Nov. 1, 2009

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Off to its best start in school history at 8-0, No. 1-ranked Richmond became the first FCS team in two years to earn votes in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. The Spiders were listed on one ballot and are unofficially 37th to become just third-ever FCS team recognized in the Poll.

By receiving a vote, the Spiders matched that received by South Carolina and Temple this week. Florida tops the AP Poll, followed by Texas and Alabama. The reigning BCS National Champ Gators own the nation's longest winning streak at 18-consecutive games, with the reigning FCS National Champ Spiders at 17-straight wins.

The top-ranked Spiders host Villanova (7-1, 4-1) Saturday at UR Stadium on Homecoming Weekend. The Top-5 showdown is arguably the biggest game in CAA Football this season and holds crucial conference title and postseason implications.

The AP changed it policy and opened its Poll to all Division-I football teams following Appalachian State's epic upset at Michigan in September of 2007. Previously, just FBS (I-A) teams were permitted.

The Mountaineers went on to receive votes in two consecutive AP Polls (Sept. 9 and 18) that season. Northern Iowa appeared once (Nov. 18) and App. State got votes in the final poll after winning the National Championship.

The Spiders ended App. State's streak of three-consecutive titles by claiming its first-ever National Championship in 2008. No FCS teams received AP Poll recognition last season.

Richmond, which switched to I-AA (FCS) classification prior to the 1981 season, has been ranked in the AP Poll just once in school history - that being No. 20 on Oct. 22, 1973 after beating West Virginia, 38-17, to improve to 6-0. The Spiders lost 14-8 at Northeast Louisiana the next week and dropped out.