University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond Spiders Logo Added To Finley Stadium Wall Of Champions
April 9, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - The University of Richmond's spot in NCAA Football history was commemorated recently, as the Richmond Spider logo was added to the Wall of Champions at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. -- site of Richmond's 2008 National Championship victory.
The Wall contains the logos of nine schools, which have won each of the 12 Division I Football Championship games contested at Finley Stadium since the title game moved there in 1997.
Richmond's decisive 24-7 victory over Montana on December 19, 2008 not only marked the school's first NCAA team title, but ended Appalachian State's three-year stranglehold on the title. The Spiders were also responsible for knocking the Mountaineers out of the playoffs with a convincing 33-13 win at The Rock in the Quarterfinals.
It's no question Finley Stadium will always a hold a special place in the hearts of Spider Nation, and two past Spiders, who played key roles in Richmond's title run, will now call it home.
Former Richmond defensive coordinator Russ Huesman took the head coaching position at UT-Chattanooga two days after the title game, bringing former QB and team captain Will Healy with him as an assistant coach.
Division I Football Championship Games at Finley Stadium
1997: Youngstown State 10, McNeese State 9 (Att: 14,771)
1998: Massachusetts 55, Georgia Southern 43 (Att: 17,501)
1999: Georgia Southern 59, Youngstown State 24 (Att: 20,052)
2000: Georgia Southern 27, Montana 23 (Att: 17,156)
2001: Montana 13, Furman 6 (Att: 12,698)
2002: Western Kentucky 34, McNeese State 14 (Att: 12,360)
2003: Delaware 40, Colgate 0 (Att: 14,281)
2004: James Madison 31, Montana 21 (Att: 15,559)
2005: Appalachian State 21, Northern Iowa 16 (Att: 19,219)
2006: Appalachian State 28, Massachusetts 17 (Att: 22,080)
2007: Appalachian State 49, Delaware 21 (Att: 23,010)
2008: RICHMOND 24, Montana 7 (Att: 17,823)