Courtesy: Richmond Athletics
Spiders Begin Rocco Era at Virginia on Saturday
Courtesy:Richmond Athletics
Release:08/31/2012
RELATED LINKS
2012 Gameday Information - Week One: at Virginia
When Saturday, September 1 - 3 PM 
Where  Charlottesville, Va. | Weather | Campus Map              
Venue Scott Stadium | Seating Chart | Parking | Parking Map
Radio ESPN 950 | WOLF 93.1 | RichmondSpiders.com | ESPN950am.com     
TV CSN-MA | ESPN3.com | TV Affiliates
Live Stats RichmondSpiders.com
Game Notes Richmond | Virginia | CAA | ACC
Pregame Media    Coach Rocco CAA Teleconference | Coach Rocco Press Conference
Coach London ACC Teleconference (Transcript)
Social Media Twitter | Facebook
Media Coverage     UR Sophomore Earns Respect and Leadership Role
August 31, Richmond Times-Dispatch

Spiders' New Coach Steers Clear of Rebuilding Talk
August 31, Richmond Times-Dispatch

Rocco Begins Career at Richmond Against His Nephew
August 30, AP

It Will Rocco vs. Rocco on Saturday at Scott Stadium
August 29, Richmond Times-Dispatch

Richmond Football Coach Has Many UVA Connections
August 29, The Roanoke Times

For the Roccos, Saturday's Game Will Be Family Affair
August 29, Richmond Times-Dispatch

THE GAME
- Under first year head coach Danny Rocco, the Richmond Spiders football team opens up its 129th season of football when it takes on the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.

- The Spiders will be looking for their third win over an FBS opponent in the past four seasons with a win over the Cavaliers on Saturday, having beaten Duke during both the 2009 and 2011 seasons.

- Storylines for Saturday's game include the Spiders facing their former head coach Mike London who led Richmond to a national title in 2008 and Richmond head coach Danny Rocco going against his nephew, Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco.

QUICK SLANTS
- Richmond returns 13 starters from last year's team that went 3-8.  The Spiders began the season very strong, beating Duke in the season opener on its way to a 3-0 start.  Richmond struggled, however, in CAA conference play, going 0-8.

- Redshirt senior QB John Laub (pictured) earned the starting nod thanks to a strong camp for the Spiders, edging Virginia transfer Michael Strauss.  Laub is 2-1 all-time as a starter, filling in for an injured Aaron Corp the final three games of the 2010 season.

- The Spiders boast seven players who earned preseason recognition before the start of 2012, including two players - FB Kendall Gaskins and LB Darius McMillan - who were named preseason All-Americans.  Also, DB Cooper Taylor was named to the 2013 Senior Bowl Watch List.

- Despite being picked to finish ninth in the CAA in a poll conducted by the league's coaches, the Spiders received votes The Sports Network's first FCS Top 25 poll.

- Richmond is loaded with underclassmen entering the 2012 season.  Of its 83 players, the Spiders have 23 true freshmen, 6 redshirt freshmen, 11 sophomores and 16 redshirt sophomores.  In total, underclassmen make up an astounding 67.4 percent of the Richmond roster.

LAST TIME OUT
- The Spiders ended the 2011 season with a tough, two-point loss to long-time rival William & Mary, 25-23.

- Richmond held a late lead over the Tribe, but W&M scored a TD with just two seconds left to steal the win.

- FB Kendall Gaskins scored a pair of touchdowns for the Spiders, while LB Darius McMillan had a career-high 20 tackles, including six solo.



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