University of Richmond Athletics
No. 4 Richmond Begins Title Defense Hosting No. 9 Elon In NCAA First Round
Nov. 24, 2009
No. 4 Richmond Spiders (10-1)
vs.
No. 9 Elon Phoenix (9-2)
NCAA Division I Football Championship First Round
University of Richmond Stadium (21,319) • Richmond, Va.
Nov. 28, 2009 • 1 p.m. ET
Television: None.
Radio: Richmond ISP Sports Network (ESPN 950 AM and Wolf 93.1 FM in Richmond) with Bob Black (play-by-play), former Spider defensive lineman Jasmonn Coleman '98 (analyst), Matt Smith '92 (sideline) and Matt Josephs (studio host).
Internet Video Broadcast: SpiderTV (Fees may apply)
Internet Audio Broadcast: RichmondSpiders.com; espn950am.com
Weekly Releases:
Richmond: PDF 
Elon: PDF
CAA Football: PDF
SoCon Football: PDF
Weekly Audio/Video:
CAA Football Teleconference: Eric 
Spiders Weekly Press Conference: London | Players
Quick Slants:
• Fourth-seeded Richmond is back in the NCAA Playoff field and begins defense of its 2008 National Title Saturday, hosting Elon in an NCAA First Round game at UR Stadium.
• The Spiders are in the 16-team field for the third-consecutive season, the fourth time in the last five seasons and the eighth time in program history. Richmond is 9-6 all-time in the playoffs.
• Richmond is the only team in the FCS to reach the Semifinals in each of the last two seasons and is one of just seven teams with multiple appearances past the NCAA First Round since the 2005 season, joining App. State, New Hampshire, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Montana and Massachusetts.
• Elon is in the FCS bracket for the first time in their history and making their first football postseason appearance since winning the 1981 NAIA National Championship.
• The Spiders and Phoenix have met twice previously -- with Richmond winning at Elon in 1934 and again at Elon last season, 28-10.
• Saturday's game could mark the final-ever Richmond Football game played at UR Stadium -- Elon is set as the Spiders' first-ever opponent in the new $25-million Robins Stadium next year.
• Senior QB Eric (pictured), who is 16-6 in his career versus Top-25 teams and 6-1 in the playoffs, holds every major career passing record at UR.
• The Spiders have 16 interceptions in 2009, with 15 coming in the last seven games.
• With 15.0 TFL and 6.5 sacks, junior DT Martin Parker leads a Spider defense that ranks third in the nation against the run (70.2 yds/gm).
• Richmond had a league-leading 16 selections to the 2009 All-CAA Football Team, including first-team picks Matt McCracken and Michael Silva (OL), Eric McBride and Collin McConaghy (LB), Justin Rogers (CB) and Derek Hatcher (PR).
Up Next:
The winner of Saturday's game advances to the NCAA Quarterfinals versus the winner of the Appalachian State vs. South Carolina State winner. That quarterfinal game is set for Saturday, Dec. 5.