Sept. 4, 2001
Check out the Villanova football Game Notes for the Wildcats game versus Northeastern on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 1:00 p.m. at Villanova Stadium.
Northeastern Huskies (0-1 Overall, 0-1 Atlantic 10)
vs.
No. 18 Villanova Wildcats (1-0 Overall, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
Saturday, September 8, 2001
1:00 p.m.
Villanova Stadium (12,000)
Villanova, Pa.
Series Information
First Meeting: 1987, Northeastern, 41-28
Overall: Villanova leads 6-3
Overall Under Talley: 6-3
Last VU Win: 10/14/00, 34-20
Last Northeastern Win: 10/10/98, 28-17
Streak: Villanova has won 6 of last 7
Media Information
Interview Requests- All Interview requests should be directed toward Dean Kenefick, Director of Media Relations, (610) 519-4120.
Radio - Pre-Game Show Noon
Game Coverage- 1 p.m. on WFIL - 560-AM (Play By Play by Joe Eichhorn, Color Analysis by Ryan Fannon)
Television- CN8 at 1 p.m. (Play By Play by Marc Zumoff, Color Analysis by Bill Bergey)
*All Wildcat games can be heard on the internet at www.villanova.com
Game Notes
Northeastern REPORT: Northeastern dropped its season opener last Saturday at No. 3 Hofstra by a score of 45-21. Hofstra led 17-7 at halftime before outscoring the Huskies 14-7 in the third and fourth quarters to win going away. In the loss, senior running back L.J. McKanas gained 145 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Kito Delgado had a big day for the Huskies recording 11 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Adam Browne completed 20-of-42 for 205 yards to go with one touchdown and one interception. Defensively, junior linebacker Adam Walter led the Northeastern charge with nine tackles, a tackle for loss and 1/2 sack. Sophomore cornerback Rocco Rinaldi recorded an interception that he returned 46 yards. The Huskies return nine offensive starters and eight defensive starters from last year's squad that finished 4-7 overall and 1-7 in Atlantic 10 play. However, Northeastern does have 40 new players on this year's roster. The Huskies are expected to be without starting wide receiver Andy Alsup (injured foot) for this week's game versus Villanova. Last season, Alsup registered 37 receptions for 462 yards and three scores. In Villanova's 34-20 win at Northeastern last year, Alsup pulled-down five catches for 109 yards.
HUSKY HEAD COACH DON BROWN: Northeastern is led by second-year head coach Don Brown. Last year in his rookie campaign, Brown led the Huskies to a 4-7 overall record and a 1-7 mark in Atlantic 10 play. Brown arrived at Northeastern from the University of Massachusetts where he served as defensive coordinator from 1998-99. In 1998, Brown helped lead UMass to the I-AA National Championship. He began his coaching career at Dartmouth in 1982, helping guide the Big Green to the Ivy League title that year. He spent the 1983 season as an assistant at Mansfield University before returning to Dartmouth for three years as defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Brown left Dartmouth for Yale in 1987 where he was the defensive coordinator from 1987-92. After his stint at Yale, Brown was hired as the head coach at Plymouth State where he tallied a 25-6 record. Plymouth State won the Freedom Conference title in 1993 and 1994. In 1994, Brown was named the AFCA District I Coach of the Year. From 1996-97, he was the defensive coordinator at Brown University. In 1997, Brown University led the nation in interceptions and was ranked second in takeaways.
TALLEY'S TENURE: Currently in his 17th 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 107-66-1 mark, making him the all-time winningest coach in Villanova history. Talley's 22-year overall coaching record currently stands at 135-84-2. 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.
CONFERENCE OPENERS: Villanova will open its Atlantic 10 Conference portion of its schedule this Saturday against Northeastern. Since Villanova began conference play at the NCAA I-AA level in 1988, the Wildcats are an impressive 10-3 in conference openers. In those 13 conference openers, Villanova is averaging 32.0 points per game. The Wildcats have won five-straight conference openers and have scored at least 30 points during this five-game stretch.
TELEVISION EXPOSURE: Villanova will make the first of three television appearances this Saturday versus Northeastern. The game can be seen live on CN8. Current 76er broadcaster Marc Zumoff will handle the play-by-play duties with former Philadelphia Eagle star Bill Bergey handling the color commentary.
WEIRD COINCIDENCE: Villanova's 38-14 win over Colgate last Thursday, August 30 was called with 10:31 to play in the fourth quarter due to severe lightning. Almost four years to the day on Thursday, August 28, 1997 on the same Thursday before Labor Day, Villanova had its season opener versus West Chester called just one possession into the third quarter with the 'Cats leading 64-0 due to a violent thunderstorm.
WHAT A START!: Senior running back Brian Westbrook began his senior season in fine fashion in Villanova's season opener versus Colgate last Thursday. In the 38-14 win, Westbrook tallied 337 yards of all-purpose offense and scored a career-high five touchdowns. Westbrook amassed his yards by gaining 146 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns, catching eight passes for 75 yards and one score and returning two kickoffs for 116 yards including a 98-yard return for a touchdown. The most impressive part about these stats is that he played just one possession in the third quarter before leaving the game.
WESTBROOK EARNS RECOGNITION: For his outstanding effort in Villanova's season opening win over Colgate last Thursday, Brian Westbrook was named both the Co-Offensive Player of the Week and the Special Teams Player of the Week by the Atlantic 10 and he was named the Co-National Offensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network. Westbrook shared both Offensive Player of the Week awards with Stephan Lewis of the University of New Hampshire. This marks the seventh time in Westbrook's career and the fifth time in the last two seasons that he has been named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week.
ALL-PURPOSE HISTORY: Senior All-American running back Brian Westbrook enters this Saturday's game with Northeastern with a career total of 7,466 all-purpose yards (7,026 in regular season games) and is just 1,351 yards shy of the NCAA I-AA record for all-purpose yards held by University of New Hampshire's Jerry Azumah (1994-98). The I-A record of 7,206 is held by Ricky Williams of the University of Texas. Westbrook needs 2,276 all-purpose yards to become the all-time leader in the history of college football at any level. The record of 9,301 is currently held by Brian Shay of Emporia State (1995-98). NOTE: The NCAA only recognizes stats from regular season games. As a freshman in 1997, Westbrook tallied 440 yards of all-purpose offense in two playoff games.
Career Leaders, All-Purpose Yardage, All Levels of College Football Player School Div. Yards Years1 Brian Shay Emporia State 2 9,301 1995-982 RJ Bowers Grove City 3 9,253 1997-003 Paul Smith Gettysburg 3 9,104 1996-994 Kavin Gailliard AIC 2 8,858 1996-995 Jerry Azumah New Hampshire 1-AA 8,376 1994-986 Damon Thompson Virginia State 2 7,986 1997-007 Carey Bender Coe 3 7,970 1978-828 Steve Tardif Maine Maritime 3 7,960 1996-999 Johnny Bailey Texas A&M-Kingsville 2 7,803 1985-8910 Kenny Gamble Colgate 1-AA 7,623 1984-8711 Howard Stevens Rnd.-Mcn/Louisville 2/1-AA 7,564 1968-7212 Claude Mathis Southwest Texas St 1-AA 7,423 1994-9713 Thomas Haskins VMI 1-AA 7,411 1993-9614 Rick Sarille Wagner 1-AA 7,337 1995-9915 Roger Graham New Haven 2 7,216 1991-9416 Ricky Williams Texas 1-A 7,206 1995-9817 Napolean McCallum Navy 1-A 7,172 1981-8518 Charles Roberts Cal St Sacramento 1-AA 7,112 1997-0019 Dave Ludy Winona State 2 7,071 1991-9420 Albert Fann Cal St Sacramento 2 7,032 1997-0021 Brian Westbrook Villanova I-AA 7,026 1997-22 Reggie Greene Siena 1-AA 6,959 1994-9723 Kirk Matthieu Maine Maritime 3 6,955 1989-9324 Curtis Delgardo Portland State 2 6,942 1986-9025 Jarrett Anderson Turman 2 6,926 1993-9626 Darrin Nelson Stanford 1-A 6,885 1977-8127 Eric Frees Western Maryland 3 6,878 1988-9128 Kevin Faulk Louisiana State 1-A 6,833 1995-9829 Damian Beane Shepherd 2 6,762 1996-9930 Marcel Shipp Massachusetts 1-AA 6,707 1997-0031 Ron Dayne Wisconsin 1-A 6,701 1996-9932 Johnny Cox Fort Lewis 2 6,694 1990-93
Career Leaders, All-Purpose Yardage, Division I-AA Player School Yards Years1 Jerry Azumah New Hampshire 8,376 1994-982 Kenny Gamble Colgate 7,623 1984-873 Claude Mathis SW Texas St 7,423 1994-974 Thomas Haskins VMI 7,4111993-965 Rick Sarille Wagner 7,337 1995-996 Charles Roberts Cal St Sacramento 7,112 1997-007 Brian Westbrook Villanova 7,026 1997-8 Reggie Greene Siena 6,9591994-979 Marcel Shipp Massachusetts 6,707 1997-00
CLOSING IN: Besides being in pursuit of the I-AA all-purpose yard record, Brian Westbrook also has his sights set on the NCAA I-AA record for career kickoff return yards. Entering the 2001 campaign, Westbrook has amassed 2,109 career kickoff return yards (1,927 in regular season games) and is just 608 yards shy of the I-AA record of 2,535 held by Carlos Franks from The Citadel (1996-99). In addition, with one more kickoff return for a score, Westbrook will set the NCAA I-AA record for kickoff returns for a touchdown with six.
FOUR MORE SCORES: With five more touchdowns, Brian Westbrook will set the NCAA Division I-AA record for career touchdowns. The record of 69 is currently held by New Hamphire's Jerry Azumah (1994-98).
GOING THE DISTANCE: Throughout Brian Westbrook's illustrious Villanova career, the 5-9, 205 pound running back has returned five kickoffs for touchdowns. With one more return for a score, Westbrook will set the NCAA I-AA record that he currently shares with Kerry Hayes of Western Carolina (1991-94) and Ryan Zimpleman of Butler (1997-99). Here is a list of Westbrook's five kickoff returns for touchdowns. The All-Divisions record for career kickoff returns for touchdowns is eight by Dave Ludy of Winona State (1991-94), while the I-A record is six by Anthony Davis of Southern California (1972-74).
1. vs. Colgate (I-AA playoff game) 11/29/97 89 yards
2. vs. Pittsburgh 9/5/98 89 yards
3. vs. Millersville 9/9/00 93 yards
4. vs. New Hampshire 10/21/00 96 yards
5. vs. Colgate 8/30/01 98 yards
MILESTONE NIGHT: Senior running back Brian Westbrook reached three significant career milestones in his team's 38-14 win last Thursday versus Colgate. In the victory, Westbrook became the first player in Villanova history to rush for 3,000 career yards (currently hs 3,042), he eclipsed the 2,000-yard receiving yards mark (currently has 2,056) and he went over the 2,000-yard kickoff return yards plateau (currently has 2,109). He also needs just two more points for 400 in his career.
WESTBROOK BY THE NUMBERS:
Career Games 36
Career TDs 65
Career Points 398
Career Rushing Yards 3,042
Career average per rush 6.2
Career Receptions 168
Career Receiving Yards 2,056
Career kickoff Return Yards 2,109
Career Kickoff Returns For A TD 5
School Records 37
NCAA Records 3
HAWAII BOUND: Senior running back Brian Westbrook has been selected to play in the 2002 Hula Bowl. The All-Star game which highlights the nation's top seniors will be played Saturday, Feb. 2 in Maui, Hawaii and will be shown live on ESPN. On Sunday, Feb. 3, Westbrook and his Hula Bowl teammates will travel to Honolulu and will attend the NFL Pro Bowl. Last year's Hula Bowl had 24 NFL draft picks play in the game.
SANGO MOVES UP: Senior wide receiver Murle Sango moved past Josh Dolbin (1994-97) and into third place on the Villanova career reception list with his seven reception, 52 yard performance versus Colgate last Thursday. Sango, who has 176 career receptions, needs just 12 receptions to pass Bob Brady (1986-89) who is second on the school's all-time reception list. The school record of 265 receptions is held by current Atlanta Falcon wide receiver Brian Finneran. Last season, Sango made 39 receptons for 471 yards and five scores. As a sophomore in 1999, Sango registered a school-record 98 receptions for 1,064 yards and 10 touchdowns.
VILLANOVA CAREER RECPTION LIST
1. Brain Finneran (1994-97) 265
2. Bob Brady (1986-89) 187
3. MURLE SANGO (1998-present) 176
4. Josh Dolbin (1994-97) 169
5. BRIAN WESTBROOK (1997-present) 168
DOUBLE DIGIT TACKLER: Junior free safety Darnell Greene had a strong game last Thursday versus Colgate, recording a game-high 11 tackles including eight solo stops. Greene was also credited with a pass break-up. As a sophomore last season, Greene started 10 of 11 games and recorded 15 solo tackles, 17 assisted stops for 32 total tackles.
HANNON RETURNS: Senior kicker Casey Hannon returned to the field last Thursday versus Colgate and officially completed his recovery from a broken ankle suffered last year in the Richmond game on Ocr. 28. In the season-opening win over Colgate, Hannon scored Villanova's first points of the year on a 24-yard field goal. In the second quarter, he missed a 43-yard attempt that had plenty of distnace but sailed wide left. Hannon has handled the place kicking duties for the Wildcats since his freshman season in 1998. During his Wildcat career, he has made 27-of-38 field goals and 112-of-117 PATs. His career-long field is a 50-yarder versus James Madison on Oct. 1, 1999.
THIRD GENERATION: Quarterback Brett Gordon is the third member of his family to be the starting 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.
UP FRONT: Villanova has a lot of experience along the offensive line with four of the five starters back from a season ago. The four returning starters include senior center Rob Richardson, senior guard Adam Barondess, senior tackle Eamonn Allen, and junior tackle Sean McCarthy who is movong to tackle this year after playing guard last season. The only starter from the 2000 line who is not back this season is Stan Bennett who has been lost to graduation. Bennett, who started every game of his Wildcat career, went to camp with the Philadelphia Eagles before being waived.
WILDCATS PICKED THIRD: In the 2001 preseason Atlantic 10 Conference predicted order of finish as voted on by the coaches and media, Villanova was chosen to finish third. Here is a look at the preseason poll with the number of first place votes in parentheses.
1. Delaware (11)
2. Hofstra (11)
3. VILLANOVA (5)
4. Richmond (2)
5. Massachusetts
6. William & Mary
7. New Hampshire (1)
8. Maine
9. Rhode Island
10. James Madison
11. Northeastern
OVERTIME HISTORY: During Andy Talley's tenure as Villanova's head football coach, the Wildcats have participated in eight overtime games and have tallied a 5-3 record. Six of the eight overtime games have been played at Villanova Stadium. The last extra session game came last year when the Wildcats suffered a 48-41 loss to William & Mary. In 1999, Villanova played two overtime games. On Oct. 16, 1999 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 against Delaware to win a 51-45 thriller in one overtime. FOUR NAMED TO ATLANTIC 10 TEAM: Four members of the Villanova football program were named to the preseason All-Atlantic 10 Team. Senior Brian Westbrook was named first team running back and first team kick returner, while junior Brett Gordon was selected the first team All-Conference quarterback and senior Kwesi Solomon was a first team defensive lineman. Senior Chris Birch was cited as the second team punter.
STAFF CHANGES: Villanova head coach Andy Talley has added four new assistant coaches to his staff this year. Joining the Wildcat coaching staff are Mark Reardon who will coach the Villanova defensive backs, Apollo Wright who will serve as running backs coach, Brian Bauer who will be the assistant offensive line coach and Brian Gehrig who will be the assistant defensive line coach. Reardon replaces Clayton Carlin who left the Main Line to become the secondary coach at the University of Buffalo, while Wright fills the void left by Stan Drayton who is now an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers.
PLAYING ON SUNDAY: Former Villanova wide receiver Brian Finneran has made the Atlanta Falcon 53-man roster for the second-straight year. Finneran will be the Falcons fourth receiver and will back-up 11-year vet terance Mathis. Finneran is also expected to see playing time on Atlanta's special teams. Finneran starred at Villanova from 1994-97 and as a senior in 1997 he won the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in all of Division I-AA. Finneran still holds a number of school records including career receptions (265) and career receiving yards (3,872).
ALL-AMERICAN HISTORY: The Villanova football program has had a first team All-American in six of the last seven years. In those seven years, five different Wildcats have acheived first team All-American status. In the program's history, 20 different players have earned All-American distinction.
STADIUM SUCCESS: The Villanova Wildcats have played 252 games at Villanova Stadium over the years and have tallied a 174-73-5 mark. During head coach Andy Talley's reign, the Wildcats are 65-25-0 in the friendly confines of Villanova Stadium.
WILDCATS ON THE RADIO: Every Villanova football game this season will be carried live by the Villanova Football Radio Network. The flagship stations for the Wildcats this season will be WFIL 560-AM and WZZD 990-AM. Returning for his 15th 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 2001, 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 Conshohocken Marriott on Thursday evenings (7-8 p.m.) prior to away games and one hour following home contests. 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.
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 2301 Notes Only 2412 Stats Only 2413 Schedule 2414 2304 Roster 2415 Depth Chart 2416 Last Game Stats 2417
Game No. 1: VILLANOVA, PA - The Villanova football team won its sixth consecutive home opener, as senior running back Brian Westbrook had yet another record setting day in leading the Wildcats to a 38-14 victory over Colgate on Thursday, Aug. 30, at Villanova Stadium. The game was stopped with 10:31 remaining in the fourth quarter due to lightning and was finally called after a 51-minute delay. Westbrook totaled 337 all-purpose yards and a career-high five touchdowns on the night for the `Cats who improved to 1-0 on the season with the victory. In addition, he tied the NCAA I-AA record with his fifth career kickoff return for a touchdown and went over the 3,000 yard rushing mark for his career. With his outstanding contest, Westbrook vaulted himself into 21st place on the college football career list for all-purpose yards with 7,026. After a Casey Hannon 24-yard field goal gave Villanova a 3-0 lead at the 10:26 mark of the first quarter, the Colgate offense marched down the field. A 13-play, 76-yard drive resulted in a two-yard rushing touchdown by Matt Kobelski to give the Raiders a 7-3 advantage. With the Wildcats trailing 7-3, Westbrook returned the next kickoff 98 yards for a Villanova touchdown to help Villanova reclaim the lead at 10-7. Beginning with that score, the Wildcats went on to score 35 straight points with all five touchdowns coming via Westbrook. Colgate would tack on a late score on a six yard touchdown pass from Rob Markett to Joe Parker, but it was too late as the Wildcats surged to a 38-14 victory. Joining Westbrook in leading the Villanova offensive attack was junior quarterback Brett Gordon, who completed 19-of-33 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown. In the loss for Colgate (0-1), Parker caught three passes for 28 yards and a score, while Markett came off the bench to complete all three of his pass attempts for 19 yards and a touchdown.
