University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Head West To Face Undefeated Vanderbilt
Sept. 19, 2005
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Richmond heads to Nashville, Tenn., this weekend to face the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Kickoff on Sept. 24 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST. The game's radio broadcast can be heard on the Spider Radio Network and at RichmondSpiders.com. Bob Black will handle the play-by-play with former Richmond analyst, Ray Tate, who is making a cameo appearance in the booth, and Matt Smith on the sidelines.
The Spiders (1-2) are coming off an impressive win at Maine last Saturday, and will be looking to even the all-time series with Vandy at 1-1. The Spiders's last win against a 1-A opponent came in 1985 when Richmond knocked of the Virginia Tech Hokies, 24-14 to open the season. In the only meeting between Richmond and Vanderbilt, the Spiders held a 16-14 lead at halftime, but the Commodores tallied two-straight touchdowns to win 28-22. Vandy is off to an impressive 3-0 start after road wins at Wake Forest (24-20) and Arkansas (28-24), then last week's home-opening win over Ole Miss (31-23).
Richmond is under the direction of second-year head coach Dave Clawson, who has compiled a seven-year career record of 33-39 and a 4-10 mark in two seasons at Richmond. Bobby Johnson is in his fourth season as the Commodores' head coach. Johnson has compiled a 12-year mark of 69-65, and a 9-29 record at Vanderbilt.
QUICK OUTS...
-- Richmond's defense has limited opponents to just three points in the second half. UMass notched a field goal with 4:14 left to play to account for the three points.
-- The Spiders defense is ranked fourth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 15.7 points per game. The total ranks 17th in the country.
-- Senior Stacy Tutt was the Richmond starter at quarterback for the first time since the 2004 season finale at William & Mary. Tutt threw for 168 yards and one touchdown, and was the only QB used by the Spiders.
-- Freshman Josh Vaughan and Tutt hooked up for the seventh-longest pass play in Richmond football history against Maine. The screen pass, which ended in a touchdown, went for 79 yards, the longest since Tutt through a 71-yard pass to Boyd Ouden against William & Mary in 2001.
-- Senior Stacy Tutt is working his way up the record books. He needs 245 yards of total offense to move into the fifth spot all-time, 25 total plays to move into sixth place on the list, 198 passing yards to jump into sixth all-time at Richmond and 32 pass attempts to take over seventh all-time at Richmond.
-- The Spiders have lost the only meeting all-time with Vanderbilt, 28-22, in 2001. Richmond led, 16-14, at halftime, but allowed two-straight touchdowns in the third quarter.
-- Each of Richmond's 1-A opponents in the Clawson era have been receiving votes in the national rankings. In 2004, the Spiders opened the season at NC State, which was also receiving votes.
-- Vandy's QB coach, Jimmy Kiser, was the Spider offensive coordinator the last time Richmond met Vanderbilt. His offense produced 22 points in the loss, after Vandy scored two-straight TD's to open the second half.
-- Richmond's Stacy Tutt and Lance Gray will be facing another pair of former Fork Union standouts. David Carter and Gabe Hall also played at Fork Union near Charlottesville, Va.
RICHMOND-VANDY SERIES
The Richmond-Vanderbilt series began Sept. 22, 2001, when the Spiders fell to the Commodores, 28-22 in Nashville, Tenn... Richmond and Vanderbilt have not met since the series-opener... The Spiders led 16-14 at halftime of the series' most recent game... Vanderbilt scored two-straight touchdowns to open the second half and never relenquished the lead... Richmond head coach Dave Clawson and Vandy's head coach Bobby Johnson were not at either school when the all-time series began in 2001... Clawson has never faced Vandy, but Johnson faced the Spiders when he coached at Furman from 1976-77... In those two seasons, the Spiders topped Furman twice -- 13-9 at Greenville, S.C. in 1976 and 19-13 at Richmond, Va., in 1977.
A QUICK LOOK AT VANDERBILT
The Vanderbilt Commodores are off to a surprising start in 2005. The team, currently 3-0 and 2-0 in the SEC, has not been 3-0 to open a season since 1984 when it beat Kansas State, Maryland and Kansas. The last time Vandy has opened the SEC season with a 2-0 mark was 1956, when it beat Georgia and Alabama. Vandy's offense has been impressive, ranking 20th in the NCAA with 451.0 yards per game. Senior quarterback Jay Cutler, a 2005 SEC Preaseason First Team selection, is the active SEC leader in passing yards with 6,492, the active SEC leader in touchdowns scored (17) and the active SEC leader in rushing yards by a quarterback (1,187). Defensively the Commodores are led by senior linebacker Moses Osemwegie. The Nashville, Tenn., native ranks fifth in the SEC with 9.0 tackles per game and third in the conference with 2 forced fumbles.
A RICHMOND WIN WOULD...
-- Give the Spiders a 2-2 mark for the first time since 2004. Richmond lost to NC State to open last season then beat VMI and UMass the following two weeks, and later lost to Lafayette in week four.
-- Extend a win streak to two games, the longest in the Dave Clawson era.
-- Make the Spiders 4-5 on the road under head coach Dave Clawson.
-- Even the all-time series with Vanderbilt at 1-1.
-- Even the mark at 1-1 for both teams while playing the all-time series in Nashville.
-- Mark Richmond's first win over a 1-A opponent since topping Virginia Tech, 24-14, Sept. 7, 1985.
-- Give Clawson a mark of 34-39 as a head coach and 95-85-1 in his coaching career.
-- Make Clawson 1-0 in his career against Vanderbilt
-- Give the Spiders an all-time record of 442-587-53.
A RICHMOND LOSS WOULD...
-- Give the Spiders an 1-3 mark for the first time since the 2002 season. The Spiders lost their opener to Temple before topping No. 9 Delaware. Richmond then went on to lose the next three in 2002.
-- Make the Spiders 3-6 on the road under head coach Dave Clawson.
-- Extend the Commodores' win streak to two games in the all-time series with Richmond.
-- Up the Commodores' record to 2-0 in the all-time series.
-- Make the Spiders 0-2 when playing Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn.
-- Give Clawson a mark of 33-40 as a head coach and 94-86-1 in his coaching career.
-- Drop Clawson to 0-1 against the Commodores in his coaching career.
-- Give the Spiders an all-time record of 441-588-53.
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING
The Spiders defense has been keeping Richmond in ballgames this season with the big play. Richmond's defense ranks among the nation's Top-50 in three categories, including scoring defense (17th), total defense (44th) and pass effeciency defense (28th). In last week's win at Maine, junior linebacker Lance Gray picked off two passes and took one back for a touchdown. It marked the first defensive TD of the season for the Spiders and was the first interception return for a touchdown since the 2001 season. Gray's second interception came in the third quarter when Maine was at the Spiders' six-yard line. In the second quarter junior Damien McCallum forced a fumble deep in Maine territory and senior Joe Mallory returned it 20 yards to set up a Joseph Fore field goal. Junior Ryan Beers intercepted a Maine pass, tipped by junior Johnny Campbell, which led to another field goal by Fore.
THE KID CAN KICK
Senior Chris Radford has been amazing in the punting game. The Wilson, N.C., native ranks second in the Atlantic 10, and 18th in the NCAA 1-AA, in yards per punt with 41.2. He has the Spiders' punt coverage team ranked fourth in the Atlantic 10, and 15th in the country, averaging a net yardage of 37.7. Two weeks ago Radford set a career-high by punting nine times against Lafayette for an average of 40.6 yards. Last week against Maine, the Wilson, N.C., native placed three inside the 20 yardline and uncorked a career-best 64-yard punt which travelled from the Spider 18 yard line to the Maine 18 yard line.
DON'T PUT THE BALL ON THE FLOOR
Richmond currently ranks 35th in the nation with a turnover margin of 0.67. The Spiders have taken nine away from their opponents and given away only seven. Even more impressive, the Spiders are averaging over two points for each turnover gained, and lead their opponents 19-17 in points off TO's. The Spiders have yet to put a ball on the floor, giving the ball away seven times on interceptions.
KING TUTT IS BACK UNDER CENTER
Senior Stacy Tutt made a return to signal caller for the Spiders last week against Maine. The Tappahannock, Va., native was 6-for-22 with 168 yards and one TD in the passing game against the Black Bears, and led the Spiders with 50 yards rushing on a team-best 21 carries. Tutt is working his way up the lists in Richmond's all-time record book. He needs 245 yards of total offense to move into the fifth spot all-time as a Spider. Twenty-five more total plays and Tutt will move into sixth place on the list, and 198 more passing yards will move him into sixth all-time at Richmond. Tutt needs just 32 pass attempts to take over seventh all-time at Richmond.
IT'S ALL COMING BACK TO ME
A total of 95 percent of last season's rushing yards will return this season for the Spiders. Seniors Stacy Tutt as well as sophomore Tim Hightower accounted for almost 93 percent of the Spiders rushing carries in 2004 -- they all return in 2005.
In the passing game, the Spiders return 83 percent of the receiving yards, largely by senior Harry Wilson and sophomores Arman Shields and Andy Lehatto. The trio, along with Freeman and Hightower and a few others accounted for 79 percent of the catches in 2004 -- they all return in 2005.
Defensively, 85 percent of Richmond's total tackles are back in 2005. That number includes 13 of the Top-15 on last season's team. Junior Lance Gray both garnered more than 100 total tackles in 2004 -- they both return in 2005.
GRAY NAMED ATLANTIC 10 CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The Mechanicsville, Va., native was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Week, after picking off two passes in the Spiders' win at Maine, 26-21, last Saturday.
Gray put Richmond on the board with 3:42 remaining in the first quarter when he snagged a pass from Maine's Ron Whitcomb and scampered 40 yards for the first touchdown of his career. His score marked the first defensive touchdown of the year for the Spiders and was the first time Richmond has taken an interception back for a touchdown since 2001.
In the second half, with the Spiders leading 23-21, Gray came up big in the redzone. With Maine at the Spiders' six-yard line, Whitcomb was again picked by Gray, this time in the endzone, halting the Black Bears' scoring opportunity. Gray finished the contest with seven total tackles, three unassisted, and two interceptions.
SPIDERS WIN THE TOSS -- FOR THE FIRST TIME
For the first time in his tenure at Richmond the Spiders got the selection after the toss last week at Maine. In the previous seven road games during the Clawson era, the Spiders got the flip call wrong and thus were not given the choice. In the six home games during the Clawson era, Richmond's opponents got the call right and were given the choice. Last week at Maine, senior captain John Gromin called heads and for the first time in 13 games the coin landed on the side the Spiders called. Richmond chose to defer and the Black Bears elected to receive in the first half.
NOTES FROM MAINE GAME...
-- Junior Lance Gray 40-yard interception return for a touchdown with 3:42 left in the first quarter was the Spiders' second touchdown of the season and first defensive score of the season. For Gray it was the second interception of his career and first in 2005. It also marked the first interception return for a touchdown by the Spiders since Mark Thompson returned a 12-yard interception against James Madison, Oct. 13, 2001.
-- Senior Chris Radford 64-yard punt with just over four minutes left in the first quarter tied the longest of his career. The punt was downed inside the 20 marking the third time this season he has landed one inside the 20-yard line.
-- Freshman Josh Vaughan 79-yard TD reception with 4:09 remaining in the second quarter was the longest play from scrimmage and the longest touchdown pass of the season for the Spiders.
-- Senior Stacy Tutt 79-yard touchdown pass to Vaughan was the longest of his career. It also marked the seventh longest pass play all-time at Richmond. It was the longest pass play since Tutt threw a 71-yard pass to Boyd Ouden, Nov. 22, 2003 at William & Mary.
-- Richmond's three-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped off by Vaughan's touchdown catch, was the longest scoring drive of the season for the Spiders.
-- Tutt's six-yard touchdown run with 1:09 left in the second quarter marked his second rushing TD of the season. Tutt has now scored 16 touchdowns in his career at Richmond.
-- Richmond's 23-21 lead at the half marked the first time the Spiders have led at halftime since Nov. 6, 2004 against Towson (10-0).
-- Maine's 21 points in the first half were the most given up by the Spiders in the first half since Villanova scored 21 in the first half, Oct. 16, 2004.
-- The Spiders' 23 first-half points were the most they have scored since putting up 28 in the first half against William & Mary, Nov. 23, 2002. Richmond defeated the Tribe, 35-13.
-- Gray recorded his second interception of the game and third of his career with 10:50 remaining in the third quarter. That interception also marked the first time this season the Spiders have picked off a pass inside their own red zone.
-- Junior Ryan Beers' interception with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter was the first of his career. It was also the third interception of the game for the Spiders, marking the most since Richmond picked three passes by Towson, Nov. 6, 2004.
-- Senior Joseph Fore second field goal of the game, with 13:00 minutes left in the game, gave him one more field goal made then all of last season. Fore's three attempts marked a career-high and his two makes tied a career-high.
-- Freshman Lawrence Sidbury, Jr., recorded the first sack of his career with 9:10 left in the game.
-- Richmond's 26 points were the most scored this season by the Spiders.
-- Maine's 21 points mark the most given up the Spiders this season.
-- The win gave the Spiders a 1-2 mark for the first time since the 2004 season. Richmond lost to NC State to open last season then beat VMI and UMass the following two weeks.
-- The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Spiders dating back to the final two contests in 2004.
-- The win gave Richmond a 1-1 mark in the Atlantic 10 standings.
-- The win made the Spiders 3-5 on the road under Head Coach Dave Clawson.
-- The win stopped a four-game losing skid to Maine dating back to the 2001 season.
-- The win evened the overall series with Maine at 10-10.
-- The win evened the mark at 5-5 for each team when playing the all-time series in Orono, Maine.
-- The win gave Clawson a mark of 33-39 as a head coach and 94-85-1 in his coaching career.
-- The win leveled Clawson's career mark at 1-1 against Maine.
-- The win gave the Spiders an all-time record of 441-587-53.
RICHMONDSPIDERS.COM
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