University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Unveils 2008 Football Schedule
Jan. 4, 2008
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond has announced its 2008 football schedule, which is highlighted by home games against conference rivals James Madison and Delaware and a non-conference matchup versus Virginia. The Spiders, who are CAA Football Champions and reached the NCAA Semifinals, open their 12-game season Aug. 30 at Elon and are in Charlottesville Sept. 6.
The annual Homecoming Game is set for October 25 versus Georgetown and the Parents Weekend contest is Sept. 20 against Maine. Richmond will face three teams that reached the 2007 NCAA Playoffs (Delaware, James Madison, Massachusetts) and three others with seven-win seasons (Elon, Hofstra, Villanova). Pending television, game times have not been announced.
The marquee game is a renewal of a rivalry that dates back to 1893, with the Spiders and Cavaliers meeting for the 29th time on the gridiron Sept. 6 at Scott Stadium. The Cavs narrowly escaped the teams' last meeting - winning 17-16 in 2001. UVa finished 9-4 in 2007, with a loss to Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl.
"We are looking forward to a very challenging schedule in 2008," said CAA Football Coach of the Year Dave Clawson. "The CAA will again be one of the most competitive conferences in the FCS and we have a difficult non-conference schedule that begins with Elon and Virginia."
Richmond finished the 2007 season with a school-record 11 wins and reached the national semifinals for the first time in school history. Road warriors during the '07 campaign, the Spiders played away from UR Stadium eight times and won five - including triumphs over Delaware, James Madison and Wofford.
They'll open '08 the way they closed '07 - with two away - before returning home to commence CAA Football play against Towson (Sept. 13) and Maine (Sept. 22). The Tigers were the lone FCS team to beat the Spiders during the regular season, while the Black Bears make their first trip to the Capital City since 2004.
Two more road trips follow the Parents Weekend game - at Villanova (Sept. 29) and at VMI (Oct. 4). A trip to CAA Football co-champ Massachusetts (Oct. 18) is sandwiched between home games against James Madison (Oct. 11) and Homecoming versus Georgetown (Oct. 25).
Following the bye week on Nov. 1, the Spiders' road show rolls into Hempstead, N.Y. for a Nov. 8 tilt against Hofstra. Delaware, which fell to Appalachian State in the National Championship game, heads to UR Stadium the following week. William & Mary is the Spiders' foe for the regular-season finale Nov. 22 in Williamsburg.
Schedule notes: Richmond is set to play a 12-game regular-season schedule for the first time in school history ... The combined 2007 record of Richmond's opponents is 73-68 ... Richmond will face three teams that reached the 2007 playoffs and three more teams with 7-4 records ... Richmond's game versus Virginia marks the Spiders' first game versus a team coming off a Jan. 1st bowl game since the 1977 season when UR played both Maryland (Cotton Bowl) and Georgia (Sugar Bowl) ... The Spiders enter 2008 with the nation's fifth-most consecutive home wins (six), while traveling to Massachusetts (14-straight home wins) and Villanova (seven-straight) ... UMass is second to Appalachian State's 24-consecutive home wins.
2008 Richmond Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | '07 Record | Series | Last Meeting | Aug. 30 | at Elon | 7-4 | UR, 1-0 | 1928 | Sept. 6 | at Virginia | 9-4 | UVa, 24-2-2 | 2001 | Sept. 13 | Towson * | 3-8 | Tied, 2-2-0 | 2007 | Sept. 20 | Maine * (PW) | 4-7 | Tied, 10-10-0 | 2005 | Sept. 27 | at Villanova | 7-4 | VU, 18-9-0 | 2007 | Oct. 4 | at VMI | 2-9 | VMI, 40-39-5 | 2006 | Oct. 11 | James Madison * | 8-4 (NCAA 1st Rd.) | UR, 14-11-0 | 2007 | Oct. 18 | at Massachusetts * | 10-3 (NCAA Qtrs.) | UM, 13-9-0 | 2005 | Oct. 25 | Georgetown (HC) | 1-10 | GU, 5-1-0 | 1935 | Nov. 8 | at Hofstra * | 7-4 | HU, 3-2-0 | 2005 | Nov. 15 | Delaware * | 11-4 (NCAA finals) | UD, 18-6-0 | 2007 | Nov. 22 | at William & Mary * | 4-7 | WM, 59-53-5 | 2007 |
* CAA Football game
(PW) - Parents Weekend game
(HC) - Homecoming Weekend game