URI Football Heads to Elon with Postseason Hopes on the Line

‘Saturday will be the fifth meeting all time between Rhode Island and Elon, with the Phoenix holding a 3-1 advantage.
Rhode Island’s lone win in the series came in the first meeting between the schools, a 44-14 victory at Rhodes Stadium on Nov. 12, 2016.
The Rams are making their third visit overall to Elon, and their first since a 24-21 loss in 2018.
URI enters the game on a two-game win streak, including a 28-3 victory over New Hampshire. Last week Elon snapped a two-game skid with a 37-14 win at Towson.
RAMS LOOKING TO MATCH HIGHEST WIN TOTAL IN TWO DECADES

Heading into the regular season finale, Rhode Island is trying to win eight games in a season for the first time since 2001, when it finished 8-3.
In 123 years of football, Rhode Island has only won eight games three times.
The Rams won 10 games in back-to-back seasons, going 10-3 in both 1984 and 1985 with Bob Griffin at the helm.
In 2001, the Rams were 8-3 under the watch of Tim Stowers.
Current head coach Jim Fleming has led Rhode Island to three winning seasons in the last four years, going 6-5 in 2018, 2-1 in the COVID-impacted 2020-21 spring season and 7-3 thus far in 2021.
He is the fifth URI head coach to record three winning seasons in Kingston.
Frank Keaney had seven winning seasons in 21 years (1920-40), while Bob Griffin did the same in 17 years (1976-92).
Hal Kopp (1950, 1952-55) was above .500 four times in five years, and Marshall Tyler had three winning seasons in 10 years (1898-1901, 1903-08).
TIPPETT AMONG NATION’S BEST RETURNERS

Senior Coby Tippett leads CAA Football and is seventh nationally with an average of 12.6 yards per punt return.
With 226 punt return yards on 18 attempts, Tippett has the fifth highest single-season punt return yards in program history.
His 56-yard return at Massachusetts was his second return of 50 or more yards this year.
He was the CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 13, thanks to his 50-yard punt return for a touchdown at UAlbany.
Tippett has seven returns for 10+ yards.
A starting safety, Tippett is fifth on the team with 41 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss.
He is second on the team with six pass break ups.
HE GETS IT DONE OFF THE FIELD AS WELL

Using his platform as a student-athlete for greater good, senior Coby Tippett has teamed with URI baseball player Billy Butler to raise money for the Tomorrow Fund.
The Tomorrow Fund is a nonprofit group based at Hasbro Children’s Hospital that provides monetary and emtional support to children and their families battling cancer.
Tippett and Butler created Ballers In Action, collecting pledges based on certain statistical categories that result in donations going directly to the Providence-based organization.
To date, Tippett’s efforts have raised more than $3,000 on behalf of the Tomorrow Fund.
To donate, visit the GoFundMe site Tippett set up on behalf of the Tomorrow Fund.