University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Announces 2005 Football Schedule
01/25/2005 | Football
Jan. 25, 2005
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Dave Clawson's second year at the helm of the Richmond Football program kicks off under Thursday night lights when Atlantic 10 rival Massachusetts visits UR Stadium on Sept. 1. The Spiders host four other home games in 2005, including a Homecoming date with VMI and the 115th all-time meeting with William & Mary.
"Opening up on a Thursday night at UR Stadium provides a great environment for all Spider fans to experience Richmond Football," Clawson said. "We think that night and the entire schedule will generate tremendous interest. Along with our always difficult Atlantic 10 slate, we will play a SEC team, host a traditional state rival in VMI and face another playoff team from last year in Lafayette."
Following Richmond's first Thursday game since the 2002 season opener at Temple, its first Thursday at home since 1981, the Spiders are on the road for three straight tests. Richmond travels to Easton, Pa. for the first time since 1922 to face Lafayette on Sept. 10. After a conference clash at Maine on Sept. 17, the Spiders return to Nashville, where they lost 28-22 in 2001, to face the SEC's Vanderbilt Commodores.
Following its bye week, Richmond hosts Villanova on Oct. 8. October continues with a road trip to Delaware, a 2004 playoff participant, on Oct. 15 and a home contest against Hofstra on Oct. 22.
Two days before Halloween, Richmond travels to Harrisonburg to face defending national champion James Madison. The Spiders return home to host VMI on Nov. 5 before closing out their road slate at Towson on Nov. 12. The Spiders beat VMI 34-7 and Towson 24-0 last fall.
UR Stadium hosts the 115th all-time meeting between Richmond and William & Mary, the oldest rivalry in the South, to conclude the 2005 regular-season. The Tribe advanced to the NCAA semifinals last season.
