UR video man on top of his game

Two motor coaches carrying the University of Richmond's travel party arrived at the Robins Center on Saturday night at 8:15. Earlier in the day, the Spiders won 38-21 at Maine, then boarded a charter flight for Richmond.

Blake Ellett went from the bus, up a flight of steps, and to his office. He took off his suit jacket, then his tie, then his dress shirt.

"The shoes are next," said Ellett, in a small workspace cluttered with laptops and power cords.

Might as well get comfortable. A few more hours of labor lay ahead for Ellett, UR's video coordinator. He was up at 7:30 a.m., at Maine's Alfond Stadium by 10 for the noon game, then videotaped the Spiders' win from a perch near midfield. Saturday night, Ellett cut and paste video so UR coaches would have each play against Maine from the sideline angle, followed by the end zone angle, when they arrived at the Robins Center on Sunday morning.

Each college football operation has unsung heroes. At UR, Ellett qualifies. His work is vital, according to those who depend on it. Defensive-line coach Jeff Hanson, in his 28th season at UR, estimates he spends 20 to 24 hours a week studying video that Ellett helped prepare. To get ready for Saturday's game against Massachusetts, Hanson can, for instance, call up all third-down plays the Minutemen have run this season, all of their plays from the right hash-mark, or all of their plays with a particular running back involved.

Plus, Hanson regularly watches video from Richmond practices that Ellett shoots from the cherry-picker stationed next to the artificial surface at Robins Stadium. He also puts together highlight videos for all Spiders sports.

Last Wednesday, UR defensive tackle Martin Parker was preparing for the trip to Maine by watching video in a Robins Center meeting room. Parker estimates he spends 90 minutes a day studying the Spiders' next opponent.

"What they do in different personnel groupings, what they do in short-yardage situations, what they do on goal line plays, maybe just what they do on their first plays of the game," Parker said.

Ellett, 27 and a 2000 graduate of Lee-Davis High, is the facilitator of these video options and others, with the help of a video exchange service used by college football programs. The Virginia Commonwealth University alumnus (Class of'05) majored in broadcast journalism. He played basketball at L-D, not football, but the job opening at UR four years ago intrigued him because he loved sports, he loved working with video, and he loved being able to stay in Richmond.

The question he most often hears from UR coaches and players begins with 'Can you get me . . . ." A typical request is "Can you get me what UMass has run with two tight ends in the game?" Or, "Can you get me what James Madison runs inside the opponents' 20?" Or, "Can you get me a DVD off this videotape a recruit sent?"

Almost always, Ellett can. "He's good. Real good," Hanson said.

Ellett attends every practice and shoots the Spiders through August heat, November cold and precipitation of all varieties. He has acquired more football knowledge than he ever knew existed. Ellett notices formations and play-calling tendencies in NFL games he views after getting home from his Sunday obligations at the Robins Center.

"My wife says, 'You spend 60 or 70 hours a week working around football, and you come home and watch football?'" Ellett said of Jennifer Ellett. "She's right. I do."