RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Villanova football coach Andy Talley is in his 25th season at the helm of the Wildcats, just won his 200th game and figures he's entitled to buck convention.
He's doing it this week as he prepares to bring the Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Colonial Athletic Association) to Richmond for a key game against the defending national champion Spiders.
Richmond (8-0, 6-0) has been ranked No. 1 all season in the Football Championship Subdivision, has won 17 straight and even got a vote in The Top 25 this week, and No. 4 Villanova could take all of that away on Saturday.
"Yeah, we talk about it," Talley said of the stakes this week, noting that his assistant coaches don't generally approve. "You really want the players to understand the ramifications of this game, so it's something that I try to do without getting too crazy about it."
Richmond, with only one league game left after Saturday, would clinch at least a share of the conference championship with a victory. The Wildcats, with two more league games after this one, would remain in the running for a share of that crown if they can win.
"This game is huge," Spiders wide receiver Kevin Grayson said. "Anytime you have two big teams going into a game and it's in the conference, especially our conference, it's a big game. And being late in the season, it's definitely probably the biggest game of the year."
It's also the way the Spiders have learned to like November football.
"We're going to have to play our best game here, and that's the way you want it at this time, with a lot at stake, a lot on the line here," second-year coach Mike London said.
"It's an exciting challenge."
Beyond the CAA, the game also will affect how the teams are viewed when the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs seedings are set, and which wind up having to travel.
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