Spiders, Wildcats embrace ‘the pink elephant’

For championship contenders, goals set in summer sun come into focus when the leaves fall.

The University of Richmond and Villanova meet today in a Colonial Athletic Association game that will have a major bearing on the league title and, probably, location of postseason games for both teams.

"It's the pink elephant that's in the room. You've got to acknowledge it," UR coach Mike London said of the game's implications.

Richmond (6-0, 8-0), a winner of 17 straight and top-ranked in the FCS, on its homecoming can clinch at least a tie for the CAA title with a victory. The Spiders and fourth-rated Wildcats (4-1, 7-1) began the season with wins over FBS opponents (Duke and Temple, respectively), and they are headed to the 16-team playoffs.

The CAA champion could enter the postseason as the No. 1 seed, meaning home games until the Dec. 18 championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn.

"We thought last year we had a really good football team. Had a chance to go far. The way it just worked out, having to play JMU again down there . . . " VU coach Andy Talley said of the 31-27 loss at James Madison in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats fell at JMU 23-19 six weeks earlier, and those were only two FCS games they lost in 2008.

The Spiders won at Appalachian State and Northern Iowa before topping Montana in last year's national championship game, so home-field advantage isn't required. But it's clearly preferred.

"You need so many things to happen for you in a good way at the end of the season to get where you want to go, which for all of us is to win a league championship and win a national championship," Talley said. "You may never come this way again. That's the deal. How many chances do you have to control your own destiny? I think that's really critical that the young people understand.

"Both Richmond and Villanova have an opportunity to control their own destiny with this game."

Like VU, William and Mary and New Hampshire have one loss in CAA competition. Villanova, off last week, defeated visiting UR 26-20 in Richmond's lone 2008 appearance as the FCS's No. 1 team.

"I would say that's probably one thing that played into it last year," UR receiver Kevin Grayson said of the loss. "That was the first time we had been ranked No. 1. A lot of guys were excited about it. I think we kind of lacked the focus that we have this year."

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