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.
Last season, when the Wildcats beat Richmond early in the season, they were sent to play CAA member and defending national champ James Madison in the quarterfinals and lost 31-27, highlighting for Talley the need to boost his team's credentials at every opportunity.
``You may never come this way again,'' he said. ``How many chances do you have to control your own destiny? I think that it's really critical to get young people to understand.''
The Spiders understand, too, and have added motivation to win. Last season, they had just climbed to No. 1 for the first time in 23 years when they lost 26-20 to the Wildcats.
``I would explain it as a fire just burning from last year,'' Spiders nose tackle Martin Parker said. ``Yes, we lost to them as the No. 1 seed, and yes, that fire is still there to come back and play them and prove that we can execute our game and come out with a win.
``Everybody's more focused into the game plan, watching more film.''
Richmond also knows that the Wildcats, coming off a bye week, had plenty of time to study their tendencies and weaknesses, and that they have weapons that can hurt them in a hurry.
While quarterback Chris Whitney leads Villanova in rushing, averaging 70 yards per game, it is the versatile Matt Szczur that stands out. Technically a receiver, Szczur runs the ball, catches it, throws it, takes direct snaps in the wildcat formation and returns kicks.
He averages a CAA-best 134 all-purpose yards, and even has two solo tackles.
``He's a spectacular player, the most talented that I've had since Brian Westbrook,'' Talley said, speaking of the similarly gifted longtime Philadelphia Eagles tailback.
Richmond ranks third in the nation against the run, allowing just 71 yards, but hasn't faced a player that can hurt them in as many ways as the 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior.
``As a defense, we come in with the mindset that when we get our hands on him, we have to tackle him to the ground,'' Parker said. ``We can't have any missed tackles on him.''
The Spiders, led on offense by senior quarterback Eric Ward and an all-senior offensive line, are more balanced. They average 183 passing yards and 163 rushing yards.
Tailback Justin Forte leads the CAA with a 92-yard average, and is averaging 115 yards over his last five games, while Ward has 12 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.
