Spiders' title rings glitter - University of Richmond

Spiders' title rings glitter

Football program is honored for its CAA crown last fall

Friday, Jun 06, 2008 - 12:06 AM

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By JOHN O'CONNOR

TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Athletes say it all the time: "I want a ring."

They speak of a championship ring. Depending on the level of competition and budgets, championship rings widely vary. Rings awarded by the University of Richmond to members of the 2007 Spiders football team this spring for winning the 2007 Colonial Athletic Association title include a few distinguishing characteristics influenced by the suggestions of senior captains Tim Hightower and Stephen Howell.

"KEEP BUILDING" on the side. "All year long, game to game, that was our motto," said Kevin VanDerzee, former UR director of football operations. He also helped with ring design.

"BEST EVER" on the side. The 2007 Spiders won more games (11) than any of the school's previous 125 teams.

"NCAA FOUR" on the face. UR reached the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. "FINAL FOUR" was prohibited because that is a registered trademark used by the NCAA for basketball.

Forty-two glittering stones (not diamonds). The designers originally planned to have 11 stones -- one for each victory -- but VanDerzee said it was concluded that 42 stones more attractively filled the ring face.

UR purchased 109 rings, at $159 per ring, for players, coaches and staff. "Our athletic department policy is to provide rings for teams [that] win conference championships," Richmond Athletic Director Jim Miller said.

The NCAA prohibits championship gifts from the school and its conference together exceeding $325 per student-athlete. The CAA awarded each Spider a championship watch, at a cost of about $25 per timepiece, according to Daniel McCarthy, UR's assistant athletic director/compliance.