.png&width=16&height=16&type=webp)
University of Richmond Athletics
Men's Basketball Announces Spider Naming Contest
12/12/2014 | Men's Basketball
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND. – Richmond men's basketball and athletics marketing has announced a naming contest for a new UR mascot, a live spider.
Making its debut before Richmond defeated High Point on November 22, the spider has a perfect perch to watch warmups from its protective case at midcourt. During the game, the Spider sits behind the team bench.
The spider makes a perfect companion to Richmond mascot, WebstUR, and will help promote school spirit.
Over the next several weeks, fans will be encouraged to submit naming nominations through a number of mediums. They can tweet or comment on Richmond Athletics' or Richmond Men's Basketball's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Fans can also write in a ballot during upcoming home games with instructions on the Robins Center concourse. Emailed nominations will also be accepted to khuffman@richmond.edu.
The five name finalists will be announced prior to Richmond's game against Wake Forest on Dec. 28. Fans can then vote for their favorite, through the above options, with the winning name announced on Jan. 17 at the Davidson game.
The men's basketball team originated the idea of adopting a live spider, working with the Richmond biology department over the summer. While the Spider makes appearances at home men's basketball games, she spends most of her time with caretakers on campus, including professors, staff and Richmond students.
The Spider is a year-old, greenbottle blue tarantula, native to Venezuela, but bred in captivity and transported to Richmond from a breeder in Utah. Biology department staff believe the Spider to be female, although that can't be confirmed until the Spider grows and molts for the first time under UR care.
Currently clocking in at 3.5 inches long, the spider eats three to four gut-loaded crickets once or twice a week. A staff member and student interested in animal care primarily watch after the spider, feed her and transport her to and from basketball games.
The spider is venomous in the same way that a bee is, and could produce an allergic reaction. Her caretakers do not hold her, but feed her with tongs. A female blue tarantula can live up to 10 years.
