University of Richmond Athletics
(Pictured) Lawrence Sidbury and Lawrence Sidbury Jr. on the field in Chattanooga celebrating the 2008 National Championship victory.
Spider Voices: A Moment That Can Never Be Taken Away
11/05/2018 | Spider Voices
Note: The University of Richmond will honor the 10-year anniversary of the 2008 National Championship Saturday when the Spiders face Maine at Robins Stadium.
By Lawrence Sidbury
Class of 2008
Winning the FCS National Championship in 2008 meant everything!! Going out on top…what better way to cap off my collegiate career? The ultimate team achievement put the icing on the cake. It was significant for many other reasons too. It's a story of a group of men overcoming adversity and fighting to earn the top spot. It was monumental for the University because it was our first and only national championship in school history. It set a new standard and expectation at the University of Richmond.
There were many memorable moments for me that season…four sacks in the championship game, Eric Ward to Joe Stewart to win the Northern Iowa game, rallying around multiple teammates who experienced death in their families during the season, losing to Villanova after being ranked No. 1, the punt return that ended the game at home versus JMU, winning the game in overtime versus William and Mary to send us to the playoffs, being 4-3 and having to battle back, avenging our loss from the previous year against Appalachian State…all of those things and many others, the ups and downs, are a part of our story.
Our brotherhood, our bond and the way we held each other accountable was what made the 2008 team so special. We played hard for each other. We pushed each other to the fullest. The "infamous players only meeting" called by Sherman Logan, John Crone, Will Healy and myself after being 4-3 garnered a lot of attention, but that's how we handled things all the time. The coaches were never involved. Coach London brought that to Richmond with him and put that responsibility on us four. He told us that good teams policed themselves. Everyone on the team 2008 respected their brother and we went all out for each other. No egos…we just balled!
Someone asked me, "Ten years later now, has the magnitude of being a National Champion set in?" That feeling set in as soon as the clock hit 0:00. At that moment you are the best. It's something that can never be taken away from you. All off the work you put in paid off in the most magnificent way possible. Every practice, every workout, every sprint, every rep in the weight room, every hit, every second of film you watched and every injury you played through was all worth it. It's something that you can be proud of forever. That feeling will never fade. It means just as much to me today as it did December 19, 2008. I find myself randomly running into Spider Alums quite frequently. They recognize me and the first thing they bring up is the National Championship. It far supersedes my time in the NFL. Each person tells me about how proud it made them and how happy they were for us. Almost each of them say that they were in Chattanooga that night. The impact was felt well beyond the Robins Center. It was for everyone caught in the web, past and present.
I am proud to call myself a Richmond Spider! I say that because everyone simply can't cut it. Straight up!! We ARE the sharpest tools in the shed! You gotta put some "respek" on our names on and off the field (All of my millennials will get that one lol). Seriously though, it says a lot about the makings of you as a man or woman to graduate from THE University of Richmond. It's not for everyone and not everyone makes it. Our name holds weight and is highly respected in the world of academia and college athletics as well.
I can't wait to get back to campus this weekend! It does make me ask myself, "Where did those 10 years go?", but we won't talk about that lol. I'm excited to see my brothers and each person that played a role in our magical run. We're going to celebrate, fellowship, reminisce, tell stories and laugh like old times. Is it the weekend yet???
By Lawrence Sidbury
Class of 2008
Winning the FCS National Championship in 2008 meant everything!! Going out on top…what better way to cap off my collegiate career? The ultimate team achievement put the icing on the cake. It was significant for many other reasons too. It's a story of a group of men overcoming adversity and fighting to earn the top spot. It was monumental for the University because it was our first and only national championship in school history. It set a new standard and expectation at the University of Richmond.
There were many memorable moments for me that season…four sacks in the championship game, Eric Ward to Joe Stewart to win the Northern Iowa game, rallying around multiple teammates who experienced death in their families during the season, losing to Villanova after being ranked No. 1, the punt return that ended the game at home versus JMU, winning the game in overtime versus William and Mary to send us to the playoffs, being 4-3 and having to battle back, avenging our loss from the previous year against Appalachian State…all of those things and many others, the ups and downs, are a part of our story.
Our brotherhood, our bond and the way we held each other accountable was what made the 2008 team so special. We played hard for each other. We pushed each other to the fullest. The "infamous players only meeting" called by Sherman Logan, John Crone, Will Healy and myself after being 4-3 garnered a lot of attention, but that's how we handled things all the time. The coaches were never involved. Coach London brought that to Richmond with him and put that responsibility on us four. He told us that good teams policed themselves. Everyone on the team 2008 respected their brother and we went all out for each other. No egos…we just balled!
Someone asked me, "Ten years later now, has the magnitude of being a National Champion set in?" That feeling set in as soon as the clock hit 0:00. At that moment you are the best. It's something that can never be taken away from you. All off the work you put in paid off in the most magnificent way possible. Every practice, every workout, every sprint, every rep in the weight room, every hit, every second of film you watched and every injury you played through was all worth it. It's something that you can be proud of forever. That feeling will never fade. It means just as much to me today as it did December 19, 2008. I find myself randomly running into Spider Alums quite frequently. They recognize me and the first thing they bring up is the National Championship. It far supersedes my time in the NFL. Each person tells me about how proud it made them and how happy they were for us. Almost each of them say that they were in Chattanooga that night. The impact was felt well beyond the Robins Center. It was for everyone caught in the web, past and present.
I am proud to call myself a Richmond Spider! I say that because everyone simply can't cut it. Straight up!! We ARE the sharpest tools in the shed! You gotta put some "respek" on our names on and off the field (All of my millennials will get that one lol). Seriously though, it says a lot about the makings of you as a man or woman to graduate from THE University of Richmond. It's not for everyone and not everyone makes it. Our name holds weight and is highly respected in the world of academia and college athletics as well.
I can't wait to get back to campus this weekend! It does make me ask myself, "Where did those 10 years go?", but we won't talk about that lol. I'm excited to see my brothers and each person that played a role in our magical run. We're going to celebrate, fellowship, reminisce, tell stories and laugh like old times. Is it the weekend yet???
VCU Postgame - Mooney & Walz
Wednesday, January 28
George Washington Postgame - Mooney & Walz
Sunday, January 25
Swimming & Diving Postgame vs. JMU
Friday, January 23
Men's Basketball Highlights vs. Rhode Island
Thursday, January 22