Spiders look to close deal in close football games

Credit: ALEXA WELCH EDLUND/TIMES-DISPATCH

Veteran players, such as Cooper Taylor (right), have led the Spiders in extra work involving film study, or weightlifting, independent of UR's staff.

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There is a new meaning for "done." University of Richmond football players redefined it this summer. The fresh interpretation is "more is required."

Offseason workouts in past years generally ended upon dismissal by Spiders strength and conditioning coach Chris Stewart. That approach no longer seemed sufficient to the program's veterans following the 2011 season, when UR went 3-8 and dropped four games by three or fewer points.

"We're letting guys know, 'We're done with (the supervised session), now we're going to run the stadium steps. Meet us there in 15 minutes,'" senior safety Cooper Taylor said of the direction provided by UR's upperclassmen.

Added senior quarterback John Laub: "Every workout that we've had, and in our spring practices, it's constantly driving home the point that when you're tired, you have to make good decisions and you have to perform well."

The extra work also involves film study, or more weightlifting, independent of Spiders' staff members, according to Taylor.

"We tell the younger guys, 'This is what it takes to win. Be here if you want it,'?" said the Georgia Tech transfer, who enters his second season at UR. "We've gotten a great response. We're looking to return Richmond to what it's known for, and that's winning championships."

Since 1998, UR captured five league titles (1998, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2009). The Spiders slipped to 6-5 in 2010 before going winless last year in CAA competition after a 3-0 start. Close games are common in CAA Football, which Old Dominion coach Bobby Wilder refers to as "a field goal league" because three-point kicks periodically provide the margin of victory in the balanced conference.

Danny Rocco was hired as UR's coach Dec. 6, watched video from each UR game in 2011 and noted deficiencies that led to close losses. Rocco, Liberty's coach for the past six seasons, said at the CAA media day Wednesday in Baltimore that first, physical elements must be in place to win tight games.

"Do you have guys who can make plays, and are you conditioned to perform late in the game?" Rocco said.

The second component, he believes, involves trust, unity and confidence among players.

"I think that is huge part of this equation, especially when you're trying to leap-frog (competitively)," Rocco said. "You have to have some belief. You have to have some conviction in what you're doing, and unity. And I think that late in a game, that leads to confidence.

"(The Spiders) are working on those things on their own right now. Hopefully, we will have taken a step forward here as we start camp."

UR holds its first preseason practice Aug. 6, and opens at Virginia on Sept. 1.

Source: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/2012/jul/29/tdsport03-spiders-look-to-close-deal-in-close-foot-ar-2092153/

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