University of Richmond Athletics
A Thanksgiving Message from John Hardt
11/26/2024 | General, Spider Athletic Fund
 Season's greetings fellow Spiders!
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As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week and look ahead to the upcoming holidays, I wanted to be among the first to wish you a happy holiday season. I hope you'll be able to find time over the next few weeks to enjoy the comforts of friends and family, and perhaps even the temporary calm afforded to many of us during this special time of year.
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With Thanksgiving just days away, the Spider Athletics family certainly has a lot for which to be thankful this holiday season. First and foremost, I am extremely thankful to be leading a department comprised of some of the most dedicated and hardest-working coaches, staff and student-athletes in the country.  I continue to be impressed by the feats that our Spider student-athletes are able to achieve, both on and off the field. Â
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In the latest academic data released by the NCAA last week, Richmond student-athletes achieved a 98 percent Graduation Success Rate, a figure that's tied for sixth in all of Division I. And our student-athletes' achievements haven't been limited to the classroom.
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Spider football captured Richmond's first conference title of the school year, finishing its final CAA season with a perfect 8-0 record in conference play after an emphatic 27-0 win vs William & Mary. In the storied history of Spider football, this is only the second time the program has won back-to-back conference championships, with the 2023-24 teams joining our legendary late '60s squad that won the Southern Conference in 1968 and 1969. Up next for the Spiders is a postseason showdown at home against Lehigh on Saturday at 2 PM. Let's make it a true playoff atmosphere at Robins Stadium! Come in numbers, dress warmly, and be loud and proud for your Spiders!
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Another great way to show your Spider spirit this holiday season is to follow the men and women of Spider basketball in Florida this week. The men's team is competing in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers, with games on Monday (a win vs Florida Tech), Tuesday (Louisiana Tech), and Wednesday (Ball State). The women's team, which is 6-0 and currently receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll, will take on Oakland Friday and Oklahoma State Saturday at the Daytona Beach Classic.
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Across Richmond Athletics, there is so much for which to be thankful! Â Our Spiders play a vital role in creating a thriving, vibrant University community at what is widely recognized as one of the nation's premier institutions of higher learning. It's a role they're able to fill only through the continued assistance of a group of loyal, generous supporters who believe in them and know all they do for our University. Thank you for being a part of that group.
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Again, on behalf of Richmond's entire Department of Athletics, please enjoy a safe and prosperous holiday season!
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As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week and look ahead to the upcoming holidays, I wanted to be among the first to wish you a happy holiday season. I hope you'll be able to find time over the next few weeks to enjoy the comforts of friends and family, and perhaps even the temporary calm afforded to many of us during this special time of year.
Â
With Thanksgiving just days away, the Spider Athletics family certainly has a lot for which to be thankful this holiday season. First and foremost, I am extremely thankful to be leading a department comprised of some of the most dedicated and hardest-working coaches, staff and student-athletes in the country.  I continue to be impressed by the feats that our Spider student-athletes are able to achieve, both on and off the field. Â
Â
In the latest academic data released by the NCAA last week, Richmond student-athletes achieved a 98 percent Graduation Success Rate, a figure that's tied for sixth in all of Division I. And our student-athletes' achievements haven't been limited to the classroom.
Â
Spider football captured Richmond's first conference title of the school year, finishing its final CAA season with a perfect 8-0 record in conference play after an emphatic 27-0 win vs William & Mary. In the storied history of Spider football, this is only the second time the program has won back-to-back conference championships, with the 2023-24 teams joining our legendary late '60s squad that won the Southern Conference in 1968 and 1969. Up next for the Spiders is a postseason showdown at home against Lehigh on Saturday at 2 PM. Let's make it a true playoff atmosphere at Robins Stadium! Come in numbers, dress warmly, and be loud and proud for your Spiders!
Â
Another great way to show your Spider spirit this holiday season is to follow the men and women of Spider basketball in Florida this week. The men's team is competing in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers, with games on Monday (a win vs Florida Tech), Tuesday (Louisiana Tech), and Wednesday (Ball State). The women's team, which is 6-0 and currently receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll, will take on Oakland Friday and Oklahoma State Saturday at the Daytona Beach Classic.
Â
Across Richmond Athletics, there is so much for which to be thankful! Â Our Spiders play a vital role in creating a thriving, vibrant University community at what is widely recognized as one of the nation's premier institutions of higher learning. It's a role they're able to fill only through the continued assistance of a group of loyal, generous supporters who believe in them and know all they do for our University. Thank you for being a part of that group.
Â
Again, on behalf of Richmond's entire Department of Athletics, please enjoy a safe and prosperous holiday season!
Â
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