Let’s go: Spiders ready to start title defense at Duke

Acquaintances reunite tonight in Durham, N.C.

Four seasons ago, University of Richmond quarterback Eric Ward made his first collegiate start at quarterback. Duke defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase also made his first collegiate start. The two met early.

"He caught me one good time up under the chin after I let go of a screen pass," Ward said. "That was really my first college football hit. After that one, I kind of settled in and was like, 'Let's go.'"

Ward helped UR to a 13-0 win at Duke and, eventually, the 2008 Football Championship Subdivision title. Oghobaase, 6-5, 305 pounds, is preseason All-ACC. In the rematch, Ward leads UR. Oghobaase leads Duke. So, "Let's go."

The Spiders might arrive with a touch more confidence after Villanova's 27-24 win over Temple Thursday. That makes four straight seasons a Colonial Athletic Association team has taken down an FBS team.

"Guys that haven't been there before, you just have to stress that this is another football game," Ward said of the Spiders' inexperienced hands.

There aren't may. Sixteen returning starters punctuate UR's prospectus. Even the plug-ins have experience. Richmond lost two fifth-year senior defensive ends and replaced them with fifth-year seniors Pierre Turner and Nick Battle. UR lost a fifth-year senior tight end. Fifth-year senior William Bischoff will start there. The Spiders lost a fifth-year senior on the offensive line. Fifth-year senior Chris Kondorossy occupies that slot.

Richmond's maturity should be of assistance as it's targeted. "The opponents we play, we're putting targets on their backs," said linebacker Eric McBride. "We're not going to stress over the fact that we are defending national champions."

As Richmond goes to an FBS venue, Mike London has been part of both sides. The UR coach was an assistant at Virginia and Boston College. When those programs faced FCS opposition, London said he warned players to avoid thinking "They're not going to be as talented. We've got more scholarships. We've got this. We've got that."

London said he knew from his days as an assistant at UR and William and Mary that the underdog was thinking "We don't have the scholarships that they have. They've got better this, better that. You may or may not have been recruited by them. So let's show them we belong on the same field as them."

That motivation may not be required. "Let's go." It's the opener.

"You get the feeling of adrenaline before a game. You get the butterflies," said McBride. "I feel like that's why a lot of guys play the sport, for those feelings before the game, after the game, wins, losses, stories to tell about the seasons."

NOTES: The debut of former UR coach Dave Clawson as Bowling Green's coach resulted in a 31-14 win over Troy Thursday night. Troy's Levi Brown, who transferred from UR following the 2006 season, completed 28 of 44 for 263 yards (2 interceptions, 1 TD).

The debut of Tennessee-Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman, UR's defensive coordinator the last five years, resulted in a 30-13 Mocs' win over Glenville State.

Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or .