THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511110666
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Long : 188 lines
These are heady days for the University of Richmond football program. After going 3-8 last year and 19-47 over the last six years, the Spiders enter today's contest against William and Mary with a 7-1-1 record and No. 13 national ranking.
You could call them the Northwestern of Division I-AA.
These are heady days for Richmond coach Jim Reid, too. Bald-headed days. Reid's noggin is still recovering from the shaving administered by his players two weeks ago after a 34-33 win over James Madison, the most unlikely Richmond win of all in a season that's been full of them.
``They ought to put me in jail for stealing those games,'' Reid says. ``If there was a law against stealing games, I'd be doing 20 to life.''
Richmond trailed JMU 33-14 with 8:34 remaining, but rallied to score 20 points in seven minutes, and then stopped the Dukes one yard from the end zone as time expired. Reid still can't figure out how the Spiders did it.
``The Madison game is a miracle,'' he said. ``We did everything right and they helped us by fumbling the ball.
``Every week we find a way to win the game. Last week (a 7-3 win over New Hampshire) we got slaughtered, and we won the game.''
How do they do it? Richmond is not very big, or fast, or experienced. There are 13 freshmen or sophomores in the starting lineup.
Richmond's offense is one-dimensional. The Spiders average just 13 passing attempts per contest.
But the Spiders play solid defense. They've held opponents to 15 points or less six times, to 10 points or less four times.
And, the Spiders play with an intensity that starts at the top, with Reid.
``We've tried to tell the players to never quit. So far, they've gotten the word,'' Reid said. ``We've played hard on every play.''
Sometimes, it seems that Reid has turned things around through sheer force of personality. He's a man who inspires strong feelings.
``Everybody likes him,'' declared Delaware coach Tubby Raymond, in the Richmond press guide.
``When I think of Jim Reid, I think of intensity,'' said New Hampshire coach Bill Bowes.
Meet Jim Reid, and you can't help thinking of intensity. He exudes it.
``He just has this aura around him,'' said wide receiver Rodney Bowens. ``He's a natural leader. Every day it's something else. He's always quoting someone. He finds a way just to spark that little something inside you.
``He has something special, I don't know what it is. He just brings this enthusiasm, and he's instilled confidence in each player, that for some reason they didn't have before.''
Intensity can wear thin. Bowen said he was asked by a reporter at the start of the season whether he thought Reid could maintain his intensity throughout the season. Bowens wasn't sure. He is now, however.
``If anything, he's increased it.''
Reid, 44, has been Mr. Intensity for nearly three decades. A product of working-class Medford, Mass., a suburb of Boston, Reid was a 125-pound fullback and safety on a state championship high school team.
It was after his high school career ended, when former classmates were headed off to Vietnam and others were getting mixed up in drugs, that Reid says that he and a small circle of friends made a pledge.
``Six or seven of us, we made a pledge to live 50 years like tigers, instead of 80 years like lambs,'' Reid said. ``We were going to live life like it should be lived, with vigor and energy. Live every day like it was our last.''
Reid took that philosophy to the University of Maine, where he was a three-year starter at safety. He began his coaching career immediately after graduation, spending 13 years as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts. In 1986, he became head coach at UMass, and won three Yankee Conference titles in six years.
Reid left UMass in 1991 to become defensive coordinator at Richmond. He stayed two years before becoming defensive coordinator at Boston College. He was at BC a year before returning to Richmond.
Reid brought not just intensity to Richmond but solid credentials as a defensive coach. Boston College was sixth in the nation in total defense during his one year there. The two years that Reid headed up the defense at Richmond were the most successful of the Jim Marshall era.
Reid said the biggest problem he perceived when he arrived at Richmond last December was a lack of toughness.
``The first thing I did was take all the best players and put them on defense,'' he said. A half-dozen Spiders switched sides of the ball.
Opting to run the ball was an easy choice.
``We weren't hard and tough, and the only way to develop that is by running the ball,'' Reid said. ``And with a new offensive line, when you go back to pass you have the makings of a disaster.
``To set an attitude for the program, we were willing to go 0-11.''
Instead, they are on the verge of making the I-AA playoffs. Attendance is up. Alumni and students are excited. Barry Redden, probably the best running back in school history, flew in from Texas to talk to the team before the New Hampshire game last week.
``I told our staff that what we're doing is making this a nightmare job for next year,'' Reid said. ``Because, frankly, we've still got a lot of work to do.''
They've still got work to do this year. Wins over W&M today and Villanova next week would guarantee the Spiders a playoff spot.
``I had no idea we would have this kind of success,'' Bowens said. ``No matter what happens, we've had a season I'll never forget.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Photo]
Jim Reid
[Chart]
THE AREA AT A GLANCE
RICHMOND vs. W&M
Where: Zable Stadium (15,000) in Williamsburg.
When: 1:00 p.m.
Records: Richmond is 7-1-1, 5-1 Yankee Conference and ranked 13th
nationally; William and Mary is 6-4, 4-3 and ranked 25th.
Radio: WXGM, 99.1 FM.
Key to the game: Richmond will be without starting quarterback
Jason Gabrels, who was suspended after being charged with an assault
following an on-campus fight. It might not matter. Backup Joe Elrod,
the starter last year, led Richmond to a come-from-behind win over
James Madison two weeks ago. Richmond's defense has kept it in games
all year. William and Mary has relied on a strong running game and
solid defense. A Richmond win would almost guarantee the Spiders a
playoff spot. William and Mary is hoping to finish a disappointing
season on a positive note.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN vs. LIBERTY
Where: Williams Stadium (12,000) in Lynchburg.
When: 12 p.m.
Records: Georgia Southern is 6-3 and ranked 21st nationally;
Liberty is 7-2.
Key to the game: Georgia Southern must contain the rushing tandem
of Lawrence Worthington and J.T. Morris, who combined for 208 yards
in Liberty's 28-14 win over Hampton last week. Georgia Southern is
run-oriented itself, averaging 226 yards on 53 carries. A win could
propel Liberty into the top 25.
CONNECTICUT vs. JMU
Where: Bridgeforth Stadium (12,500) in Harrisonburg.
When: 1 p.m.
Records: JMU is 7-3, 5-2 Yankee Conference, and ranked 18th
nationally; Connecticut is 7-2, 4-2 and ranked 24th.
Key to the game: JMU has been relying on the strong and accurate
right arm of quarterback Mike Cawley, who has thrown for better than
200 yards in eight straight games. The Dukes also have a big asset
in kicker John Coursey, who has made 13 straight field goal
attempts. JMU's defense will be tested by UConn tailback Tory
Taylor, who ran for 256 yards last week in a 28-17 win over Boston
University.
VMI vs. THE CITADEL
Where: Johnson Hagood Stadium (22,500) in Charleston, S.C.
When: 3:30 p.m.
Records: VMI is 3-6, 2-4 Southern Conference; The Citadel is 2-7,
0-5.
Key to the game: The ``Military Classic of the South'' pits the
improved Keydets against a Citadel squad that has lost seven
straight. The series is knotted at 26-26-2, but the Bulldogs have
won five in a row. VMI has been led by tailback Thomas Haskins, who
averages 142.8 yards per game.
FAYETTEVILLE STATE vs. HAMPTON
Where: Armstrong Field (11,000).
When: 1:30 p.m.
Records: Fayetteville State is 1-6-2; Hampton is 6-3.
Radio: WHOV, 88.1-FM.
Key to the game: It's back to the future for Hampton.
Fayetteville State is an old CIAA foe, although hardly a rival.
Hampton leads the series 12-3, and has not lost to any CIAA team
since 1991. No reason to believe that streak will end against
Fayetteville.
TULSA vs. EAST CAROLINA
Where: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (35,000) in Greenville, N.C.
When: 2 p.m.
Records: East Carolina is 6-3, Tulsa is 4-5.
Radio: WVAB, 1550-AM; WLQM, 1250-AM.
Key to the game: East Carolina needs a win to stay ahead of
Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl alliance standings. The Pirates
should have some momentum after consecutive wins over Southern
Mississippi and Army.
ELIZABETH CITY STATE vs. GRAMBLING
Where: Robinson Stadium (19,000) in Grambling, La.
When: 1:30 p.m.
Records: Elizabeth City is 7-3, Grambling is 5-4.
Key to the game: The Vikings step up in class to face the
Division I-AA Tigers, who have been led by quarterback Kendrick
Nord.
by CNB