University of Richmond Athletics
Spider InSight: Homecoming From The Radio Booth
10/12/2016 | Football, General
The service was slow at dinner last Friday night in Albany, NY, where a group from our football travel party had gathered, but the stories were coming fast and furious, making the wait an unexpected pleasure and the idea for today's Spider InSight.
Former Spider football players Chris Anderson (1995-99) and Jasmonn Coleman (1994-97) were entertaining the group led by team doctor Chris Young. We were all ears as they recounted – perhaps embellished – their tales from the Coach Jim Reid era. The stories actually carried over to breakfast Saturday morning.
With that as a backdrop, I asked both Chris and Jas to give their perspective as a player and as an alum, of Homecoming, which will be celebrated on campus this weekend.
It should be noted that there has been a Spider in the radio booth for the past 32 years, beginning with the late Ray Tate for 20 seasons, Jasmonn for 10, and now Chris in his second year. From player to broadcaster, on the field and off, here are notes, quotes and anecdotes from Jasmonn and Chris – just maybe not quite as entertaining as the dinner table talk.
HOMECOMING AS A PLAYER:
Chris: “As a player, it was truly the sense of the word Homecoming. The guys were coming back. The older guys. Maybe even the guys you played with when you were a freshman and a sophomore. It was like your big brothers were coming back. I wanted to perform well knowing those guys were coming back. They'll be in the locker room. They'll be on the sidelines. You'll see them after the game. You just wanted to let them know that when they come back they could feel good about the legacy that they left as far as being a part of this program and building this program.
“For me, in '98, it was a big deal when Jas and Shawn (Barber) and those guys who left in '97 when we were 6-5, came back in '98 and we won the A-10 title. I know when they left they felt that was somewhere we could go and then for them to come back and see us do it, there's a lot of pride in that.”
Jasmonn: “I don't think going into the game I thought that way but it always seemed like there was an elevated presence of former players at the game, on the sidelines, at the locker room. There's a lot more of our old teammates back for the weekend, so you always want to put on a good show for those guys and want to keep that torch lit and carry the legacy on. You want to show them that you've gotten better and haven't done anything to blemish the great work they did as players. It's was more when I saw those guys in great numbers that it hit me. When you see those guys it gives you a bigger shot of adrenalin to play well in front of them.”
HOMECOMING AS A VISITING PLAYER:
Jasmonn: “As a player, you always thought that's disrespectful for someone to schedule you for homecoming. That's the way it is with every coach. Coach Reid was no exception. If you were scheduled as the homecoming opponent as the visitor, that was a sign of disrespect. They didn't think you could challenge them for a win so that's why they scheduled you for homecoming - so everyone could celebrate and party while you got beat up on their home field. That was the impression that was made and it's stuck with me.
“Even as an administrator now knowing that's not always the case, I know a lot of it is about scheduling and making dates work. But you still kinda have that feeling in your gut when someone's got you scheduled for their homecoming, there's still a little part of me that thinks there's a little bit of disrespect there even though I know better as a professional. I still get that little sensation.”
Chris: “I know now that there's so much that goes into scheduling homecoming. There's probably a little effort put into who you play, but as a coach you totally play that down and play up that you're somebody's homecoming opponent. That's the ultimate sign of disrespect. The attitude is it will not be tolerated and I'm gonna ruin this day for you, your coaching staff, family, friends, everyone coming to see you because you chose us for homecoming.”
HOMECOMING AS AN ALUM:
Chris: “Even though things change (as years go by), when you come back, as long as you see the guys who are putting on that jersey love this program and love this school the same way I did when I played, and as long as you see that as an alum and a former player, you're excited and you feel good about it. I'm looking to see the same level of passion. Do they care like I cared? Do they hurt like I hurt? Are they leaving it on the field like I did? As long as that's being done, then I'm excited about the program and where we're going and I want to be a part of it anyway possible, which is one of the reasons I was interested in doing (the radio broadcasts).
“The older you get with family and more responsibility, you keep up with less and less people. So homecoming is exciting. Guys move on because they're successful and they don't always stay in Richmond. You have guys who have accomplished so much. They could be in other countries or across the other side of the US.
“I'll be honest. We tell basically the same stories and the same jokes and they get embellished every year and they're funnier every year. And then you bring your wife, and then you clean it up a little bit and then you tell the stories to your kids, and it's the “G” version for your kids. But I know going back to homecoming and heading to that tailgate I already know what stories I'm going to tell and be asked to tell.”
Jasmonn: “The first homecoming I went to was a culture shock in some ways. I was like, wow, this is what everybody's been doing during homecoming weekend. This is fun. I remember my first homecoming weekend how excited I was about being on that side of it. Being able to tailgate, but to have that access as a football player. It left you pretty happy and smiling and excited. As a player, you don't enjoy homecoming the same way. When you get to do that as an alum, it's a lot of fun. Especially those first few years out, when you have guys who have graduated but you also still have such a strong connection to the guys still on the field playing. You feel a connection to both sides and that makes it a lot of fun. You get to be on the field with those guys, but you also get to go in the parking lot and enjoy not having to run those sprints or take on that block.
“But the years are adding up fast. Number 20 is a year away for me. I think that 20 year mark is when the embellishment starts to really extend itself. Under 20 years, there's still a lot more relative truth to it, but as I talk to guys beyond the 20 year mark I start to notice a big difference in the conversation.”
WHO'S PLANNING TO COME BACK THIS WEEKEND?
Chris: “We're working on (UR Hall of Famer) Paris Lenon. This will be his first homecoming because he played pro ball for like 13 years and then he retired. Last year he was just retired and wasn't sure about coming or not coming. So if he makes it, I think this would be his first homecoming. We're trying to get him to come back.”
Jasmonn: “My old roommate Shawn Barber will be back this weekend. I haven't seen him in a while. We stay in touch, but it will be great to have him here for the weekend. Same for Jimmie Miles. Both those guys are out of town so it will be great to have them back.”
MEMORABLE HOMECOMING GAMES
Jasmonn: “I remember in '95 a 7-3 win against New Hampshire. I remember how good our defense was that game and all year, really. I think we led the league in a lot of defensive stats. Coach Reid was in his first year as our head coach, and he had all those guys over on defense. We had a lot of fun and had a good season. I looked at that UNH score and laughed and said, 'that's a Jim Reid score right there.' We walked out of there with a 7-3 win and Coach Reid probably couldn't have been prouder of every aspect of that game because that's exactly what he always preached to us.”
In that Spider 7-3 Homecoming win, the defense held UNH to 225 yards, including just 93 rushing yards. New Hampshire featured star running back Jerry Azumah, a true freshman who rushed for 74 yards. Azumah went on to play in the NFL. The lone touchdown was scored in the second quarter on a two-yard run by Minoso Rodgers. The victory improved the Spiders' record to 7-1-1 – yes, there was a 7-7 tie at Fordham in a downpour – the last tie in Richmond football history.
Chris: “The '97 Maine game stands out to me. Winston October blocked a punt with like less than two minutes to go. Then Rahmann Streater, who didn't have the best hands in the world anyway, catches an out route in the end zone with a cast on his hand and we win 17-14. He caught that with maybe a minute to go (33 seconds). I had a big interception at the goal line and returned it out near midfield or so.
“In '98, that was just a statement year. Delaware was the gold standard of the A-10 back then. We took 'em to the woodshed (on Homecoming, 45-6) and it felt great. Now I'm excited about homecoming!”
FINAL THOUGHTS
Jasmonn: One of the things I tried to warn Chris about being on the radio is homecoming. It's the one thing that will get you. You'll get to see all these guys and you go to all the games, but on homecoming, for the game, you've got work to do. You won't enjoy as much time with those guys as you might wish on game day. You still get to go out in the parking lot and be with those guys and tell the stories about the games, the funny things that happened in the locker room, all of that. But then you have to go to the booth.
“Being a broadcaster probably brought me a lot closer to some teammates because of the travel and catching up with guys that I might not have seen if I hadn't been traveling with the team. You're in the right place to connect with a lot of those guys. But homecoming is the one game that people circle on their calendar as an alum. It's a little different being a staffer now, but it will still be great fun.”
Chris: “Time will be made for tailgating but I'll be in the booth at kickoff. It's the whole weekend. It's not just the game. We'll get together, sit around, and tell stories and jokes. We'll talk about Coach Reid. He used to say nothing brings people together like a common goal and a common enemy. Well, the goal was to be great but he used to say 'the common enemy will be me.' You always thought the enemy would be the opponent. But he always said it would be him (laughs). He always said with that common goal and common enemy you guys are going to love each other forever. That's been true.”
TRIVIA QUESTION
Who was the last non-Richmond alum to be Spider Football radio analyst? If you're the first to email me the correct answer, you'll get a free lunch at Outback during one of our coaches' radio shows! Hint: Like me, he's a Syracuse grad. Be looking for the answer in the next Spider InSight.
