August 6, 1999

VILLANOVA, Pa.- In the 1999 Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll released on Thursday, Aug. 6, Villanova University was picked to finish sixth in the 11-team conference. Division I-AA Champion Massachusetts was picked to finish first with eight first place votes. Following UMass were Delaware, Connecticut, William & Mary, defending Atlantic 10 champion Richmond and Villanova. Rounding out the poll were New Hampshire, Maine, Northeastern, James Madison and Rhode Island. William & Mary, Richmond and New Hampshire each received one first place vote. The Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll and All-Conference Teams were voted on by the league's head coaches.

Four Wildcats were named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference first team. Junior Brian Westbrook received first team honors both as a wide receiver and as a return specialist. Westbrook, who was named a first team All-American in 1998 by the Associated Press and The Sports Network, will be sidelined for the entire 1999 season, however, due to a knee injury. He will medically redshirt this season and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2000 campaign. Last season, Westbrook became the first player in the history of NCAA football at any level to rush for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season.

Other Wildcats named to the Atlantic 10 first team were senior offensive lineman Ryan Knight, senior linebacker Shaun Lyons and senior defensive back Hezekiah Lewis. Sophomore placekicker Casey Hannon received Preseason All-Conference second team distinction.

Villanova had its third straight winning season in 1998, recording a 6-5 overall record and a 4-4 mark in Atlantic 10 play. The Wildcats will open the 1999 season at Division I-A Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 4, in Colorado Springs, Colo., at 2:00 p.m. EST.