UR football coach refines his recruiting pitch

a closer look Coach Mike London, seen during UR's win over Montana in the FCS championship game in December, is finding recruits earlier than normal this offseason. Thirty years ago, Mike London was a notable football prospect in Hampton. The recruiting competition that concluded with London choosing the University of Richmond didn't begin until after he played his final game for Bethel High School.

"After the season, you started entertaining the overtures," said London, a former defensive back and Spiders' captain. "Then you made your visits, and then you decided. Sometimes it went right up to the signing day [in February] or the week before."

Each year since, it seems the process gradually accelerated.

A NEW MODEL: Now coached by London, UR received five oral commitments last summer from prospects who are preparing to enter the school this year. Though Football Bowl Subdivision programs, such as Virginia and Virginia Tech, commonly receive commitments that early, the Spiders' summer harvest of oral commitments was unusual for a Football Championship Subdivision member.

London and his staff members are out to strike early again, this year with 2008 FCS championship rings to show prospects.

TITLE TALK: College coaches investigate junior prospects in the spring, or earlier. The coaches learn more about the recruits this month and next with camps operated by colleges and outside organizations, seven-on-seven competitions, and unofficial visits.

London will soon discover how much UR's title weighs in the recruiting game that officially closes on Letter-of-Intent Day, in early February.

"The national championship has allowed us to at least raise the eyebrow, or get the interest, of players who might be thinking about places like Vanderbilt, Duke, Northwestern," London said. "They think 'Maybe I'll put a school like Richmond in there. It's got a great academic reputation and won a national championship.'"

THE NEXT TIER: Virginia Tech, Virginia, and some other BCS schools will continue to bring in top prospects, conceded London. But UR, he believes, now has a better shot of gaining commitments from the next tier of recruits who take academics seriously and may recognize an opportunity to play early in their college careers for a successful operation. The Spiders won nine or more games in three of the last four years.

The positive impact of national television exposure UR received during the 2008 FCS playoffs is immeasurable, according to London, especially when recruiting in states away from the Mid-Atlantic region such as Texas, Florida and Georgia. It's summer, time for London to get out and spread what he refers to as the Spiders' "message." Every program has one.

'BOTH WORLDS' PITCH: "I'm hoping by the end of July, some [prospects] sit down and start comparing the messages," London said. "There are some kids who say 'Look, I just want to play football.' Well, Richmond is not going to be the place for them. Others may say 'I just want to go academic and de-emphasize football.' Well, Richmond is probably not the place for them.

"But I think those who say 'Man, I want the best of both worlds,' well, there's a track record at Richmond for them to see."

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