John O'Connor
@RTDjohnoconnor
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staff writer, Richmond Times-Dispatch, joconnor @timesdispatch .com
Richmond, Va.
Joined July 2011
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Thirteen weeks of boot camp completed. Congrats Private Brandon O’Connor, USMC.
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World Champion Dusty Baker as a 21-year-old outfielder for the Triple-A Richmond Braves in 1970.
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It would appear William & Mary has found its quarterback, at long last, in true freshman Hollis Mathis, who is electric. Now, can the Tribe keep this 6-2 170-pounder healthy through a dozen games?
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Richmond announced that Saturday's
@Spiders_FB
game against
@WMTribeFootball
is a sellout at Robins Stadium. Winner is CAA Football champ.
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Wayne Epps Jr. is as good as they come as a person and a journalist. Man, the RTD will sorely miss him. But good luck on new path, my friend and colleague.
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VMI 6-4 senior Reece Udinski is “the best quarterback in all of Division I FCS football, in my opinion,” says Keydets coach Scott Wachenheim.
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Spider Jacob Gilyard says younger brother, who's autistic, "taught me resiliency, patience ... He’s done a tremendous job of allowing me to learn that over the last 17 years of my life. I can’t thank him enough." Gilyard won national character award Friday
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VMI's FCS excursion to JMU will be enjoyable W or L, kidded Scott Wachenheim: "We're going to go up to Staunton and stay in a hotel for two nights. For a VMI Keydet, are you kidding me? Air conditioning, hotel meals ... We got maid service? We don't have to march at 7 a.m.?"
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17-13, Richmond beats No. 2 Virginia in men's lacrosse.
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One of NCAA’s most unlikely FB coaches is a 5-5 native of Madrid who lived in London and Mexico City before settling in Florida. Pedro Arruza, who at 7 lost his dad, arrived in U.S. speaking limited English. He has
@RMCfootball
rolling. via
@RTDSports
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Players from
@Spiders_FB
and
@WMTribeFootball
took knees at Robins Stadium to remember victims at Virginia.
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Thanks to all veterans, and the two active-duty soldiers who grew up in my house. USMC Pvt. Brandon O'Connor in North Carolina, Army Lieut. Sam O'Connor in Alaska, keep the peace and stay safe.
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Saturday, W&M and freshman QB Darius Wilson visit Maine, which starts Derek Robertson at quarterback. Robertson played the position at Iona Prep in the Bronx before Wilson did. Wilson was the Iona Prep JV QB when Robertson was the varsity starter.
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Spiders coach Chris Mooney views academic advisor Courtney Hughes as "the most valuable resource we have." Spider Jacob Gilyard says Hughes "is like a second mom to me here." via
@RTDSports
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Former Spiders linebacker Jeff Hanson will rejoin Richmond football staff. Spent 26 of his 48 coaching years as a UR assistant. via
@RTDSports
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Not all made it home this year - shout-out to Lt. Sam O’Connor in Alaska and Pvt. Brandon O’Connor in Okinawa - but grateful for family, friends and happy holidays.
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At 4-foot-7, William & Mary equipment man Shane Vernarsky is a man of stature. FB coach Jimmye Laycock, in his 39th year, says Vernarsky "is as good as we’ve ever had.”
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No. 19 Richmond coach Chris Mooney on Saturday said, "We are in discussion about potentially playing Connecticut and both schools' medical staffs are reviewing their respective records." Monday at UConn? UR comes back with Wednesday game vs. Northern Iowa at Robins Center.
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Big win for O’Connor program over the weekend in Austria. Congrats Wanda and Jake O’Connor.
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W&M freshman QB Darius Wilson: 'perfect combination of coach’s son, extremely athletic, extremely bright.' Was playing high-school ball in spring. Now ranks 10th in FCS in completion percentage for 4-1 team. via
@RTDSports
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A 24-year-old grad transfer, Kilton Anderson, and a true freshman, Hollis Mathis, are the two QBs left standing as W&M preps for Saturday date against visiting Lafayette.
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A-10 weighing move of men's hoops tournament from Brooklyn's Barclays Center to campus site, perhaps VCU, perhaps the University of Richmond. via
@RTDSports
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Spiders FB assistant Jeff Hanson will be honored by the Touchdown Club of Richmond as the 2021 recipient of the Ray Tate Memorial Award, presented annually to a person who exemplifies the commitment and dedication to the sport of football as exemplified by the late Ray Tate.
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Spiders received one vote (two points) in AP Poll, from John Feinstein (National Public Radio), who voted Richmond No. 24. Spiders were ranked in 1955, 1958, 1986, 2010.
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Lightly recruited Richmond OT Alex Light, 6-6, 310, went from overlooked to 3-year starter, NFL possibility.
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Richmond coach Chris Mooney on Jacob Gilyard setting the NCAA career record for steals: “There are only so many statistics in basketball. To have more than anyone who ever played a game, it’s hard for it to even register because it’s such a significant accomplishment."
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Renovated Virginia Union football facility, with new scoreboard to come.
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“Can’t live in the past. Just got to keep moving forward with it.'
@WMTribeFootball
staffer Evan Light handles business without legs. via
@RTDSports
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Catch this -- Transfer Drew Campanale has completed NCAA best 80.3% as
@RMCfootball
heads to
@HSC_FOOTBALL
for 127th meeting. 'I feel the energy of the team and our coaching staff on what this means to our program and the school.' via
@RTDSports
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University of Richmond
@Spiders_FB
shifting from
@CAAFootball
to
@PatriotLeague
starting in 2025. via
@RTDSports
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Spiders VP/AD John Hardt clarifies coach Chris Mooney's status: he will return for 15th season via
@RTDSports
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Greg Beckwith, 60, departs as steward of
@SpiderMBB
spirit. Suffered fatal heart attack Friday. Ex-Richmond coach Dick Tarrant once described Beckwith as "140 pounds of courage." via
@RTDSports
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With a win over The Citadel Saturday, VMI and linebacker Stone Snyder (Monacan High) can achieve primary goals, and more. Keydets haven't won a conference football title since 1977.
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Heavier and healthier, Spiders tailback Savon Smith "took the opportunity and ran with it." He looks, and plays, much different than when he starred at Winchester's Millbrook High.
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New
@VMI_Football
coach Danny Rocco said he would like to add ex-
@HokiesFB
OC Bryan Stinespring as assistant. Stinespring, 59, is a native of Clifton Forge. His first job was as an assistant at Lexington High. Stinespring is AD/activities director for Alleghany High in Covington.
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OF Turner Hill went undrafted out of
@NCAADIII
at
@MariettaCollege
, and has risen to Double-A with
@GoSquirrels
. He's six for 19 in first six Double-A games.
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So long from picturesque Zable Stadium at William & Mary.
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Three oorahs for newly promoted
@USMC
Lance Corporal Brandon O'Connor, Richmond proud
@DSFAthletics
and Okinawa based.
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Ex-
@SpiderMBB
players execute billboard reversal, celebrate Coach Chris Mooney's achievement. “That has not sat well for years,” T.J. Cline, ex-UR star said of critical billboard from 2019. via
@RTDSports
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No need for Netflix in Austria. Happy day before wedding Wanda and Jake O’Connor.
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5-9 freshman Jacob Gilyard emerging as next in Richmond Spiders' line of quick, compact guards.
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Sean McDermott calls W&M time 'one of the best experiences a young man could ask for.' Ex-
@WMTribeFootball
walk-on-turned captain, now Buffalo Bills coach, inducted to school's athletics hall of fame. via
@RTDSports
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Consensus All-American pass-rusher John Pius of
@WMTribeFootball
eschewed transfer portal. 'I love it here.' He repledged allegiance to W&M at Saturday's spring game. via
@rtdnews
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Once he leaves the mound, Spider captain Antonio Balducci (Hanover High) intends to become Dr. Balducci.
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Spiders starter Andre Gustavson returning for fifth season, has played in 108 UR games. "Richmond is home," said Gustavson, who came to Richmond from Finland. via
@RTDSports
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Ex-Spiders basketball captain, NBA aide, Kevin Eastman adds 'author' to list of accomplishments via
@RTDSports
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W&M pulls away from Charlotte for 41-24 win over FBS opponent.
@WMTribeFootball
first FBS win since 2009 victory at Virginia. via
@RTDSports
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Cam's younger brother,
@AuburnFootball
transfer Caylin Newton, finds 'match' with
@WMTribeFootball
. Caylin Newton, a WR and probably more, starred as Howard QB before shifting to SEC school.
via
@RTDSports
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Richmond's Brian Brown, a senior from Hermitage High, needs 225 receiving yards to set the Spiders' career record.
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Lafayette 7-footer Neal Quinn tells Pittsburgh Sports Now that the schools recruiting him hardest right now are Pitt, Richmond, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Loyola Chicago. 14.6/7.4 rpg/3.9 apg.
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Former
@WMTribeFootball
coach Jimmye Laycock among those entering Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Class of 2023. via
@RTDSports
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Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta confirmed Sunday night he has been selected for the East-West Shrine Game, a premier showcase for NFL Draft-eligible players. Jan. 20, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
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Seth Morgan set VMI record with 516 total yards. Keydets beat Samford 46-45, clinch back-to-back winning seasons, first time since 1960s. “It’s humbling, tremendously humbling, because I know where we came from,” said coach Scott Wachenheim. via
@RTDSports
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William & Mary = Long Snapper U. Ex-Tribe TE Mike Leach (left) spent 16 seasons in NFL, 15 as long-snapper. Ex-Tribe LB Luke Rhodes (right) enters 4th season as Indy Colts' long-snapper. Neither snapped at W&M, not once.
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Ex-Thomas Dale star Ka'lia Johnson views homecoming to Richmond staff as 'dream job.' Former Duke starter played professionally overseas before working in VCU (video), Longwood (assistant coach) programs. via
@RTDSports
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W&M homecoming brought back world championship coaches Jill Ellis, Mike Tomlin via
@RTDSports
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Former University of Richmond basketball player Eric English named Henrico County's new chief of police. Was police chief in Harrisonburg, previously was Richmond city police officer.
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My dad would have been 97 today. Thanks, Jack, for playing catch all those times and chasing many balls just a bit off-target.
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Toughness, unity, postseason wins returned to JMU's football fabric. JMU vs. Youngstown State Sat. for FCS title.
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Flying Squirrels OF Heliot Ramos, 21 and a Giants' prospect, just hit a ball into the right-center gap, fell rounding first, did a somersault, popped up, and still got into second standing up. Gymnastic double.
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“We didn’t look at ourselves as an average six seed in the A-10. We didn’t look at ourselves as an average 12 seed coming into the (NCAA) tournament,” said Richmond's Jacob Gilyard. “So we think a lot of people are going to underestimate us, and that’s fine.”
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There are six FCS programs in Virginia. With James Madison suspending the start of practice Friday, VMI is the only one currently in business. Keydets practiced Friday morning.
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A-10 champions update: Spiders taking Ubers to a D.C. hotel, where they will watch selection show. Their bus wouldn't start. Battery, apparently. How will they return to Richmond? Unknown at this point.
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67
Outside of the Robins Center, where UMass plays Richmond at 7.
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As NBA G League regular season closes Saturday, an update on ex-
@SpiderMBB
stars. Jacob Gilyard is league assist leader (9.6 apg) and Grant Golden averages 17.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists. via
@RTDSports
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Richmond's guileful Gilyard leads nation in steals with speed and a dash of hoops clairvoyance via
@RTDSports
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Forward Matt Grace returning to Spiders as graduate for fifth "bonus" year. Likes "opportunity at setting up an internship and then also getting a good graduate degree." via
@RTDLikes
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Pending ABC approval, UR will start selling beer at men's basketball games this season via
@RTDSports
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UR F Grant Golden granted medical redshirt year after playing 9 games as a true freshman last season. Accelerated heart rate shut him down.
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Zippy William & Mary sophomore linebacker Trey Watkins (20 tackles in two games) cuts it loose with his "knife angles." Tribe host Colgate Saturday.
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Spiders hoops schedule shaping up. Just added home and home with Northern Iowa, which will visit UR this season. Also, Spiders at Kentucky, at Vandy, at Colorado State, at Charleston. ODU at Richmond. All five UR starters back from 24-7 team.
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With NCAA tournament eliminated, "This was truly a great season. I think we won't know how great," said Richmond coach Chris Mooney. Spiders finished 24-7.
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“If it were a movie, people would say, ‘You’re full of crap. That doesn’t really happen.’ Yet it did.” Forty years ago this week,
@JMUBaseball
became Virginia's first team to make the College World Series. via
@RTDSports
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“So you can make $5,000, $8,000, $10,000 somewhere else through an NIL. Or you can get a Master’s degree here and earn six figures.”
John Pius, fierce face of FCS No. 4
@WMTribeFootball
, can quickly drop curtain on QB act. via
@RTDSports
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Among these CAA prospects, W&M offensive tackle Andrew Trainer looks most like an NFL player at 6-7 and 317 pounds. via
@RTDSports
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64
The Golden brothers, 6-10 junior Grant at Richmond (8-1) and 6-9 sophomore Bryce at Butler (9-1), continue to make each other better.
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Happy Veterans Day to Sam O'Connor, proud 2019 graduate of the United States Military Academy, and all vets.
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"I didn’t think I was ever going to come down to Virginia."
Pair from Massachusetts helped drive
@RMCfootball
into
@NcaaD3Fb
semifinals. via
@RTDSports
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62
Philanthropic Isaac Brown can contribute in various ways to Spiders seeking offensive innovation. Richmond receiver directed grant of $11,000 he won to a youth football association. via
@RTDSports
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63
On Monday, former James Madison coach Mickey Matthews was asked if he
could supply a brief summation of Jimmye Laycock's 39 years at W&M. "He took a tough job and made it look easy," Matthews said.
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Spiders acquire a third transfer, 3-point sniper Jason Roche from The Citadel. Was SoCon rookie of the year. Three seasons left. via
@RTDSports
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University of Richmond set to build $15-million basketball training and performance facility via
@RTDSports
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61
Colby Sorsdal (offensive line), John Pius (LB) of
@WMTribeFootball
named first team AP All-Americans. Also recognized: OL Ryan Coll of
@Spiders_FB
and LB Stone Snyder (Monacan High) of
@VMI_Football
. via
@RTDSports
0
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Spiders rally from 15 down in second half to knock off Dayton in A-10 semifinals via
@RTDSports
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7
62
Nick Sherod won UR award, and he's pleased that it's unrelated to basketball performance. He's honored with Engaged Leadership Award, presented by Rhetoric and Communication Studies Department. via
@RTDSports
0
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The line of 5-9 junior Jacob Gilyard in Richmond's 64-44 win over BC: 22 points, six assists, eight rebounds, five steals.
1
5
61
17,000-seat arena in Henrico County is part of planned multi-use project off Parham Road. Rams, Spiders won't be moving games there, but how about a special event/double-header if this thing works out? Got to be full-time tenant, right? Hockey? G League?
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Decades after he hoped, Richmond defensive coordinator Justin Wood reached Division I. As 5-9 "football-playing son of a [gun]" at Hampton's Bethel High, Wood saw DI recruiters sign taller LBs. Wood became hall of famer at DIII Christopher Newport.
1
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61
Richmond is the only Division I school whose men's and women's lacrosse teams are both automatic qualifiers to their NCAA tournaments. Men won the Southern Conference Saturday at home. Women won the A-10 Sunday at home.
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Veterans Day weekend salute to USMC Lance Corporal Brandon O'Connor in Okinawa and U.S. Army First Lieutenant Sam O'Connor in Alaska. Please keep the peace. Thanks for being there.
5
6
61
Back at the University of Richmond, where he started, impact of revered football assistant Jeff Hanson continues.
0
5
59
What happened when
@Spiders_FB
fell behind
@WMTribeFootball
31-13 in third quarter? 'Like a football game with Richmond is going to be, fought to the end,' said W&M defensive tackle Carl Fowler. Tribe win 37-26, take CAA title. via
@RTDSports
0
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“I feel great,” Chris Mooney said Tuesday. Following Feb. 28 heart surgery, he has reengaged with
@SpiderMBB
. via
@RTDSports
0
6
60
W&M safety Gage Herdman (three INTs) learned by covering brother, former Purdue star Cole Herdman, TE who played on practice squads for Ravens, Lions. via
@RTDSports
0
7
59
Ex-Spider T.J. Cline (2017 A-10 POY) will be at the Robins Center to present Richmond star Grant Golden (33) during pre-game ceremony (VCU visits at 4) with recognition of Golden's 2,000-point accomplishment, recently achieved. Golden said he modeled his game after Cline.
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