URI football coach Jim Fleming talks about Rhody’s 7th win of season
Rhode Island beats Maine, 24-14, to improve to 7-1 on the season, 4-0 in the CAA, as the Rams keep rolling along.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A second full month has passed in this college football season, and the University of Rhode Island still shows no signs of slowing down.
Saturday afternoon was the latest measuring stick at Meade Stadium, a Homecoming that felt in danger of being spoiled for a few brief minutes. The Rams managed what has become a customary response in 2024, and the result was never really in doubt over the final 12 minutes.
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Malik Grant’s rushing touchdown put the hosts in front to stay. The defense handled matters from there in a 24-14 victory over Maine, a result that helped No. 15 URI continue to rewrite its record books.
More: Rhode Island football continues to climb the CAA weekly poll; where the Rams stand now
The Rams hadn’t started 7-1 or better since 2001. That was also the last time URI won its first four conference games, and it came before a move from the Atlantic 10 to the Coastal Athletic Association. The next milestone year often referenced is 1985, and this was another step toward an FCS playoff berth last achieved in that magical season.
“We’re going into November with a very challenging schedule, but tremendous belief – and a good football team,” URI coach Jim Fleming said. “It’s just going to be one week at a time.”
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Brian Santana-Fis capped a short drive with a 4-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. That drew the Black Bears into a 14-14 tie and sent some nervousness through the sellout crowd of 5,450 fans. Maine was a defensive stop and another effective possession from taking its second advantage of the afternoon.
The Rams didn’t allow that chance. Devin Farrell connected with Greg Gaines III for a first down and with Tommy Smith on a 46-yard bullet down the middle. That gave URI first and goal inside the 10, and Grant slipped his way 1 yard around right end to give the Rams a 21-14 lead.
“Every game we’ve started slow,” Farrell said. “The guys just keep working through it, and I’m so grateful to have them on my side.”
The Black Bears punted, turned it over on downs and ran out of time while coming up empty on each of their final three possessions. Maine was driving into a stiff breeze on what was otherwise a postcard day, and URI cranked up its aggression down the stretch. Devin Hightower’s sack on fourth down with 2:54 left just about finished it.
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“Just trusting our offense that they’re going to do their part,” URI defensive back Emmanuel Gomes said. “We’re going to do our part.”
The Rams just might be making some of their own luck as well. Ty Groff’s insurance field goal was set up by a Farrell pass to the right that bounced off Omari Walker’s hands and right foot before sailing high in the air. Smith raced over in time to make a catch in traffic and Groff was good from 35 yards with 6:04 left.
“The ball’s bouncing right,” Fleming said. “Let’s keep it that way.”
Farrell’s pair of touchdown runs in the opening half came from 1 and 6 yards. URI (7-1, 4-0 CAA) overcame an early 7-0 deficit and took a 14-7 edge into the break. The Rams picked up all but one of their 24 first downs in the final three quarters, and Farrell closed with 221 total yards of offense.
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“I would say the big guys up front – I believe 100% in those guys,” Farrell said. “They get it done when we need to get it done.”
The Black Bears (4-4, 2-3) were 5-for-6 on third down in the early going before slumping to a 3-for-11 finish. URI found a spark in the second quarter when Gomes thumped Jaharie Martin on a fourth down rush inside the Rams 30 to turn the ball over on downs. Maine was on the verge of asserting itself in a 7-0 game before Gomes changed the tone, with URI driving the other way to get on the board for the first time.
“Every fourth down is a big spark in the game,” Gomes said. “To be able to get a stop, you could say it’s a big spark.”
The Rams welcome Monmouth next Saturday, extending a span of three home games in four weeks. URI would clinch a winning record in conference for the second time in three years and continue to force the hand of the selection committee with another victory. That determination served the Rams well in the second half of this one against the Black Bears.
“What we had to do was keep the hammer on,” Fleming said. “Keep the pressure on. At some point they would break.
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“And that’s not a negative on them – that’s just the game of football. Our kids have been very strong-willed.”
PROVIDENCE — The application period for Rhode Island’s charter schools opened this week, giving families a shot at roughly 3,000 seats projected to be available at charter schools next year.
A blind lottery for available seats will be held on April 1. Charter schools are in high demand in Rhode Island, with roughly 11,000 families submitting 30,000 applications for 2,500 seats lasts year. (Families can apply for more than one school.)
There are about 13,000 Rhode Island public school students currently enrolled in 25 charters, some of which are larger networks with multiple schools.
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Despite the demand, teachers unions and other public school advocates have sought to block the expansion of charter schools, concerned they are financially hurting the traditional public school system. School funding follows each child from their home school district to the charter school.
In this week’s episode of the Rhode Island Report, Chiara Deltito-Sharrott from the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools talks about the future of charter schools in Rhode Island, and provides a rebuttal to comments made by Maribeth Calabro, the head of Rhode Island’s largest teachers union, in an episode earlier this month.
Steph Machado can be reached at steph.machado@globe.com. Follow her @StephMachado.
United Way of Rhode Island accepts initial donations from the Fund’s sponsoring energy companies. (courtesy: United Way of Rhode Island)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — United Way of Rhode Island announced the Rhode Island Good Neighbor Energy Fund has begun for the 2024 through 2025 season.
The fund helps families that need assistance paying their home heating bills but are not eligible for federal or state assistance.
Since it was founded, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund has aided over 48,250 Rhode Island homes.
United RI says any local households in the state that are in need of funding assistance for energy are encouraged to contact a local Community Action Program agency, or to call the 211 helpline for help locating a CAP agency.
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GNEF eligibility is determined on total income not exceeding 300% of the federal poverty level, and provides up to $825 per household each heating season depending on eligibility, fuel type, and need.
United RI said in addition to sponsors, the fund relies on Rhode Islanders who donate through the “Warm Thy Neighbor” campaign.
Donations can be made through the yellow donation envelope enclosed with monthly energy bills, or by scanning the QR code on the envelope.
Additionally, donations can be given through phone by texting “WARM” to 91999.
For more information, visit United Way of Rhode Island’s website here.
Former U.S. Naval officer Darryl Lindie learned early in his career that taking care of his team was key to accomplishing a mission.
Since buying AASign & Awning in Warwick in 2023, Lindie has applied that philosophy to his business, giving his 30-person team paid days off and other benefits. But one offering remained a little too complicated and expensive: retirement savings.
Not for long.
Legislation approved in the 2024 General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee in September sets up a public retirement savings program for private-sector workers whose employers don’t already offer the investment option. Ahead of its formal launch, state officials unveiled details of the RISavers program at an event outside Lindie’s sign shop on Wednesday.
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Modeled after similar programs in other states, including Connecticut, RISavers automatically opens Roth Individual Retirement Accounts for eligible private-sector workers, set up through the Rhode Island Office of the General Treasurer with help from a third-party account administrator.
“It is absolutely true that anyone can open a Roth IRA or another retirement account whenever they want,” Treasurer James Diossa said. “But it’s also equally true that not everyone has the ability to navigate the financial sector. These things can be daunting and RISavers makes it quick and easy and helps ensure more Rhode Islanders are on a path to stable retirement.”
An estimated 170,000 Rhode Island workers, equal to 40% of the state’s private-sector workforce, don’t get retirement benefits through their jobs, according to information from Diossa’s office. Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon (left) and Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa announced a partnership between Connecticut and Rhode Island, sharing costs for administering their respective state public retirement programs. (Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)
The program also alleviates the burden on small businesses, which have no obligation to match contributions. Their only cost is from processing payroll deductions from participating employees.
Businesses with at least five employees are mandated to make the new retirement program available to their workers, with phased-in deadlines based upon business size. Employers with at least 100 workers must enroll within the first year of the program, while those with 50 to 100 workers have to sign up within two years. All 400,000 businesses that meet the minimum employment requirement must join within three years. Businesses with fewer than five employees can also sign up anytime they want.
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“This represents a win for families, for the state economy, and for the overall well-being of our state,” McKee said.
And, it doesn’t come with any extra costs to taxpayers or extra staffing needs, as touted by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi.
A fiscal note included with the legislation in March 2024 estimated a $311,000 startup cost, split between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2026, based on comparable startup costs in other states like Delaware and Maine. However, no additional money was used in the nearly $14 billion fiscal 2025 budget to pay for the program, which instead relied on existing funds within the treasurer’s office, according to Rob Craven, Diossa’s legislative affairs director.
Rhode Island will pay a $100,000 fee for Vestwell State Savings, split between this fiscal year and the next, to administer the program. Rhode Island is also partnering with Connecticut, which launched its public retirement savings program for public-sector employees two years ago, to share in administration costs and investment fees from Vestwell.
Which, in turn, drives down the fees for participating workers.
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The program will use Bank of New York Mellon for its accounts, the same financial services company Vestwell uses for its version of a public retirement account.
Since Connecticut launched the MyCTSavings program in April 2022, it has opened retirement accounts for nearly 30,000 state residents, who have invested $33 million, said Comptroller Sean Scanlon, who attended the event in Warwick.
As of June 30, 2024, 20 states had launched, or passed legislation to launch, retirement savings programs for private sector workers, 17 of which (including Rhode Island) automatically enroll eligible workers, according to the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University’ McCourt School of Public Policy.
Diossa plans to launch a pilot program with a small number of participants in the spring of 2025, opening up the program to full capacity “shortly after.”
Lindie is eager to sign up, noting the interest among his workers already. He hopes the perk will attract new workers to the growing, design-to-build sign shop.
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“We are looking for a younger generation of talent, and we need these kinds of benefits,” Lindie said.
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