National championship. New on-campus stadium expected to open in 2010. Eighteen starters returning from a 13-3 team. Name floated as one of the college game’s up-and-coming coaches. What’s not to like about being Mike London? The University of Richmond’s football coach is guiding his team through spring ball, which culminates with Saturday’s spring game at UR Stadium. After a recent practice, held at First Market Stadium as bulldozers and trucks worked around the artificial surface, London, 48, talked about Lil’ Wayne, transfers, new assistants, and the carry-over effect of practicing an extra month during the FCS playoffs:

Coach Mike London’s popularity, along with a national title and an on-campus stadium coming in 2010, is expected to strengthen the Richmond Spiders’ latest class of signees.

The University of Richmond’s Mike London and Randolph-Macon’s Pedro Arruza were named state coaches of the year by the Touchdown Club of Richmond. London won the Division I award. Arruza was the winner of the award that goes to a coach from Division II, Division III or NAIA. London’s Spiders won the Football Championship Subdivision title, finishing 13-3 despite a 4-3 start. London, a UR alum, never before had been a head coach. Arruza’s Yellow Jackets won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship and made the school’s first trip to the Division III playoffs since 1984.

The University of Richmond won the Football Championship Subdivision title Dec. 19 and lost its defensive coordinator 48 hours later. Russ Huesman, the top defensive coach on the Spiders’ staff for five years, became the head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga, his alma mater. Mike London, Richmond’s coach, continues to seek a new defensive coordinator. Staff writer John O’Connor, who hoped to learn a thing or two about the job, was interviewed for the position yesterday by London.

The University of Richmond’s Mike London yesterday was named the American Football Coaches Association’s top coach for the 2008 season in the Football Championship Subdivision.

University of Richmond football coach Mike London seeks assistance. Gone from his 2008 staff are defensive coordinator Russ Huesman, wide receivers coach Mark Carney and strength-and-conditioning coach Brandon Hourigan.

University of Richmond football coach Mike London seeks assistance. Gone from his 2008 FCS national championship staff are defensive coordinator Russ Huesman, wide receivers coach Mark Carney and strength-and-conditioning coach Brandon Hourigan. Huesman became the coach Tennessee-Chattanooga, his alma mater. Carney appears headed to the staff of Bowling Green, whose program is led by former UR coach Dave Clawson. Hourigan moved to the University of Virginia.

The University of Richmond’s celebration of its 2008 Football Champion Subdivision title began in Chattanooga, Tenn., on the night of Friday, Dec. 19. It kicked off on Finley Stadium’s artificial surface at the conclusion of UR’s 24-7 victory over Montana. Then it moved to the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel’s Imperial Ballroom.

University of Richmond football coach Mike London said last night he had no plans to speak with representatives of Boston College about that school’s need for a football coach.

“Making a list and checking it twice” this month probably meant something apart from the holiday season to Jim Miller. Though the University of Richmond’s athletic director introduced Mike London as Spiders’ football coach only 11 months ago, Miller surely is already considering potential replacements.

Tough, resilent Spiders produced gem of a season. Check out our video and slideshows.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Mark Farley enunciated what University of Richmond football fans have longed to hear. The Northern Iowa coach, a few days before his team fell to the Spiders in the FCS semifinals, sized up UR’s operation by saying “Sometimes you’ll come across a team where one or two players make a difference. They make a big run and the team has a good year.

Can you say overpowering? Can you say overwhelming? Can you say stunning performance? The Richmond Spiders didn’t have to say any of those things because they did all of those things to the Montana Grizzlies last night.

It was fitting. With Montana trailing 24-7 and facing a fourth-and-7 late in the fourth quarter, Grizzlies quarterback Cole Bergquist stepped up in a collapsing pocket and attempted to force a first-down pass into traffic. The ball never crossed the line of scrimmage.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Nothing makes the phone ring or brings in the e-mail quite like winning. The University of Richmond Spiders have won big on the football field this year, and the phones are ringing all over campus.