Richmond Spiders History

The Mascot

From 1876-1893, Richmond carried the nickname "Colts" into its athletic contests, so dubbed for their play as an "energetic group of young colts." In the summer of 1894, a new nickname was born. A baseball team comprised of UR athletes and city residents adopted the name "Spiders".

Star pitcher Puss Ellyson's lanky arms and stretching kick confused batters to such an extent that Richmond Times-Dispatch writer Ragland Chesterman used the name of that clever creeping insect, the Spider, to fittingly describe the erudite members of the team. So was created perhaps the most unique school nickname in the nation. To this day, the University of Richmond is the only school in the country which sports the nickname "Spiders."

The University of Richmond is the only school in the country with a Spider as a mascot.
 

The 03'-04' Basketball Season Review

Jerry Wainwright described the scene as "unbridled joy." It was like watching a kid on Christmas morning get exactly what he dreamed about, the second-year coach said. There were cheers, hugs and even a few tears because the Richmond Spiders had earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years.

A senior class, that had sacrificed since 1999, was rewarded for its timeless dedication with the ultimate in college basketball -- a chance to shine on a national stage.

Riding one of the nation's most suffocating defenses (9th in points allowed, 16th in field goal % defense), and 75.0 percent shooting from behind the arc, Richmond powered its way to a 32-25 halftime lead against 10th-ranked Wisconsin in Milwaukee. However, the Badgers caught fire in the final 20 minutes, scoring on 19 straight possessions, to steal a 12-point victory (76-64) in the Spiders' seventh all-time NCAA Tournament.

Richmond's senior class of Reggie Brown, Tony Dobbins, Mike Skrocki and Eric Zwayer carried the Spiders during its final collegiate season. Despite battling injuries, Brown's outside shooting and calming influence combined with Zwayer's staunch defense and inside presence to solidify this experienced group.

Two-time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, Tony Dobbins, filled the stat sheet every night, while also setting the program's single-season mark for steals. His game-winning jumper with 1.3 seconds left at Kansas gave Richmond its first win against a top-10 team since 1991 and thrust these Spiders onto the national radar.

Senior Mike Skrocki reached double figures in all but one game, moving up Richmond's career scoring chart to 12th (1,408 career points). He consistently filled the nets against the toughest schedule in program history, facing 11 NCAA teams.

The early season, non-conference schedule provided ups-and-downs, highlighted by a trip to the Guardians Classic championship game and an 18-point win against VCU at the Robins Center.

After Skrocki and Dobbins led a furious comeback against Duquesne in the A-10 opener, Richmond slipped into its worst skid of the season, dropping three league games and falling to 8-8 with a daunting road trip on the horizon.

Hot outside shooting led the Spiders over John Chaney's Temple Owls, before the Kansas triumph and a stifling defense held Xavier to 21 percent shooting, propelling Richmond to a sweep in the toughest road trip in program history.

The Spiders won 10 of their final 13 games, five of their last six, to complete the regular season with an 18-11 record. Despite a successful run, the Spiders knew it would take a strong showing in the Atlantic 10 Tournament to impress the NCAA committee.

Despite a sluggish start, Richmond drubbed Fordham in the first round, setting up a rematch against Temple, who had ousted Richmond in the 2003 A-10 Tourney.

A balanced attack and rock-steady defense squeezed the Owls and advanced Richmond to the tournament's semifinals. This victory secured a 20-win season for the third time in the past four years.

A rematch with Dayton followed, a game the Spiders eagerly awaited after letting a three-point lead with 10 seconds slip away in early February. Another slugfest ensued, but the Flyers prevailed by two points when Richmond's final efforts fell short at the buzzer.

Hoping they had done enough, the Spiders trusted in their tough schedule and quality wins to lead them into the field of 65. To the delight of the Spider community, their heroic efforts were appreciated and acknowledged.