big years from Dji, Noyes, and one more player not named King to have a top of the A10 team. I am hoping for it, but a lot of production required from unproven guys up to this point.

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most Spiders fans knew we would have to get better almost every week of the season to play meaningful football in November...Morgan State just showed us we've got to go much further than we thought...

opportunity areas abound...the improvement has to start Saturday in East Lansing ...hopefully the fixes will show up despite the BCS opponent and what the scoreboard may say...

Satchmo is certainly among the many Spiders fans who are discouraged and shocked...I understand the frustration of many, but I won't give up on the season until its clear we can't, or won't, improve enough to make something out of the season...

enjoy the Prologue and hope for a better day

Go Spiders!

This comes a bit out of nowhere - a few weeks ago, it was posted in the recruiting thread that we contacted Jack Graham, a 6’4 senior wing out of Rhode Island. He was originally pledged to High Point but decomitted after coaching changes. We apparently had also offered, as Jack has now committed to UR.

Welcome to Richmond, Jack!

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Just me or does this seem very favorable for us next year? Michigan State and William and Mary will be the two tough ones, but after that...? I know we have some questions of course, but this doesn't look like a daunting slate.

Maybe Elko’s kid,who will play baseball at UR this Spring,is able to hand down some football pointers from his old man who was a UR position coach under Clawson.

Do we pay for games with FCS Teams like Morgan State and Delaware St? VMI?

OK, have too much going on right now - so what do? Ignore it and write a book on Spidernation . Sorry for the length. We have a lot of discussion on things like: Our recruiting is better lately, or No it's not better, etc etc. So A) Only looking at HS recruiting, which I know is only part of the picture with transfers especially prevalent now, B) Weighted these based on actual production and my eye test more than rankings probably. I do like the '23 class and '24 so far - but it is easy to love guys based on highlights - but looking back there were some guys that we had that did not pop off the page, and that ultimately showed in lack of production, and transfer to lower levels.

Here goes:

16 Class
Sherod
Buckingham
Golden
Comment: Super Class, Sherod and Golden all time great players and scorers. Buckingham was a very good signing, though ultimately off court issue did him in.
Grade: A

17 Class
Bryce Schneider
Gilyard
Cayo (for the KO)
AJ Ford
Tomas Verbinskis
Comment: Gilyard - All time great, as much as I am huge fans of Kevin Anderson and K Atkinson, Gilyard probably greatest PG in program history. Cayo - very good recruit, improved every year. AJ Ford - he was a stretch and was proven out. Verbinskis - same Scheider - same. These were guys that did not pass the "97 smell test" based on who was recruiting and rankings, etc and were proven out. Great get in Gilyard, very good Cayo. Three misses that were stretches to begin with.
Grade: B+ , I know Gilly, Gilly,Gilly. But he pulls this class up from a much lower grade with three misses.

18 Class
Sal Koureissi
Jake Wojcik
Matt Grace
Andre Gustavson
Comment: Grace and Goose were solid role players. Grace with some of the clutchest plays down the stretch to help us win the A10 tourney and into the dance. Legend. Final season when he and Goose had to be "the guy" showed they were great role players, but not featured guys. Solid recruits. Wojcik, a bit of a stretch athletically for A10 - I did not mind the recruit, thought he could have been solid shooter off bench. Sal - fairly highly ranked, But late pickup and not having committed earlier seemed to raise flags, lacked + athleticism.
Grade: C


19 Class
Tyler Burton
Grade: A
Comment: All time great wing. Producer from day 1.

20 Class
Dji Bailey
Andre Weir
Isaiah Wilson
Grade: D+
Comment: This grade is mostly based on on the court production. Dji great pick up on paper. Mostly non productive due to injury problems. I loved the pick up and this grade can pull up if he stays healthy and produces winning basketball the next two years - and I think he can if healthy. I heard rumblings that Weir "did not have the love of the game" factor. He looked like he could be a monster. Has produced some at FGCU, but was a big miss for us in this class. Wilson - had offers and rankings - BUT - I never did see much offensive game. This was obvious in the aau/hs highlights - which typically are showing the best of the best plays, his game looked undeveloped. Great effort guy, but did not have the ability to be impact player in the A10.

21 Class
Noyes
Nelson
Dread
Randolph
Grade: D+
Comment: Nelson - we could write a book. I liked this pickup. He produced some early but had issues - on Defense, attitude, and decision making. Noyes - Looks good, time to prove his worth this year. Dread - Never sniffed the court. Randolph - solid role player off bench, but had limitations in ball handling which lessened his impact at 6'4. I think this was a pretty good effort by Mooney and staff, originally was going to give a higher grade. But like the class before, the production on court and fact that Noyes is only one left lowers this grade.

22 Class
Mike Walz
Grade - TBD - OK, I'll give a B at this point. Still like Walz as a prospect, story still to be written. Had Penn State offer I believe. Good size/athlete. If he can be a top line starter final two years can move up. Or if fades into bench player moves down.

23 Class
Mikkel Tyne
Trevor Smith
Collin Tanner
Ryan Soulis
Jack Graham
Grade A

Comment: Really like the looks of all these guys. Could see all of the 4 scholly guys with potential to be all A10 types (three teams). Trevor Smith, highest ranked guy - I do have a little concern his offense does not translate. But unlike Wilson, I see more potential - but have some concerns. Graham - I'll treat him as a walk on because that is what he is this year. First walk on I can recall with legit D1 offers, having already committed to High Point.
Easier to give an A at this point in time, but could come down if guys wash out or don't develop.

24
Bryson McGlothin -
Jaylen Robinson
Grade A so far.
Comment: Love the look of these two guys. McGlothin - eye test is very nice - really well rounded compared to a lot of guys. Great size/length/athleticism for his skill set. Robinson - a little raw, but great potential. Best athlete in these classes - other than Burton. Again, easy to give A now based on potential - but love what I see. Will see who else we land.

A $10 million endowment doesn’t go nearly as far as it used to, but still a very nice gift from an anonymous alum.

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our almost annual BCS payday game...this time against a legacy Big 10 opponent...I still remember the anguish of losing to Wisconsin 7-6 at Camp Randall Stadium in 1978...I believe that game may have been the only other game the Spiders have played against an original member of the Big 10.

I still like playing these games despite the risk of injuries and getting trounced...my guess is most of our players and coaches enjoy getting a taste of the BCS atmosphere and measuring their talent versus BCS players...I don't know if any of our players would have been offered a scholarship out of high school by the Spartans...

if we play well in East Lansing, win, or lose, we should be able to play well against any CAA opponent...

I'll be hoping we play well, emerge healthy and spend the $650K wisely...

Enjoy the Countdown Episode Two...the Delaware State Hornets up next...

Go Spiders!

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Veteran QB Lindsey Scott of UIW leads FCS All-America team


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We'd been mentioned with this kid a few months back, and now we have offered.

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Thursday, August 31

Elon @ Wake Forest(-31)7pm ESPN+
URI @ Georgia St.(-17.5)7pm ESPN+
William & Mary @ Campbell(+14.5)7pm FLO
Delaware @ Stony Brook(+14.5)7pm FLO
NC A&T @ UAB(-24) 8pmESPN+

Saturday, September 2

Villanova @ Lehigh 12pm ESPN+
UNH @ Stonehill 1pm NEC Front Row
Towson @ Maryland 3:30pm B10 Network
Monmouth @ FL Atlantic 6pmESPN+
Morgan St. @ Richmond 6pm FLO
Maine @ FIU 6:30pm ESPN+
Albany @ Marshall 6pm ESPN+
Hampton vs Grambling (neutral site - NJ) 3pm NFL Network


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Michigan State v Central Michigan game is FRIDAY night.

Michigan State -14 CMichigan O/U 52

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This song is about the little guy under attack by the rich men, who reside North of Richmond.
It applies to all who refer to middle America as fly over country. It has hit #1 on the country charts, in front of Taylor Swift.

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Positives

As they say, you can't teach size. Legit 7 footer.
"Love of the Game Quotient" - I think this guy has it. Very hard to judge or know for sure, but we see him go to play for Ireland this summer. We see his joy on the court when he makes a big play. And his pain when he has a bad stretch. I get the feeling he really loves to play and is doing all he can to have a very good senior year.
Has some good moves. When he makes that quick spin move and attacks the basket, you ask "why can't he do that every time"?
Works to get position and uses his size down low.
Passing - Sees the game well, and keeps his head up when working down low. Sometimes I think he passes out too early, but is a good and willing passer.

Areas of Improvement

Athleticism - Though I don't think it is bad, it does seem like he can be a step slow. But you see that quick spin move so you know he has some. I think a key is for him to just keep weight off - which he did look to play slimmer last year than at Lafayette. He has enough natural size and mass.
Finishing - I know this was a common complaint on this board last year. Many a time made a beautiful move, but the ball didn't go in. Hopefully a lot of that goes away this year with another year of familiarity, getting used to the A10, and heck maybe just some better luck at times. Anyway, finish 3 more bunnies a game and that is 16 ppg instead of 10.
Durability - Seems like he has had a healthy off season - remember last season he had a broken bone in the foot (I think?) and had to sit out this time of year. If he can keep healthy this year, and keep conditioning up - would like to see closer to 30 minutes a game. Unless Walz has improved enough to take some b/c he is too good to sit.
Free Throws - Let's get that up to ~ 75%

Next Season
As we have been talking about with the entire team, we need a lot of things to go right, and a lot of organic improvement to occur in order to have an NCAA type of season. I do think Quinn has some pretty nice upside potential. A year in they system, a year in a higher league under his belt. Healthy off season and international competition. Improve those finishing shots inside. I am pulling for a big season and see those yells and smiles on the court. I do think this guy has that love of the game, and that gives me hope that he can pull through on the upside.

There is a coup underway in Russia. The mercenary company, Wagner, has pulled 25,000 troops out of Ukraine and invaded Rostov on Don (ROD) in Russia. ROD had enough equipment to outfit another 100,000 troops.

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I just recently moved to Colorado. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out a way to make the daily drive to games as I had been from all the neighboring states! You know I tried! I still have 2 season tickets, however, for at least this season in Section 5 Row A behind the bench. I will be listing most, if not, all tickets for resell, but I would prefer to be more assured Spider fans get them, so if anyone is interested in purchasing tickets for any games, let me know.

This is hard to let go, but perhaps, this is good timing as I have sadly lost lots of interest now that the NIL is in effect. With no player loyalty to the school, college sports has been all but destroyed. I used to love cheering for the Spiders because we were all family and the players wanted to be there not just to make a buck. I'll holdout hope that things turnaround, but this takes a big hit on school pride. Minor league sports with no real loyalty is just not the same.

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New thrice-weekly email newsletter is a nice idea, but they clearly are working with a third party on this so not sure how much insight to expect. They're not even sure what it's called, as I see Spiders Brew, Spiders Morning Brew, and Spiders Morning Jolt in various places.

Can only assume it's being run by a JMU alum, given this bit in the signup confirmation email: "From podcasts that upgrade your morning commute to contests that can help you win RU prizes... it's all in the Spiders Brew."

Signup page also claims it's "read by 50,000+ Richmond fans", which I'm going to go ahead and say is complete BS lol.

Pretty cool for these guys to play together again.