National champs—Spiders make history in title journey

BY LINDA EVANS
Editor, RichmondNow

Richmond’s 24-7 victory over Montana to win the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national title included several “firsts.”

The victory was the University’s first NCAA national championship in any team sport; head coach Mike London became the first African-American to lead his team to the FCS national championship game in 30 years; and the Spiders ended the season with a record 13 wins, breaking the previous University record of 11 wins set in 2007.

Following a 24-7 win over Montana, head coach Mike London hoists the FCS title trophy as players and fans celebrate UR’s first NCAA national championship.

Richmond also ended the season with a nine-game winning streak—its longest since 1998. (The record 10-game winning streak occurred in 1972-73.)

Beyond the record book, the championship was a triumph for a team that had lost three of its first seven games. A tough loss to JMU Oct. 11 led to a players-only meeting the next day where teammates pledged not to give up on making the playoffs.

The result was wins in the next eight games to make it to the national championship game Dec. 19 in Chattanooga.

Following the Montana game, an emotional London told ESPN that “you couldn’t write a better script than this.” In his rookie year as coach at his alma mater, London predicted that Montana fans were expecting an easy win, but “I guess the only ones who believed we could do this thing were the people inside the Richmond program.”

Richmond dominated the game. Quarterback Eric Ward caught a touchdown pass and threw for another. Josh Vaughan, ran for 162 yards and a touchdown, and Montana quarterback Cole Bergquist was sacked seven times, four of them by Lawrence Sidbury.

Ward scored first when he pitched the ball to fullback John Crone early in the first quarter. Ward then ran toward the end zone, where Crone completed a 23-yard pass to him. It was Crone’s first touchdown pass and Ward’s first touchdown reception.

Crone said he laughed when the play was called, “because I never thought we would run it.”

Montana tried to get into the game, but penalties, sacks and an interception prevented them from scoring until the final quarter.

Montana coach Bobby Hauck said afterward, “They did a really nice job, doing to us what we’ve been doing to people we’ve played lately. They gave a great effort. They got out to a good start and held on. They played great defense and didn’t let us back in the game.”

In advancing to the title, Richmond defeated four consecutive conference champions—Eastern Kentucky (38-10), Appalachian State (33-13), Northern Iowa (21-20) and Montana (24-7). Unseeded entering the playoffs, Richmond knocked off the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 seeds to advance to the title game.

The Richmond players and coaches returned to a welcoming crowd of several hundred alumni, staff and faculty. Students had already left for winter break.

Area billboards greeted them with congratulations, and Richmond Mayor Doug Wilder declared Jan. 12 “University of Richmond NCAA Championship Day.” The team, coaches and supporters attended a meeting of Richmond City Council that evening, where they received several standing ovations and heard a proclamation from the council, recognizing the team and its accomplishments.

London invited the University community to celebrate the championship at several events. The team was honored at the Jan. 17 men’s basketball game. They hosted a celebration Jan. 21 in Heilman Dining Center with a steak dinner, DJ, give-aways, video highlights of the game and official presentation of the championship trophy. The next evening, students watched a replay of the game in Whitehurst.

Also in mid-January, the American Football Coaches Association named London FSC coach of the year.

Reflecting on the team’s accomplishments, London said it was “an honor and privilege to be the head football coach at the school I played for and which helped me to become an educated young man. The journey was awesome; the excitement at the championship game was outstanding. The staff, players, fans and academic community at UR captured and created a renewed sense of Spider pride. It’s my desire to help keep Richmond among the elite in FCS football. Thanks to all of you who contributed with your thoughts, prayers and actions.”

Portions of this article came from AP, ESPN and UR Athletic Public Relations.