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SATURDAY, SEPT. 2, 2000 - 6:00 P.M.
Villanova Wildcats (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
VS.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Big East)
SERIES INFORMATION
First Meeting: 1906, VU 17-0
Overall: series tied 6-6-0
Overall Under Talley: 0-1
Last VU Win: 11/17/79, 32-17
Last RU Win: 8/31/96, 38-28
Streak: RU won last meeting
Media Information
Interview Requests All Interview requests should be directed toward Dean Kenefick, Director of Media Relations, (610) 519-4120.
Television
CN8 (6 p.m.)
Play-by-Play Marc Zumoff
Color Analysis Bill Bergey
Radio
Pre-Game 5:30 p.m.
Game Coverage 6:00 p.m.
WFIL - 560-AM
Play By Play Joe Eichhorn
Color Analysis Ryan Fannon
All Wildcat games can be heard on the internet
RUTGERS REPORT: Rutgers is coming off a 1-10 season with their lone win being a 24-21 upset of Syracuse. In the preseason Big East poll, the Knights are picked to finish last in the eight-team conference. Rutgers will get a big boost offensively from the return of senior quarterback Mike McMahon who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in week five of the 1999 season. Before the injury, McMahon was leading the Big East in passing and total offense and had thrown for over 200 yards in each of the first four games. Rutgers has a talented wide receiver tandem in seniors Errol Johnson and Walter King. Johnson led the team in receiving last year with 35 receptions for 507 yards, while King tallied 29 catches for 453 yards. At running back, Dennis Thomas is expected to lead the way. Last year, Thomas gained 180 yards on 37 carries for an average of 4.9 yards per rush. Defensively, Rutgers is switching from the traditional 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme. Senior Wes Robersosn will be looked upon to be a playmaker at linebacker for the Knights. In 1999, Robertson played in eight games and recorded 64 tackles. Up front, Marcus Perry and Tom Petko will lead the charge. Due to injury, Perry was only able to play in the final three games of 1999, while Petko logged time in all 11 games and registered 36 total tackles. Sophomores Brandon Haw and DeWayne Thomson will man the cornerback spots.
SCARLET KNIGHT COACH TERRY SHEA: Rutgers is led by fifth-year head coach Terry Shea. In his tenure at Rutgers, Shea has tallied an 8-36 record. In 1998, Shea guided the Knights to a a 5-6 mark and was named Big East Conference Coach of the Year. Prior to arriving at Rutgers, Shea was the quarterbacks coach for the CFL's British Columbia Lions. From 1992-94, he served as Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Stanford University. Shea's also had head coaching experience at San Jose State where he was the head man from 1990-91. In 1990, Shea led San Jose State to a 9-2-1 record and a Big West Conference title. That 1990 team would win the California Raisin Bowl and finish the year ranked No. 20 by the UPI. For his efforts in 1990, Shea was named Pro-Football Weekly's National Coach of the Year.
TALLEY'S TENURE: Entering his 16th season on the Main Line, head coach Andy Talley can feel responsible for every facet of the Villanova football program, having started it from scratch in 1985. In his career at Villanova, Talley has recorded a 101-60-1 mark, making him the all-time winningest coach in Villanova history. Talley's 21-year overall coaching record currently stands at 129-78-2. During his career as the Wildcat mentor, Talley has guided Villanova to five NCAA playoff appearances (1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997), three Conference titles and one Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy. In 1997, Talley garnered the Eddie Robinson Award and the AFCA/GTE National Coach of the Year.
SEASON OPENERS: During the tenure of 16-year head coach Andy Talley, Villanova has recorded a 9-6 mark in season openers. Of the six losses, four have come against I-A opponents. In opening games played on the road, the Wildcats are 4-3 under Talley with all three setbacks against I-A teams. In the history of Villanova football, the `Cats have compiled a 53-46-3 record in season openers.
THE NEXT LEVEL: Villanova will open its 2000 season against a I-A opponent for the third-straight year when the Wildcats travel to Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 2. Since Villanova restored football at the I-AA level in 1985, the Wildcats have played six contests against I-A opponents. In those six games, Villanova is 0-6 losing to Wake Forest (31-11 in 1988 season opener), Navy twice (23-20 in 1990, 20-14 in 1995), Rutgers (38-28 in the 1996 season opener), Pittsburgh (48-41 in the 1998 season opener) and Air Force (37-13 in last season's opener). All six games have been played on the road with the exception of the Wake Forest game which was held at Villanova Stadium. In Villanova's six I-A losses, the average margin of loss has been 11.6 points per game
A LOOK BACK AT 1996: Villanova and Rutgers also opened up the 1996 season on Labor Day Saturday when the two teams met at Rutgers Stadium on August 31, 1996. Villanova gave the Knights all they could handle before Rutgers managed a 38-28 victory. Villanova led 21-7 midway through the second quarter before Rutgers scored two touchdowns in the final 7:41 of the half to tie the score at 21-21 at intermission. Villanova came out of the lockerroom strong, taking the opening kickoff and driving 80 yards for the go-ahead score. Rutgers would score 17 unanswered points to register the win. The big play of the game for Rutgers was when cornerback Cameron Chadwick returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown that would give the Knights 35-28 advantage. This was Rutgers second defensive touchdown of the game, as the Knights scored their first touchdown of the evening when they recovered a Villanova fumble in the end zone. For the game, Villanova recorded 373 yards of total offense, compared to Rutgers who had 339 yards in total offense. Villanova's two starting defensive ends, Kristian Ward and Darren Lenz, are the only two members on this year's team that were on the 1996 squad. Neither Lenz nor Ward saw action against the Knights in 1996.
TEAM CAPTAINS: Serving as team captains in 2000 will be senior running back Ducarmel Augustin, senior offensive tackle Stan Bennett and fifth-year senior defensive end Darren Lenz.
HE'S BACK!: After missing all of the 1999 season due to a knee injury, All-American running back Brian Westbrook is completely recovered and is 100 percent for the 2000 campaign. As a sophomore in 1998, Westbrook became the first player in the history of collegiate football at any level to rush for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season. At the time Westbrook accomplished this feat, the only other person to do it was Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers. Marshall Faulk rushed for 1,000 yards and received for 1,000 yards last year as a member of the St. Louis Rams. In 11 games in 1998, Westbrook gained 1,046 yards on 200 carries (5.2 yards per rush) and scored 10 touchdowns and he made 89 receptions for 1,144 yards and 15 touchdowns. In addition, the Ft. Washington, Md., native tallied 836 yards in returns, including returning one kickoff for a touchdown.
MORE ON BRIAN: In the process of becoming college football's first 1,000/1,000 man in 1998, Brian Westbrook established 13 school records (owns 17 for his career), led all of I-AA in scoring with 160 points and established a I-AA record for all-purpose yards in a season with 3,026. He also owns the NCAA I-AA record for average all-purpose yards per game with his 1998 season average of 275.1. For his efforts in 1998, Westbrook earned first team All-American honors from both the Associated Press and The Sports Network.
I-A COMPETITION: Junior running back Brian Westbrook was simply phenomenal in his only career game against I-A competition. In the 1998 season opener at Big East member Pittsburgh, Westbrook dominated the game as he amassed 428 yards of all-purpose offense. For the game, Westbrook registered 115 yards on 10 carries (11.4 yards per rush), 10 receptions for 116 yards, three punt returns for 46 yards and three kickoff returns for 152 yards. He scored four touchdowns in the 48-41 loss to the Panthers including a 48-yards run off a fake punt, an 89-yard kickoff return and two touchdown receptions of five and 15 yards.
ALL-TIME LEADER: With just 10 more points, Brian Westbrook will become the all-time leading scorer in the history of Villanova football. Entering play against Rutgers in the season opener, Westbrook has 232 career points which is second to former Villanova place kicker Mark Kiefer (1994-97) who tallied 241 points during his career. Westbrook already owns the school mark for career touchdowns with 38.
MOST POINTS -- CAREER
1. Mark Kiefer (1994-97) 241
2. BRIAN WESTBROOK (1997-present) 232
3. Brian Finneran (1994-97) 216
4. Mike Siani (1969-71) 208
5. Tom Withka (1987-90) 204
BIG SHOES TO FILL: Whoever goes under center for Villanova this year will have big shoes to fill as three-year starter and All-American signal caller Chris Boden has graduated. Boden ended his illustrious Main Line career as the most prolific passer in the history of both Villanova football and Atlantic 10 Conference football. Starting 35-straight games, Boden finished his career by completing 868-of-1412 (61.4 percent) for 10,146 yards and 100 touchdowns. He also threw just 31 career interceptions which is one every 45 attempts. With his six touchdown passes in his final collegiate game against Delaware, Boden became just the 12th player in the history of NCAA football to throw for 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns in a career.
AMAZING COMEBACK: When sophomore quarterback Brett Gordon takes the field for Villanova this season, the Villanova fans will be witnessing an unbelievable accomplishment. On April 19 on the second play from scrimmage in the annual Blue/White spring game, Gordon suffered a torn ACL of the right knee. Gordon injured the knee when he planted to make a cut on the Villanova Stadium artificial turf. Through a grueling rehabilitation process, Gordon was cleared to participate in preseason camp and as of Monday, August 28, he was awaiting on word if he would receive medical clearance to play in the season opener at Rutgers.
THIRD GENERATION: When Brett Gordon takes the field as the Wildcat quarterback, he will be the third member of his family to play quarterback at Villanova. His grandfather, Andrew was a Villanova quarterback from 1946-48, while his father, Drew, was a Wildcat signal caller from 1969-71. Andrew Gordon was the quarterback of the Villanova teams that played in the 1947 Great Lakes Bowl (24-14 loss to Kentucky) and the 1949 Harbor Bowl (27-7 win over Nevada). Drew Gordon ranks ninth on Villanova's career passing yards list with 2,370 yards. Villanova junior running back Luke Stopper is also a third generation Wildcat football player. His grandfather, Anthony, played at Villanova from 1935-37 and his father, John, performed on the Main Line from 1967-69.
ALL-AMERICAN RECEIVER: Junior Murle Sango returns this year after recording a sensational sophomore campaign in 1999. In 1999, Sango emerged as a go-to player for the Wildcats by tallying a school record 98 receptions for 1,064 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 8.91 catches per game led all of I-AA. If he would have made two more receptions to reach 100, Sango would have become just the third player in the history of I-AA football to reach the century mark. Rhode Island's Brian Forster had 114 catches in 1985, while current 49er wideout and former Mississippi Valley State star Jerry Rice had 103 in 1984 and 102 in 1983. During the 1999 season, Sango had five double figure reception games and six 100-yard receiving contests. Also, last season, Sango had 145 yards rushing, 550 yards in kickoff returns and 159 yards in punt returns. His 174.4 all-purpose yards average per game led the Atlantic 10 and was seventh nationally.
EXPLOSIVE BACKFIELD: You will be hard pressed to find a better backfield in all of I-AA than Villanova's duo of Brian Westbrook and senior Ducarmel Augustin. With Westbrook sidelined in 1999, Augustin moved from fullback to tailback and led Villanova in both rushing and scoring. In 10 games a year ago, Augustin rushed for 680 yards on 136 carries (5.0 yards per rush) and 12 touchdowns. For the year, the 6-0, 230 pound native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., recorded three 100-yard rushing games en route to earning third team All-Atlantic 10 honors. Augustin also made 25 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown last year. His 13 touchdowns and one two-point conversion gave him a team-high of 80 points. With Westbrook back in the mix in 2000, Augustin will move back to his more natural fullback spot.
IRON MAN: Offensive tackle Stan Bennett has been an iron man for the Villanova Wildcats. Bennett, who has started every game of his Wildcat career, will be making his 36th-straight start this week against Rutgers. As a true freshman in 1997, Bennett started all 13 games at guard before moving to tackle the last two years where he started all 11 contests both seasons.
35-STRAIGHT: Junior kicker Casey Hannon enters the 2000 season riding a streak of 35-straight made PATs. His last miss came in the 1999 season opener at Air Force when he had a PAT blocked. As a sophomore last year, Hannon was 12-of-17 in field goals and is 36-of-37 in PATs. Of his 12 made field goals, five were from 40-yards or more, including a career-long 50-yard field goal versus James Madison on Oct. 2. This was just the fourth time in Villanova history that a kicker has made a field goal of 50-yards or more. For his career, Hannon is 22-of-29 in field goal attempts and 76-of-79 in PATs.
LEADING THE CHARGE: The Wildcat defense will be led in 2000 by junior defensive tackle Kwesi Solomon. Solomon came into his own last season and emerged as a first team All-Atlantic 10 performer. He started all 11 games last year and was credited with 21 solo tackles, 18 assisted stops for a total of 39 total tackles to go with a team-high seven sacks. Solomon has gained national recognition this summer as he has been named second team preseason All-American by The Sports Network and The Sporting News.
STRONG AT SAFETY: The Villanova secondary will be young and inexperienced in three of the four positions. However, the Wildcats will have a great deal of experience at free safety with senior Braheem Powell returning for his third-straight year as a starter. Powell will be making his 23rd consecutive start when the Wildcats open the season at Rutgers. As a sophomore in 1998, Powell started all 11 games at cornerback before moving to free safety and starting all 11 contests last season. Last season at free safety, Powell finished second on the team in tackles with 88 and he led the `Cats in interceptions with four.
WEST COAST INFLUENCE: As has been the case the last three seasons, Villanova continues to have a number of California natives on the roster. All total, Villanova has 14 players on its roster who call California home. Of the 14, 13 appear on the Wildcat depth including eight who are starters.
HOME STATE OPENER: 11 Wildcats will be returning to their home state of New Jersey for Saturday's season opener at Rutgers. Below is a listing of the Villanova players who are have hometowns in the Garden State.
Baylen Botts RFr LB E. Hampton, N.J.
Matt Chila Fr TE Ocean City, N.J.
Clarence Curry Fr DB Parsippany, N.J.
Greg Dineen Jr LB Dumont, N.J.
Casey Hannon Jr PK Lebanon, N.J.
Brian Pordon Jr DB Paramus, N.J.
Henry Ridley RFr RB Toms River, N.J.
Jason Rogers Fr OL Dayton, N.J.
Mike Tesei RFr DL Nutley, N.J.
Brian White So WR Hamilton, N.J.
Jamison Young So LB Sicklerville, N.J.
OVERTIME HISTORY: During Andy Talley's tenure as Villanova's head football coach, the Wildcats have participated in seven overtime games and have tallied a 5-2 record. Five of the seven overtime games have been played at Villanova Stadium. Last year, Villanova played two overtime games. On Oct. 16, Villanova defeated UConn, 48-45, in triple overtime in a game played in Storrs, Conn. In the season finale at Villanova Stadium, the `Cats rallied from a 45-24 deficit with 8:37 remaining to win a 51-45 thriller in one overtime.
PLAYING ON SUNDAY: Former Villanova star wide receiver Brian Finneran has made the active roster of the Atlanta Falcons. Finneran, the 1997 Walter Payton Award winner which represents the top offensive player in all of I-AA, had a strong preseason with the falcons leading them in receiving with 16 catches for 254 yards and four touchdowns. Finneran has been seeing most of his time as Atlanta's fourth receiver. Last season, Finneran began the season with the Philadelphia Eagles before getting released after week five. The last Wildcat before Finneran to play in an NFL game was defensive tackle Willie Oshodin who played for the Denver Broncos from 1993-95.
WILDCATS ON THE RADIO: Every Villanova football game this season will be carried live by the Villanova Football Radio Network. The flagship station for the Wildcats this season will be WFIL-AM 560. Returning for his 14th season as Villanova's play-by-play man is Joe Eichhorn. Joining Eichhorn for a ninth consecutive year is Ryan Fannon. All 11 Wildcat gridiron contests will be broadcast live, with a pre-game show airing 30 minutes prior to kickoff during away games and one hour prior to kickoff for home games.
ANDY TALLEY RADIO SHOW: Continuing in 2000, WFIL-AM 560-AM and WZZD-AM 990 will broadcast the Andy Talley Radio Show. The one-hour call-in show is hosted by color commentator Ryan Fannon and will provide a weekly recap of Villanova football games, as well as a preview of upcoming contests. The show will be held at the Wild Onion Restaurant located just up the street from Villanova Stadium on Conestoga Road. Throughout the one-hour program, Fannon and Coach Talley will take questions concerning all the teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, as well as NCAA I-AA football on a national scene. The show will take place on Thursday nights before road games at 6 p.m., and on Saturday's following Wildcat home games.
ATLANTIC 10 FAX-ON-DEMAND: Information on the Wildcat football team and the entire Atlantic 10 Football Conference is available 24 hours a day through the Atlantic 10 fax-on-demand system. This service is for media use only. To access, dial 201-947-4062 from the handset of your fax machine. Select the information you are interested in from the request numbers below.
VILLANOVA A-10
Notes/Stats 2411 2301Notes Only 2412Stats Only 2413Schedule 2414 2304Roster 2415Depth Chart 2416Last Game Stats 2417
