Villanova Univeristy Athletics

Despite coming to Villanova without a scholarship, Billy Magee earned the starting quarterback job by the middle of his sophomore season. He was the Wildcats leading passer for two years and ranked third in school history in career passing yards at the time of his graduation. Magee played on the Villanova varsity squad from 1955-57 and graduated in 1958. He was inducted to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2002.
 
Magee was a local product from Philadelphia who had played his scholastic football at La Salle College High School. He then came to the Wildcats and played on the freshman team in 1954 under former Villanova halfback Joe Rogers. By 1955, Magee was on the varsity squad and pushing for playing time under center. He would end up sharing quarterback duties with fellow future Hall of Hamer John Ferruolo among others, but it was Magee who had emerged as the leading passer by the end of the season.
 
Magee was 32-of-79 for 367 yards and two touchdowns during the 1955 season. He also lined up on defense and scored his first career touchdown on a 64-yard pick-six in a narrow 16-13 loss at Florida State. Magee ended the season with 148 all-purpose yards, including the long interception return to go along with 67 rushing yards and 17 kickoff return yards.
 
In 1956, Magee threw for 648 yards while going 47-of-86 with three touchdowns. He ended the season leading the East in completion percentage (54.7%) and ranked fifth in the region in passing yards. Magee scored two rushing touchdowns on the year and totaled 109 yards on kickoff and punt returns. His touchdowns came in shutout wins over The Citadel and Iowa State. Villanova posted its first winning record in four years and finished the 1956 campaign with a 5-4 mark under third-year head coach Frank Reagan.
 
Villanova played road games at Houston in both the 1955 and 1956 seasons and, although they lost both games, the Houston media dubbed Magee ‘Billy the Kid’ for his passing accuracy. In the two games played he was a combined 22-of-42 for 249 yards and two touchdowns, including going 6-of-10 with no interceptions in the 1956 game.
 
As a senior, Magee threw for 342 yards while going 26-of-60 through the air. His stats for the season also included two interceptions on defense. Over his final two collegiate seasons, Magee occasionally served as the Wildcats punter and he kicked seven career punts for 147 total yards with a long punt of 36 yards at Indiana his senior year.
 
Magee began a career in teaching and coaching following his graduation from Villanova and later went on to be a longtime textbook salesman to school districts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He made his home in Secane, Pa. and passed away in 2018 at the age of 81.