Full-circle journey fulfilled for VCU film wizard Chris Gaines

“You’re trying to make sure as a group you’re not together once practice is over for a long period of time,” Rhoades said. “And you’re just trying to be a little more creative than we have in the past.”

The Rams also have utilized the video software Hudl much more often this year than in the past, Gaines said, because they can’t be together as much. So, for instance, if a player wants to rewatch a game, Gaines can send it to him and he can view it on any of his devices. Or, if a coach wants a player to watch a series of clips before they review them together at the facility, Gaines can send those as well.

He can’t put a number on the hours per week the Rams spend watching film, but it’s a lot. It trickles down from the staff’s review to the review the staff conducts with the players, to the players’ review on their own.

Gaines’ roommate is Lamont Moore, the Rams’ director of student-athlete development, and they watch film in their apartment, too.

“It’s really gotten to the point where people ask me, ‘Hey, did you watch that new TV show?’ ‘No I didn’t, I was watching film,’” Gaines said. “Because I love doing this so much that we’re constantly watching.”

Gaines said it’s been fun to have worked for VCU’s last three coaches. While each has his style, they’ve carried on the program’s core values, he said.