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"Somebody " on the board might have reached out directly to Scott Day and asked...
Offensive coordinator Jeff Durden, UR's fourth point man in four seasons, may push the pace
John O'Connor|4 hours ago
From a professional-advancement angle, Jeff Durden seems to be in the right spot. He is the University of Richmond's fourth offensive coordinator in four years, and the three who predated him moved on to higher-level football jobs.
Brandon Streeter was UR's offensive coordinator 2012-14. He became the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at Clemson, his alma mater. Streeter remains in that position for the defending College Football Playoff champion.
Charlie Fisher, Richmond's offensive coordinator in 2015, became the head coach at FCS member Western Illinois in 2016. The Leathernecks belong to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, generally viewed as the FCS' top league.
John Garrett, Richmond's offensive coordinator last season, was hired as Lafayette's head coach in December of 2016. Lafayette is affiliated with the FCS Patriot League.
UR has advanced to the FCS playoffs each of the last three years, averaging 31.3 points (2014), 33 points (2015) and 28.6 points (2016) while going 29-13 during that run.
When Russ Huesman became the Spiders' coach following last season, he invited Durden to join him at UR. From 2013 to 2016, Durden was offensive coordinator at Southern Conference member Chattanooga, where Huesman was coach the last eight years. Durden was James Madison's offensive coordinator 2004-2012.
A dynamic worth watching with the Spiders this season will be how senior quarterback Kyle Lauletta and Durden mesh. Lauletta played four games as a true freshman in 2013, with Streeter as UR's offensive coordinator. Lauletta redshirted in 2014, and then worked under Fisher in 2015 and Garrett last year, before Lauletta suffered a knee injury in UR's final regular-season game.
Durden, VMI's offensive coordinator 2002-03, was part of a national-championship team as JMU's offensive coordinator in 2004. Durden's successor as offensive coordinator at Chattanooga is Justin Rascati, who was JMU's QB in the national championship year of 2004.
Huesman won a national championship as Richmond's defensive coordinator in 2008. CAA media day in Baltimore is July 25, Richmond opens preseason practice July 26, and the Spiders' season begins at Sam Houston State Aug. 27.
Durden, 52 and a Georgia native, took time Sunday evening to answer some questions from The Times-Dispatch:
As the fourth offensive coordinator for Kyle Lauletta, are you doing anything to try to ease this latest adjustment for him, or just moving forward with your plan?
"Try to get him to trust me, and the second thing I would do is try to build a relationship with him. I think I've got a ways to go there. I was very concerned about that. The great thing about it is I have a previously relationship with Charlie Fisher. So he was able to help me a little bit, talking about Kyle's personality, how he picks things up, how he thinks, and what his tendencies were. So that's very helpful to me, and probably helpful to Kyle."
Would you anticipate Kyle being physically ready when preseason camp opens?
"Based on what the trainers are saying and Kyle is saying, that will be the case."
The fast pace of your offenses at previous stops is well known. Do you shoot for a specific number of snaps, or does the tempo vary game-to-game?
"I'd say game-to-game. I think what we did at Chattanooga is we found a formula for winning. It's one thing to talk about going fast. It's another one to actually do it. We were built (to go fast), but we'd get in fourth quarters of games, and we weren't trying to score 80 points and embarrass anybody. I coach for a defensive head coach ... There are times to go fast and times to go slow. We want the ability to do both. ... I think 35 points a game in (CAA Football) will win most games, based on my statistical analysis."
Press box or sideline for you on game day?
"I've always been in the press box (during the last several years), but I have a totally different staff here. ... I haven't determined that yet, but I'm really leaning toward being on the field."
How about a general view of how CAA Football and the Southern Conference compare and contrast?
"The CAA, I think, is more of an offensive league. The Southern Conference is more of a defensive league. Players? It's really hard to compare. The statistics say that (the CAA) is one of the top two (FCS) leagues in the country (along with the Missouri Valley Football Conference)."
How did you get into this business?
"I just think I was exposed to some coaches who I really admired and respected. They helped me choose this path. They were very influential not just in my football career, but in my personal life. They pushed me. They supported me. I was like, 'I really like this.' I like being around young people and it gives me the ability to compete on a daily basis, and that's why I do what I do.
"I like watching people progress and develop."
John O'Connor|4 hours ago
From a professional-advancement angle, Jeff Durden seems to be in the right spot. He is the University of Richmond's fourth offensive coordinator in four years, and the three who predated him moved on to higher-level football jobs.
Brandon Streeter was UR's offensive coordinator 2012-14. He became the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at Clemson, his alma mater. Streeter remains in that position for the defending College Football Playoff champion.
Charlie Fisher, Richmond's offensive coordinator in 2015, became the head coach at FCS member Western Illinois in 2016. The Leathernecks belong to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, generally viewed as the FCS' top league.
John Garrett, Richmond's offensive coordinator last season, was hired as Lafayette's head coach in December of 2016. Lafayette is affiliated with the FCS Patriot League.
UR has advanced to the FCS playoffs each of the last three years, averaging 31.3 points (2014), 33 points (2015) and 28.6 points (2016) while going 29-13 during that run.
When Russ Huesman became the Spiders' coach following last season, he invited Durden to join him at UR. From 2013 to 2016, Durden was offensive coordinator at Southern Conference member Chattanooga, where Huesman was coach the last eight years. Durden was James Madison's offensive coordinator 2004-2012.
A dynamic worth watching with the Spiders this season will be how senior quarterback Kyle Lauletta and Durden mesh. Lauletta played four games as a true freshman in 2013, with Streeter as UR's offensive coordinator. Lauletta redshirted in 2014, and then worked under Fisher in 2015 and Garrett last year, before Lauletta suffered a knee injury in UR's final regular-season game.
Durden, VMI's offensive coordinator 2002-03, was part of a national-championship team as JMU's offensive coordinator in 2004. Durden's successor as offensive coordinator at Chattanooga is Justin Rascati, who was JMU's QB in the national championship year of 2004.
Huesman won a national championship as Richmond's defensive coordinator in 2008. CAA media day in Baltimore is July 25, Richmond opens preseason practice July 26, and the Spiders' season begins at Sam Houston State Aug. 27.
Durden, 52 and a Georgia native, took time Sunday evening to answer some questions from The Times-Dispatch:
As the fourth offensive coordinator for Kyle Lauletta, are you doing anything to try to ease this latest adjustment for him, or just moving forward with your plan?
"Try to get him to trust me, and the second thing I would do is try to build a relationship with him. I think I've got a ways to go there. I was very concerned about that. The great thing about it is I have a previously relationship with Charlie Fisher. So he was able to help me a little bit, talking about Kyle's personality, how he picks things up, how he thinks, and what his tendencies were. So that's very helpful to me, and probably helpful to Kyle."
Would you anticipate Kyle being physically ready when preseason camp opens?
"Based on what the trainers are saying and Kyle is saying, that will be the case."
The fast pace of your offenses at previous stops is well known. Do you shoot for a specific number of snaps, or does the tempo vary game-to-game?
"I'd say game-to-game. I think what we did at Chattanooga is we found a formula for winning. It's one thing to talk about going fast. It's another one to actually do it. We were built (to go fast), but we'd get in fourth quarters of games, and we weren't trying to score 80 points and embarrass anybody. I coach for a defensive head coach ... There are times to go fast and times to go slow. We want the ability to do both. ... I think 35 points a game in (CAA Football) will win most games, based on my statistical analysis."
Press box or sideline for you on game day?
"I've always been in the press box (during the last several years), but I have a totally different staff here. ... I haven't determined that yet, but I'm really leaning toward being on the field."
How about a general view of how CAA Football and the Southern Conference compare and contrast?
"The CAA, I think, is more of an offensive league. The Southern Conference is more of a defensive league. Players? It's really hard to compare. The statistics say that (the CAA) is one of the top two (FCS) leagues in the country (along with the Missouri Valley Football Conference)."
How did you get into this business?
"I just think I was exposed to some coaches who I really admired and respected. They helped me choose this path. They were very influential not just in my football career, but in my personal life. They pushed me. They supported me. I was like, 'I really like this.' I like being around young people and it gives me the ability to compete on a daily basis, and that's why I do what I do.
"I like watching people progress and develop."
I am not crazy about his comment on relationship with Kyle: "I think I got a ways to go there."Offensive coordinator Jeff Durden, UR's fourth point man in four seasons, may push the pace
John O'Connor|4 hours ago
From a professional-advancement angle, Jeff Durden seems to be in the right spot. He is the University of Richmond's fourth offensive coordinator in four years, and the three who predated him moved on to higher-level football jobs.
Brandon Streeter was UR's offensive coordinator 2012-14. He became the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at Clemson, his alma mater. Streeter remains in that position for the defending College Football Playoff champion.
Charlie Fisher, Richmond's offensive coordinator in 2015, became the head coach at FCS member Western Illinois in 2016. The Leathernecks belong to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, generally viewed as the FCS' top league.
John Garrett, Richmond's offensive coordinator last season, was hired as Lafayette's head coach in December of 2016. Lafayette is affiliated with the FCS Patriot League.
UR has advanced to the FCS playoffs each of the last three years, averaging 31.3 points (2014), 33 points (2015) and 28.6 points (2016) while going 29-13 during that run.
When Russ Huesman became the Spiders' coach following last season, he invited Durden to join him at UR. From 2013 to 2016, Durden was offensive coordinator at Southern Conference member Chattanooga, where Huesman was coach the last eight years. Durden was James Madison's offensive coordinator 2004-2012.
A dynamic worth watching with the Spiders this season will be how senior quarterback Kyle Lauletta and Durden mesh. Lauletta played four games as a true freshman in 2013, with Streeter as UR's offensive coordinator. Lauletta redshirted in 2014, and then worked under Fisher in 2015 and Garrett last year, before Lauletta suffered a knee injury in UR's final regular-season game.
Durden, VMI's offensive coordinator 2002-03, was part of a national-championship team as JMU's offensive coordinator in 2004. Durden's successor as offensive coordinator at Chattanooga is Justin Rascati, who was JMU's QB in the national championship year of 2004.
Huesman won a national championship as Richmond's defensive coordinator in 2008. CAA media day in Baltimore is July 25, Richmond opens preseason practice July 26, and the Spiders' season begins at Sam Houston State Aug. 27.
Durden, 52 and a Georgia native, took time Sunday evening to answer some questions from The Times-Dispatch:
As the fourth offensive coordinator for Kyle Lauletta, are you doing anything to try to ease this latest adjustment for him, or just moving forward with your plan?
"Try to get him to trust me, and the second thing I would do is try to build a relationship with him. I think I've got a ways to go there. I was very concerned about that. The great thing about it is I have a previously relationship with Charlie Fisher. So he was able to help me a little bit, talking about Kyle's personality, how he picks things up, how he thinks, and what his tendencies were. So that's very helpful to me, and probably helpful to Kyle."
Would you anticipate Kyle being physically ready when preseason camp opens?
"Based on what the trainers are saying and Kyle is saying, that will be the case."
The fast pace of your offenses at previous stops is well known. Do you shoot for a specific number of snaps, or does the tempo vary game-to-game?
"I'd say game-to-game. I think what we did at Chattanooga is we found a formula for winning. It's one thing to talk about going fast. It's another one to actually do it. We were built (to go fast), but we'd get in fourth quarters of games, and we weren't trying to score 80 points and embarrass anybody. I coach for a defensive head coach ... There are times to go fast and times to go slow. We want the ability to do both. ... I think 35 points a game in (CAA Football) will win most games, based on my statistical analysis."
Press box or sideline for you on game day?
"I've always been in the press box (during the last several years), but I have a totally different staff here. ... I haven't determined that yet, but I'm really leaning toward being on the field."
How about a general view of how CAA Football and the Southern Conference compare and contrast?
"The CAA, I think, is more of an offensive league. The Southern Conference is more of a defensive league. Players? It's really hard to compare. The statistics say that (the CAA) is one of the top two (FCS) leagues in the country (along with the Missouri Valley Football Conference)."
How did you get into this business?
"I just think I was exposed to some coaches who I really admired and respected. They helped me choose this path. They were very influential not just in my football career, but in my personal life. They pushed me. They supported me. I was like, 'I really like this.' I like being around young people and it gives me the ability to compete on a daily basis, and that's why I do what I do.
"I like watching people progress and develop."
Sounds like the two of them are not hitting on all cylinders with less than two months left
before opening game.
With everything Aaron Corp went through during his college career, I would like to think that he and Kyle are pretty close.
So glad I drove to Towson that year, even though we lost, Aaron's game was really really special.
So glad I drove to Towson that year, even though we lost, Aaron's game was really really special.
Corp had 31/34 353 2TDs.Good for CAA POW in losing cause.Trey Gray's leaping sideline catch at 4:00 of the highlight is acrobatic.Towson gets 27 yd FG with 0:00 for 31-28 W.
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This is what linemen looked like when this old Spider was in college!
Amazing performance by Corp and most enjoyable Spiders football loss I can remember...the Spider Gang walked out of Unitas Stadium with heads high that night despite the bitter pill...
Can't remember exactly what point of the season this game fell...it must have been very early for us to have still been ranked #14...it was the most snake bit season we've had lately...finished 0-8 in the CAA!
Go Spiders!
The Spider Gang Group Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/127760237246257/
We were as high as number 5 after opening with three straight wins over Duke, Wagner, and VMI before we started the downhill slide with losses to UNH, JMU, and then Towson.
Aside from the challenges we faced with coaching and injuries, it was a brutal schedule. CAA finished with 6 teams ranked in the top 17, and we had to face all of them. Plus UMass as it began its transition to FBS.
Good little Spider football promotion at the Flying Squirrels game today
Great way for the guys to have some fun AND introduce the team to a different fan base.
Just a few observations, now that I've gotten a chance to go deeper on the roster review...
Maurice Jackson has gone from 240 to 265. That's a big linebacker. May find his hand on the ground.
Marius Young and Tyler Cole have both gone from 290 to 275. Deanthony Muse has shed 20 pounds, going from 285 to 265. Patrick Kliebert is up 10 lbs. to 325. He came in his freshman year at 338, so he's really transformed his body.
Maurice Jackson has gone from 240 to 265. That's a big linebacker. May find his hand on the ground.
Marius Young and Tyler Cole have both gone from 290 to 275. Deanthony Muse has shed 20 pounds, going from 285 to 265. Patrick Kliebert is up 10 lbs. to 325. He came in his freshman year at 338, so he's really transformed his body.
I look forward to watching the offensive line this fall. Behind the veteran leadership of Alex Light, Marius Young, and Patrick Kliebert, this group will set the tone for the entire team. As training camp approaches, I know the younger players (Taz, Seyoum, Kolby, Cole, Dixon) are itching to join Yarbrough in the starting rotation. I think we will start camp with possibly the most depth we have ever had in the group, and the elevated competition will only make everyone better.
Talked to Kliebert at the Squirrels game the other night. He said he is weighing 318 lbs now & Light is up to 315 lbs.
Start at 23:00 Wes with Russ on 910am FoxSports 7/19/17
https://www.spreaker.com/user/9809187/wes-hr-3
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Very encouraging to hear what Russ had to say about the school's commitment to the summer program.
Spiders Wrap Up Summer Workouts
Football
Posted: 07/20/2017
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – For many early mornings this summer, whistles could be heard being blown inside Robins Stadium.
That was once again the case on Thursday as the University of Richmond football team wrapped up its summer workouts before taking a few days off prior to the start of 2017 training camp, which is set to get underway next Thursday, July 27.
For the first-time in program history, the Spiders had the entire team on campus this summer, working with strength & conditioning staff and preparing for the fall.
"The summer is really a crucial time for our guys to prepare physically for the grind of the season," Head Coach Russ Huesman said. "To have our administration get behind us and allow us to have pretty much our entire team here all summer, working together and getting stronger, we believe it's going to pay big dividends this fall."
The incoming scholarship players arrived on campus in late June to start the bridge program, along with several other student-athletes around the athletic department. In addition, Spiders were involved in research projects, summer classes and internships around the campus and the Richmond community.
"I'm really proud of the way this group pushed themselves this summer," Huesman said. "We asked them to show up every day, be ready to work hard and get better and that's exactly what they've done. We're excited to get camp started next week."
Notre Dame grad transfer John Chereson looks to kick-start career at Richmond
John O'Connor|11 hours ago
Russ Huesman, the first-year University of Richmond football coach, says he wants a stiff preseason battle for every position. All coaches preach the importance of that.
The arrival at UR of John Chereson, a graduate transfer kicker from Notre Dame, sends a strong message that Huesman is unquestionably committed to competition he intends to create on Spiders' practice fields.
Richmond returns kicker Griffin Trau, who was an Associated Press first-team FCS All-American last season as a redshirt sophomore. On Monday, Trau was named a preseason second-team All-American by STATS.
"Kind of scary when you've got an All-American kicker and it's a competition," Huesman said.
Trau, 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, comes off the most productive season that a Spiders kicker has ever had. He converted a school-record 23 field goals in 26 attempts, and missed only once inside 40 yards. Trau also went 42 for 42 on point-after attempts as the Spiders finished 10-4 with a loss at Eastern Washington in the FCS quarterfinals.
Huesman said that physically, Trau began preseason practice "a little dinged up, so to get a kicker like John from Notre Dame was pretty huge."
Chereson, 5-10, 180, from Erie, Pa., was strictly a kickoff man at Notre Dame, although he continued place-kicking during practices. Chereson kicked off 16 times for the Irish last season and sought to possibly be more involved at a postgraduate destination.
He came to UR with the understanding that the Spiders were primarily seeking a kickoff specialist, and competition in the field goal department was also a plus.
"Really, I was just looking for a scholarship. At Notre Dame, I was a preferred walk-on," said Chereson. "Richmond offered me a scholarship. That was my main objective.
"And I also wanted to get into a graduate program. I'm an HR management major in a graduate program here."
Had Richmond not offered a scholarship, Chereson said he might have stayed at Notre Dame as a fifth-year senior, or found another program that invited him to come aboard for his final season of eligibility. Hawaii was a possibility.
"I decided to come (to UR) because it's closer to home," Chereson said.
Training-camp competition with a grad transfer is familiar to Trau (rhymes with now). He didn't attempt a field goal in 2015 when Peter Yoder handled UR's place-kicking. The Spiders brought in graduate transfer Ricky Segers (Old Dominion/Henrico High) before last season.
"A nice, healthy competition is welcomed, motivating and helpful in the offseason," Trau said after Segers came to Richmond. "Ultimately, we all want the same thing, to win games and compete for championships."
John O'Connor|11 hours ago
Russ Huesman, the first-year University of Richmond football coach, says he wants a stiff preseason battle for every position. All coaches preach the importance of that.
The arrival at UR of John Chereson, a graduate transfer kicker from Notre Dame, sends a strong message that Huesman is unquestionably committed to competition he intends to create on Spiders' practice fields.
Richmond returns kicker Griffin Trau, who was an Associated Press first-team FCS All-American last season as a redshirt sophomore. On Monday, Trau was named a preseason second-team All-American by STATS.
"Kind of scary when you've got an All-American kicker and it's a competition," Huesman said.
Trau, 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, comes off the most productive season that a Spiders kicker has ever had. He converted a school-record 23 field goals in 26 attempts, and missed only once inside 40 yards. Trau also went 42 for 42 on point-after attempts as the Spiders finished 10-4 with a loss at Eastern Washington in the FCS quarterfinals.
Huesman said that physically, Trau began preseason practice "a little dinged up, so to get a kicker like John from Notre Dame was pretty huge."
Chereson, 5-10, 180, from Erie, Pa., was strictly a kickoff man at Notre Dame, although he continued place-kicking during practices. Chereson kicked off 16 times for the Irish last season and sought to possibly be more involved at a postgraduate destination.
He came to UR with the understanding that the Spiders were primarily seeking a kickoff specialist, and competition in the field goal department was also a plus.
"Really, I was just looking for a scholarship. At Notre Dame, I was a preferred walk-on," said Chereson. "Richmond offered me a scholarship. That was my main objective.
"And I also wanted to get into a graduate program. I'm an HR management major in a graduate program here."
Had Richmond not offered a scholarship, Chereson said he might have stayed at Notre Dame as a fifth-year senior, or found another program that invited him to come aboard for his final season of eligibility. Hawaii was a possibility.
"I decided to come (to UR) because it's closer to home," Chereson said.
Training-camp competition with a grad transfer is familiar to Trau (rhymes with now). He didn't attempt a field goal in 2015 when Peter Yoder handled UR's place-kicking. The Spiders brought in graduate transfer Ricky Segers (Old Dominion/Henrico High) before last season.
"A nice, healthy competition is welcomed, motivating and helpful in the offseason," Trau said after Segers came to Richmond. "Ultimately, we all want the same thing, to win games and compete for championships."
Nice video on the Running Backs up at RichmondSpiders.com. Interesting to hear Durden say that Goodall is furthest along, considering all the preseason accolades for Thompson.
If we maintain our backfield health not sure we ever had this level of versatility and talent but it all starts upfront.
http://richmondspiders.com/watch/?Archive=1016&type=Live
It's an awesome problem to have. We have a 1,000 rusher returning and he might not even be our best guy.
Trey Moore w/ Bob Black 8/2/17
https://omny.fm/shows/the-sports-hu...2-17-3-00-pm-the-sports-huddle-with-bob-black
Start at 34:00
https://omny.fm/shows/the-sports-hu...2-17-3-00-pm-the-sports-huddle-with-bob-black
Start at 34:00
Agree this is a good piece...seems like the quality and entertainment provided by this season's training camp pieces has improved...
Is someone new putting the media strategy and reports together?
Go Spiders!
The Spider Gang Group Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/127760237246257/
Henrico's Xavier Goodall back for Spiders football
http://wric.com/2017/08/02/henricos-xavier-goodall-back-for-spiders-football/
http://wric.com/2017/08/02/henricos-xavier-goodall-back-for-spiders-football/
RTD Article on Alex Light.
http://www.richmond.com/sports/ligh...cle_7b892e62-0140-503d-bd47-6bb444b74da8.html
http://www.richmond.com/sports/ligh...cle_7b892e62-0140-503d-bd47-6bb444b74da8.html
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