Dukes exterminate Spiders
Baker shines in homecoming of his own at UR
By Matthew Stoss, senior writer
Posted on October 30, 2006

RICHMOND — Saturday afternoon may have officially been the University of Richmond’s Homecoming, but the Spiders had to share it with L.C. Baker.

The JMU junior wide receiver — a Richmond native, who played his high school football at Armstrong — returned to the capitol city for the last time as a college football player and was greeted by just about everyone he’s ever known.

“I had a lot of people in attendance, just for me,” the 5-foot-7, 155-pounder said. “For all of them to come to see me play, it adds a little more pressure.”

For Baker, “all of them” was a substantial category.

Organized by his mom, Martha, Baker’s homecoming might have been every bit as planned as UR’s, as preparations started well in advance when Martha reserved 75 tickets from the UR box office and went about contacting family and friends.

“This was planned for a long time,” L.C.’s father, L.C. Sr., said wearing L.C.’s No. 3 with “Showtime” where the name should be. “Ever since the season started, we’ve been planning this.”

In the end, the guest list was pages-long, typed and printed with 91 people on the roll — a dramatic spike from the already impressive 10 to 15 that travel with Martha and L.C. Sr. to every game.

“We’ve got relatives, friends, coaches, godparents, cousins, uncles, nephews and my sister, and her family drove the RV,” Martha Baker said about 30 minutes before game time.

The RV, technically a “coach,” was brand new Saturday, complete with the new-car smell. The maiden voyage to the parking lot of UR Stadium included fried chicken, hot wings, bean soup, teriyaki chicken, chips, fruits, vegetables, sodas and beers.

“We bought it this week,” L.C.’s uncle Ricky Swann said. “His aunt [Liz Mitchell] said ‘we should go to all the games,’ so we bought the coach to go to all the games.”

Other family members making it to all the games include Baker’s godparents Donald and Desdra Cheatham, who even made the trek north to see JMU’s upset of the then top-ranked University of New Hampshire.

“We’ve been to all of them,” Desdra said. “New Hampshire, Appalachian; we haven’t missed one, yet and we’ve won all but one.”

Add Saturday’s game to that list.

The Dukes picked up a 27-10 win over the Spiders, a year after UR ended JMU’s playoff chances, handing Madison an 18-15 loss in Harrisonburg. That loss also ended L.C.’s season, when he dislocated his elbow on a punt return midway through the game.

You couldn’t tell watching him Saturday.

L.C. caught four passes for 65 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Justin Rascati with 12:12 to play in the fourth quarter that put JMU up 24-10.

“I just wanted to make a play,” L.C. said. “It was great [to score]. I mean, last year, this game ended my season.”

“Great” might be an understatement if you asked the official “Baker Homecoming Section.”

“We went crazy,” L.C. Sr. said after the game. “The section went crazy. All 91 went crazy. We had high fives, low fives, hugging and kissing. We had a ball.

“This is something we’ve been waiting for all his life. We’re just happy he did it at home. I’m so proud of my man.”