Oct. 30, 2002

Villanova Football game notes for this weekend's Atlantic 10 battle featuring the 11th ranked Villanova Wildcats (6-2, 3-2) hosting the 12th ranked William & Mary Tribe (5-2, 4-1) on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Villanova Stadium with kickoff slated for noon. Click on the pdf link below for a complete version of Saturday's game notes.

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Game No. 9

No. 11 Villanova Wildcats (6-2 Overall, 3-2 Atlantic 10)

vs.

No. 12 William & Mary Tribe (5-2 Overall, 4-1 Atlantic 10)

Saturday, November 2, 2002

Noon

Villanova Stadium (AstroPlay/12,000)

Villanova, Pa.

SERIES INFORMATION

First Meeting: 1966, William & Mary, 34-14

Overall: William & Mary Leads 12-6-1

Overall Under Talley: 4-8-1

Last Villanova Win: 9/26/98, 45-28

Last W&M Win: 11/24/01, 47-44

Streak: William & Mary has won three-straight

MEDIA INFORMATION

Interview Requests- All Interview requests should be directed toward Dean Kenefick, Assistant Athletics Director/Communications, (610) 519-4120.

Television- Live on Comcast SportsNet (Noon); Play-By-Play: Bob Picozzi; Color Analysis: Scott Brunner

Radio- Game Coverage at Noon on WZZD 990-AM; Play By Play: Joe Eichhorn; Color Analysis: Ryan Fannon

*All Wildcat games can be heard on the internet at www.villanova.com

About William & Mary

WILLIAM & MARY REPORT: The Tribe enters play this week ranked No. 12 in the latest Division I-AA poll with a 5-2 overall record and a 4-1 Atlantic 10 Conference mark. Last Saturday in Williamsburg, Virginia, the Tribe registered a convincing victory over nationally ranked Northeastern by a score of 30-13. In the win, senior quarterback David Corley completed 19-of-28 for 267 yards and two touchdowns, while junior wide receiver Rich Musinski caught six balls for 132 yards and two scores. Corley also scored on a one-yard run. For his efforts versus the Huskies, Corley was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week. William & Mary has been led all season long by the dominant duo of Corley and Musinski. After seven games, Corley has completed 129-of-220 for 1,749 yards to go with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. Corley's total offense average of 271.1 yards per game trails only Villanova's Brett Gordon in the latest Atlantic 10 statistical rankings. Musinski has made 40 receptions for 757 yards and two touchdowns. His 108.1 receiving yards per game leads the Atlantic 10. Defensively, senior linebacker Andrew Solomon has a team-high 68 tackles to go with a team-best six tackles for loss and a team-high four quarterback sacks. As a team, William & Mary is averaging a conference-best 31.1 points per game and they are allowing 24.0 points per contest.

TRIBE HEAD COACH JIMMYE LAYCOCK: William & Mary is led by 23-year head coach Jimmye Laycock who has compiled a 152-102-2 record en route to becoming the school's all-time winningest coach. During his tenure in Williamsburg, Laycock has guided William & Mary to six NCAA playoff appearances, two Lambert Cup trophies and he has led the Tribe to ECAC Team of the Year status on two different occasions. Since 1993, he has coached 92 players to all-conference accolades. Laycock began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Clemson University from 1971-72. In 1973-74, he was the offensive backfield coach at The Citadel before taking over as quarterbacks coach at Memphis State in 1975-76. Laycock returned to Clemson in 1977 where he was the offensive coordinator until taking over as head coach at William & Mary in 1980. During his tenure at Clemson, Laycock helped the Tigers to two Gator Bowl appearances and one Peach Bowl berth. As a player, Laycock lettered as both a defensive back and quarterback at William & Mary from 1966-69.

Villanova News & Notes

THE TALLY ON TALLEY: Currently in his 18th 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 120-71-1 mark, making him the all-time winningest coach in Villanova history. Talley's 23-year overall coaching record currently stands at 148-89-2. During his career as the Wildcat mentor, Talley has guided Villanova to five NCAA playoff appearances (1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997), four Conference titles and one Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy. In 1997, Talley garnered the Eddie Robinson Award and the AFCA/GTE National Coach of the Year.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Saturday's contest with William & Mary will be featured as the Atlantic 10 Conference Television Game of the Week. The game can be seen live in the Philadelphia area on Comcast SportsNet. This will mark the fourth time this season that the Wildcats have appeared on television. Earlier this year, both the Maine (21-14 loss) and Penn games (17-3 win) were on CN8, while the Hofstra (35-7 win) contest was seen on Comcast SportsNet. The season finale at Delaware on Nov. 23 will be televised on CN8.

PLAYING FOR A WINNER: With a win over William & Mary on Saturday, head coach Andy Talley will record his 13th winning season during his 18-year Main Line career and it will be Villanova's sixth winning season in the last seven years. Of the previous 12 winning seasons recorded by Talley, the Wildcats have won eight or more games in seven of the 12 years.

PULLING RANK: Villanova will be playing its fifth ranked opponent when No. 12 William & Mary visits the Main Line on Saturday, Nov. 2. In the four previous games versus ranked opponents, the 'Cats have tallied a 2-2 mark. The Wildcats have beaten then No. 23 James Madison (30-26 on 9/28) and then No. 24 Penn (17-3 on 10/10) and have lost to then No. 6 Maine (21-14 on 9/14) and then No. 20 Massachusetts (17-16).

PLAYING FOR REDEMPTION: The Villanova defense will be looking to erase bad memories when William & Mary invades the Main Line on Saturday, Nov. 2 for a key Atlantic 10 Conference battle. In the last three games between Villanova and William & Mary, the Tribe offense has had their way with the Wildcat defense. In the last three contests (all William & Mary wins), the Tribe has outscored Villanova 140-95 and have tallied 1,582 yards of total offense and 76 first downs. William & Mary quarterback David Corley has led the charge the last three years versus Villanova, as he has completed 50-of-77 (64.9%) for 806 yards to go with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. In addition, Corley has registered 164 yards rushing on 34 carries and one score. In the last two years, William & Mary has combined to score 95 points versus Villanova. To put this into perspective, the vastly improved Wildcat defense has allowed a total of just 96 points in eight games this year.

LEADER OF THE PACK: The man responsible for making the Wildcat offense go is senior quarterback Brett Gordon. After eight games, Gordon is 208-for-310 (67.1%) for 2,262 yards to go with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He currently leads the Atlantic 10 in total offense (271.1 yards per game), passing yards per game (282.8 per contest), pass efficiency (141.3) and touchdown passes. Two games ago in a win over Penn, he went over the 2,000 yard passing mark for the season, marking the 11th time this milestone has been reached in school history. Gordon has accounted for three of the eleven 2,000-yard passing seasons. Last year he threw for 3,017 yards, while in 2000 he tallied 2,293 passing yards.

ON THE MARK: Senior quarterback Brett Gordon is on pace to finish his Wildcat career as the school's most accurate passer. Entering play versus William & Mary, Gordon has completed 655-of-977 for a 67.4 percent completion rate in his career. The current school record for career completion percentage is 61.5 percent by Chris Boden who played at Villanova from 1996-99. Gordon also rates high on the Villanova career chart for passing yards (third all-time with 7,611 yards) and touchdowns (third all-time with 64).

ON THE BALLOT: Due to his stellar play in the first half of the 2002 campaign, senior quarterback Brett Gordon is currently one of 16 players to be included on the "Payton Watch" as a candidate for the Walter Payton Award which is given to the top player in NCAA I-AA football. Villanova and the University of Idaho are the only two schools to have produced two Walter Payton Award winners. In 1997, Villanova's Brian Finneran became the only receiver to ever win the award, while Wildcat running back Brian Westbrook garnered the award last year.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: 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.

CATCH OF THE DAY: Villanova's go-to performer at wideout has been senior Brian White. Despite missing the Maine and New Hampshire games and playing sparingly versus James Madison due to a hamstring injury, White has tallied a team-high 35 receptions for 401 yards and three scores. In Villanova's last outing at UMass on Oct. 19, White registered nine catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown catch is a grab Wildcat fans are still talking about. With his team trailing 17-10 with 2:47 to play in regulation, White made a one-handed circus catch in the corner of the end zone on fourth and goal from the 13-yard line. White has been rounding back into from following his injury and has recorded 12 receptions for 175 yards in his last two contests. In the 2002 season opener at Rutgers, White registered a career-high 12 catches for a career-best 165 yards and one touchdown. His effort versus Rutgers was good enough to earn him Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week honors and Sports Network National Offensive Player of the Week distinction. White is just eight catches shy of passing former Oakland Raider and Villanova standout Mike Siani on the school's all-time reception list.

VILLANOVA CAREER RECEPTION LIST    1. Brian Finneran (1994-97)         265    2. Murle Sango (1998-2001)            233    3. Brian Westbrook (1997-2001)        214    4. Bob Brady (1986-89)          187    5. Josh Dolbin (1994-97)            169    6. Mike Siani (1969-71)         148    7. BRIAN WHITE (1999-present)       141    8. John Mastronardo (1973-76)       140    9. Scott Donald (1989-92)           127    10. Steve Ward (1997-00)           122

TURNING A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE: The Villanova defense has been making big plays all season long. After eight games, the Wildcat defensive unit has amassed 40 tackles for loss resulting in minus 24 yards and 23 quarterback sacks for a loss of 132 yards.

WHAT A DIFFERERNCE A YEAR MAKES: There is no question that the most improved aspect of the 2002 Villanova football team is the play of the defense. After eight games, the Wildcats are giving up 12.0 points per game (2nd in A10/6th in NCAA Division I-AA), 224.0 yards of total offense per game (1st in A10/4th in NCAA I-AA), 88.6 rushing yards per game (1st in A10/10th in NCAA I-AA) and 135.4 passing yards per contest (1st in A10/10th in NCAA). Last year, Villanova gave up 27.8 points per game, 379.5 yards of total offense per contest, 137.7 rushing yards a game and 241.8 passing yards per game. In the last three games, Villanova has allowed a total of just 27 points.

MOVING TARGETS: Villanova has had a number of players contribute to its passing game this year. After eight contests, eight players have tallied double figures in receptions led by Brian White with 35 and Shaz Brown with 32. In the team's last outing at UMass on Oct. 19, Villanova had 11 players catch at least one pass in the 17-16 loss to the Minutemen.

EARLY CONTROL: The Villanova Wildcats have owned the first quarter of games this season. Entering play versus William & Mary on Saturday, Nov. 2, Villanova has outscored its opponents in the first quarter by a 44-14 margin and the 'Cats own a 116-36 margin in the first half. of games this year. The only team to score against the 'Cats in the first 15 minutes of a game this year was Rutgers in the season opener and UMass in the team's last outing.

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO: Villanova has been putting up big numbers in the pass break-up department this season. Led by sophomore defensive end Terence Taylor who has six, the Wildcats have been credited with 35 pass break-ups in the first eight games. Last season, defensive back Gary Johnson led the conference in pass break-ups with 20.

ROOKIE EARNS RAVE REVIEWS: After eight games of the 2002 season, Villanova redshirt freshman linebacker Brian Hulea is making a strong bid at becoming the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year. In his eight starts at linebacker, Hulea has made 56 total tackles (second on team) and a team-high eight tackles for loss with eight. In addition, the Canfield, Ohio native has registered four sacks, two pass break-ups and an interception. Hulea has led the team in tackles in five games this year and he has been second on the squad in tackles on two occasions. Hulea leads all Atlantic 10 rookies in tackles and sacks. On Sept. 23, he was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week for his play versus New Hampshire where he recorded six tackles (five solo), two sacks and two tackles for loss.

BOOKENDS: Villanova has received great play all year long from its young triumvirate that rotates at the two defensive end spots. Sophomore starters Terence Taylor and Jamil Butler along with redshirt freshman Darrell Adams have become playmakers for defensive coordinator Joe Trainer. Butler currently has 36 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks, while Taylor has been credited with 18 total stops, a team-high 4.5 sacks and one tackle for loss. Adams has recorded 21 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. All together, the trio has registered 75 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.

PUNTING ADVENTURE: It won't show up in the boxscore, but redshirt freshman punter Adam James has saved the day on numerous occasions this season for the Wildcats. Throughout the course of the season, James has had the snap sail over his head seven different times and amazingly he has been able to get six of the seven punts away safely. For the year, James has punted 35 times for an average of 33.6 yards per punt.

VILLANOVA PICKED SIXTH: The Villanova Wildcats were picked sixth in the 2002 pre-season Atlantic 10 Conference poll as voted on by coaches and media.

    1. William & Mary (18)    2. Maine (8)    3. Massachusetts    4. Hofstra    5. Delaware    6. VILLANOVA    7. Richmond    8. New Hampshire    9. Rhode Island    10. Northeastern    11. James Madison

ALL-AMERICAN HISTORY: With standout Brian Westbrook being named first team All-American by virtually everyone last season, the Villanova football program has had a first team All-American in six of the last eight years. In the program's history, 20 different players have earned All-American distinction.

        1994    LB  Tyrone Frazier        1996    WR  Brian Finneran        1997    WR  Brian Finneran            QB  Chris Bode        1998    RB  Brian Westbrook        2000    KR  Brian Westbrook        2001    RB  Brian Westbrook

OVERTIME HISTORY: During head coach Andy Talley's tenure at Villanova, the Wildcats have played in nine overtime games and in those nine games the Wildcats are 6-3. Villanova has played five of the nine games in the last three seasons and have won four of the last five overtime contests. Of the nine overtime games, seven have been played at Villanova Stadium. Villanova played one extra session game last season and that came against James Madison in week four when the 'Cats outlasted the Dukes, 45-44, in double overtime. The last overtime game before the James Madison contest came in 2000 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 1999 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.

PLAYING ON SUNDAYS: Villanova running back Brian Westbrook became the first Wildcat player to be drafted since Howie Long in 1981 when he was selected in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. With Westbrook a member of the Eagles, Villanova now has two players currently playing in the NFL. Wide receiver Brian Finneran (Villanova 1994-97) is in his third season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2002. Westbrook and Finneran both won the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in NCAA I-AA football, during their seasons at Villanova. Finneran is currently the starter at flanker for the Falcons, while Westbrook is listed as the No. 3 running back on the Eagles depth chart.

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 WZZD 990-AM. Returning for his 16th season as Villanova's play-by-play man is Joe Eichhorn. Joining Eichhorn for a 10th consecutive year is Ryan Fannon. All 12 Wildcat gridiron contests will be broadcast live.

ANDY TALLEY RADIO SHOW: Continuing in 2002, WZZD 990-AM 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.