RICHMOND, Va. — Jordan Shoop and his teammates knew that the University of Richmond had the ability to win the national championship.

It just took a difficult path to get there.

The Spiders knocked off once-beaten Montana 24-7 in the Division I-Football Championship Subdivision national championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn. Dec. 19, giving the program its first national title.

Shoop, a graduate of Knoch High School, was a starting middle linebacker as a redshirt sophomore.

"I think in the beginning of the year, everyone had an optimistic attitude," said Shoop.

The team was 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association — which included a loss at the University of Virginia 16-0 — before a heartbreaking 38-31 loss to conference foe James Madison.

"We punted with one second left and lost," said Shoop. "We knew we had the potential to go to the playoffs and once we went toe to toe with some teams, we knew we could make it to the championship."

The Spiders (13-3) closed out the season on a five-game winning streak, including a 23-20 overtime win in the final contest against William & Mary.

The Spiders, who were the No. 7 seed, went on the road and knocked off No. 3 seed Northern Iowa 21-20 on Dec. 13 to set up the national championship final against Montana, which was aired on ESPN2.

Richmond hit the ground running in the championship game, jumping out to a 21-0 halftime lead against the Grizzlies (14-2), a two-time national champion.

"Once we got the lead early, that helped quite a bit. The ball was more in our court. We could play more of our game. That was real important.

"We stopped their first possession and they missed a field goal," Shoop added.

That miss preserved a 7-0 lead for Richmond, which came when quarterback Eric Ward pitched the ball to fullback John Crone, who then connected with Ward on a 23-yard touchdown pass.

The Spiders never allowed the Grizzlies to get back into the game, but it took a while for Shoop and his teammates to filter what had happened.

"It was surreal at first, when we first won it," said Shoop. "Just being around my teammates, we'd say if we want to be champions, let's be national champions."

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Shoop has played defense his entire football career, including his stints at safety and linebacker at Knoch — plus playing receiver as a sophomore and quarterback his junior and senior campaigns.

"I think that's what made him an attractive recruit," said Knoch coach Mike King. "He did a great job offensively, but defensively, he had a frame that he could put pounds on and bulk up to be a safety.

"Now, he's an inside linebacker and can play all four of the 3-4 linebacker scheme,"King added.

Despite his prowess on the basketball court, Shoop accepted a full scholarship to Richmond thinking he would remain at quarterback.

"They told me I'd go in as a quarterback, then after the first year, we'll see what happens," said Shoop. "I'd thought I'd go at safety, but I'd put on some weight through conditioning."

After working with the quarterbacks his freshman season, Shoop started three games at linebacker last season before breaking his foot and missing the rest of the season.

This season, he started all 16 games and finished fifth in tackles (72 total), including eight for loss, 3Z\x sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble.

"When you get to that level, you deal with a lot of kids who played a variety of different positions," said King.

"There's a lot of good, natural leaders and Jordan, having played offense, knows what the other side is thinking."

Shoop had no qualms for moving to the other side of the ball. In fact, he relishes it.

"I love it. Defense is a lot of fun," said Shoop. "I've played on defense my whole career."

"We have 18 of 22 starters back, 19 of 23 if you count our kicking game," said Shoop. "We've been talking about it and now we're hungry. We want it for next year. We have the defense to do it."