University of Richmond Athletics
Lawrence Sidbury Becomes Seventh Spider Headed To Senior Bowl
Jan. 18, 2009
MOBILE, Ala. - Richmond senior defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. has accepted an invitation to play in the nation's most prestigious senior game - the Under Armour Senior Bowl - set for Saturday, January 24 in Mobile, Ala. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET live on the NFL Network. He will be seventh Spider to play in the game.
Sidbury, who recorded a career high four sacks in the Spiders' NCAA National Championship victory over Montana, played on the East squad as it defeated the West, 24-19, in the East-West Shrine Game Saturday in Houston. After a week of workouts and practice in Houston, he headed to Mobile following the game for Senior Bowl preparations.
The Senior Bowl is the nation's most unique football game and football's premier pre-draft event, annually featuring the country's best senior collegiate football players and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South that are coached by the entire coaching staffs of two National Football League teams.
The season, the Jacksonville Jaguars staff will coach Sidbury's South team, while the Cincinnati Bengals staff will coach the North. Sidbury is assigned jersey No. 95 for the game.
The South roster includes Georgia WR Mohamed Massaquoi, USC LB Rey Maualuga, and West Virginia QB Pat White. On the North, Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell, Virginia RB Cedric Peerman and Penn State WR Derrick Williams highlight the roster. Sidbury is one of just five FCS players on either line-up.
Six Spiders have previously played in the Senior Bowl: DE John Hilton, OL Wayne Fowler (1970), DB Jeff Nixon (1979), RB Barry Redden (1982), Brian Jordan (1989), LB Shawn Barber (1998).
Sidbury ended his college career in memorable fashion, racking up four of Richmond's seven sacks as the Spiders rolled to a 24-7 win over Montana in the NCAA Division I National Championship game. Anchored by the Cheltenham, Md. native, Richmond limited Montana to just 39 yards rushing and to its lowest point total in more than two seasons.
The senior collected 11.5 sacks in 2008, which ranks third on the Spiders' single-season list, while his 20.5 career sacks ranks fourth all-time at Richmond. Sidbury was a 2008 CAA Football First Team selection, named the College Sporting News Playoff Most Valuable Player and was a Sports Network All-America pick.
As a team, the Spiders' defense finished second nationally in turnover margin (+24), sixth nationally in scoring defense (15.6 points/game), 10th nationally in total defense (268.8 yards/games) and 12th nationally in rushing defense (94.0 yards/game). Each of those stats led the CAA.
Richmond earned the school's first NCAA Championship in any sport on its way to a school-record 13-3 record. The Spiders won nine-consecutive games to end the season, which stands as the longest winning streak in the FCS entering 2009.