University of Richmond Athletics
Spring Season In Full Swing For Football
01/30/2002 | Football
Jan. 30, 2002
With spring practice underway, the University of Richmond football program is in the midst of an important session where many veterans will return to form and many redshirt freshmen will fight for respect and playing time. It is the season where many questions are answered, yet even more surface.
The coaching staff faces a daunting task of replacing 18 seniors that stamped their names into Spider history with two Atlantic 10 championships. Gone are six starters from both sides of the ball. Four defensive linemen, two of them All-Americans, have departed along with three defensive backs that engineered the secondary. Also gone are the offensive backfield and three offensive linemen, including the tight end.
Without those four-year staples of this program, the 2002 spring season will serve as a learning session where new players are thrust into battle and many veterans are called from behind the scenes to take center stage.
Thankfully for Richmond, a load of talent still remains. Those players have a renewed determination and drive to return to the nation's elite. After finishing 10-3 in 2000 and earning a No. 6 final ranking, the Spiders fought through a tough fall in 2001 that saw them slip to 3-8. Amazingly enough, Richmond outscored its opponents (201-189) and had the 11th ranked defense in I-AA football.
Linebackers Adrian Archie and Mark Thompson will anchor the 2002 defense after playing exceptional football last fall. Archie, an All-Atlantic 10 honoree, led the Spiders with 89 tackles, seven for loss. Also recognized as All-Atlantic 10, Thompson ranked second on the team with 82 tackles and fourth in the A-10 with 18 tackles for loss. Both linebackers are 2002 All-America candidates.
The Richmond defense returns five starters. In addition to Archie and Thompson, defensive end Steve Boyer and defensive backs Maurice Newbill and Ramon Richeson must lead their respective positions.
A regular in the defensive line rotation, Boyer took over the starting defensive end spot after Randy Witham suffered a season-ending bicep injury. He responded with consistent efforts, finishing the year with four tackles for loss and one sack.
Cornerback Maurice Newbill ranked third on the team with 77 tackles. He was constantly around the ball making big plays. Richeson started the final nine games after David Giles was lost for the season with a wrist injury. He was fourth on the team with 72 stops and made three sacks. A tall imposing factor in the secondary, Richeson combined with Newbill on some chin-snapping hits.
Richmond's third preseason All-America candidate is offensive lineman Justin McElfish. The 6-5, 290 guard started every game last season and was a main factor in the Spiders' eighth-ranked rushing offense. He opened holes for 249.8 yards per game on the ground.
Joining McElfish as returning starters on the offensive line are Joe Wilson and Josh Burnette. Wilson earned All-Atlantic 10 Third Team honors after starting all 11 games at right tackle. The other two spots on the o-line will be fought for during the spring season.
Two starting skill players return in slotback Kenny Dantzler and wide receiver Boyd Ouden. Dantzler gained more playing time as the season progressed and finished with 217 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Ouden was the top receiving threat for Richmond last fall, as he caught 14 passes for a team-high 221 yards and four touchdowns.
Perhaps the most versatile Spider, Cordell Roane returns to electrify crowds once again. During his first two seasons of college football, Roane was a dangerous special teams players, returning a kick and punt for a score in one season. He battled injuries during his first three years but returned in 2001 for his first full season. After beginning last fall on special teams and as a running back, Roane was thrust into the quarterback position after Sean Gustus and D'Arcy Wills fell to injury. Roane responded with spectacular efforts, including a record book 246-yard rushing performance against Hofstra. He was rewarded with a National Player of the Week honor for his efforts.
Not only will all these players have to sustain their performance level from last fall, they need to improve and excel to lead Richmond back to the I-AA playoffs. The redshirt freshmen also need to elevate their level of skill and determination to fill the roles left by graduation. The transition begins in mid-February.
