Why are we the Spiders?
At the University of Richmond, we are proud to be Spiders. We’re actually the only university to have a spider mascot. Just like the arachnid, Richmond students have ambition, curiosity, and determination. The Spider stands for our students and our alumni, our faculty and our staff, and is represented, of course, by our official mascot, WebstUR.
Why are we the Richmond Spiders? The tale goes back to 1894. When our baseball team's pitcher, Henry K. Ellyson, prepared to pitch, a reporter once compared his long arms to a spider's. The name stuck and all our athletics teams adopted it over the century that followed.
Today, Richmond's Division I athletics continue to exemplify the strength and tenacity of the Spider. Our student-athletes compete at the highest levels across 17 varsity sports, consistently achieving excellence both on the field and in the classroom. They have a proud history of conference championships in basketball, football, women's golf, and lacrosse.
Our student-athletes have a strong academic record. They have a graduation success rate of 98%, ranking them among the top 10 in Division I athletics in the country. And our premier student-success program, SP4, supports them all along the way.
What does it mean to be a Spider?
Richmond students are remarkable. They are scholars, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders who thrive in a collaborative and intellectually vibrant environment. The university is committed to small class sizes and close faculty support. This helps every student explore and find their unique path.
Richmond’s holistic approach to education nurtures the same qualities embodied by the Spider—tenacity, adaptability, and a strong sense of community—that prepare our students to make meaningful impacts in the world.
We are UR. We are the Richmond Spiders.
