ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Why can’t Richmond get more big-name opponents into the Robins Center? There’s a lot more to it than picking up the phone.
Tom and Porter welcome Coach Will Gipe for a candid look at the business behind the Spiders’ nonconference schedule. Gipe explains how guarantee games work, why Power Four opponents are increasingly difficult to land, and how NET rankings and financial incentives shape the matchups fans actually get to see.
We also discuss how the Virginia Tech game came together, exhibitions against UVA and JMU, and why the William & Mary rivalry matters—even when the coaches would rather not face their friends. Plus, Gipe shares his path from Southwest Virginia to Virginia Tech and a decade on Chris Mooney’s staff.
Coming in Part 2 on Monday: recruiting, agents, the transfer portal, and a closer look at Richmond’s freshmen.
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