Aug. 29, 2002
Check out the Villanova football game notes for the Wildcats' 2002 season opener. The `Cats travel to Rutgers to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 7:00 p.m. Click on the pdf link below for a complete version of Villanova's game notes.
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Game Notes - Game No. 1 No. 25 Villanova Wildcats (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
at
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Big East)
Saturday, August 31, 2002
7 p.m.
Rutgers Stadium (41,500/Natural Grass)
New Brunswick, N.J.
SERIES INFORMATION
First Meeting: 1906, VU, 17-0
Overall: Rutgers Leads 7-6-0
Overall Under Talley: 0-2
Last VU Win: 11/17/79, 32-17
Last RU win: 9/2/00, 34-21
Streak: Rutgers has won two-straight
Game Notes
TALLEY'S TENURE: 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 114-69-1 mark, making him the all-time winningest coach in Villanova history. Talley's 23-year overall coaching record currently stands at 142-87-2. 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.
SEASON OPENERS: During the tenure of head coach Andy Talley, Villanova has recorded a 10-7 mark in season openers. Of the seven losses, five have come against I-A opponents. In opening games played on the road, the Wildcats are 4-4 under Talley with all four losses against I-A teams. In the history of Villanova football, the 'Cats have compiled a 53-46-3 record in season openers.
SCARLET KNIGHT BEGINNING: For the third time in the last seven years, Villanova will open the season at Division I-A and Big East member Rutgers. In 1996, Villanova lost at Rutgers Stadium by a score of 38-28, while in 2000 the 'Cats fell to the Scarlet Knights, 34-21.
THE NEXT LEVEL: Villanova will open the 2002 season against a I-A opponent for the fourth time in the last five years when the Wildcats travel to Rutgers on Saturday, Aug. 31. Since Villanova restored football at the I-AA level in 1985, the Wildcats have played seven contests against I-A opponents. In the seven games, Villanova is 0-7 losing to Wake Forest (31-11 in 1988 season opener), Navy twice (23-20 in 1990, 20-14 in 1995), Rutgers twice (38-28 in 1996 season opener, 34-21 in 2000 season opener), Pittsburgh (48-41 in season opener) and Air Force (37-13 in 1999 season opener). All seven games have been played on the road with the exception of the Wake Forest game which was held at Villanova Stadium. In Villanova's seven I-A losses, the average margin of loss has been 11.8 points per game.
BIG SHOES TO FILL: There is no team in the country who has a bigger void to fill than the Wildcats at the running back position as they try to replace the position vacated by the 2001 Walter Payton Award winner Brian Westbrook. All Westbrook did in his career is earn first team All-American honors three times, score 89 touchdowns, rush for 4,499 yards, receive for 2,639 yards and return five kickoffs for touchdowns. In addition, Westbrook set the career NCAA all-purpose yards record with 9,512 and as a sophomore in 1998 he 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. Westbrook was a third round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2002 NFL Draft. The two players who will be looked upon to replace Westbrook are sophomore Terry Butler and junior Henry Ridley. In limited duty last year, Butler carried 10 times for 59 yards, while Ridley has registered 57 carries for 215 yards and one touchdown in his Wildcat career.
OFFENSIVE VOID: The Wildcats will have big shoes to fill on offense in 2002, as Villanova loses its top two playmakers in running back Brian Westbrook and wide receiver Murle Sango. Together, the duo combined to register 33 of Villanova's 53 touchdowns (62.2 percent), 3,751 of the team's 6,083 all-purpose yards (61.6 percent), 126 of the 265 receptions (47.5 percent) and 1,667 of Villanova's 1,924 rushing yards (86.6 percent). For their efforts last year, Westbrook was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season and Sango was named to the All-Conference third team. Westbrook was also named the Walter Payton Award winner as the top offensive player in all of I-AA football. Sango finished his career with 236 career receptions, which ranks second all-time at Villanova, while Westbrook registered 219 career catches which is third all-time at Villanova. Sango and Westbrook are just two of three Villanova players to ever record 200 or more receptions in a career.
MOVING UP: Senior quarterback Brett Gordon enters the 2002 season fourth all-time on Villanova's career passing yards list with 5,349. With 477 yards passing, Gordon will move past Tom Colombo into third place on the Wildcat all-time list. Last year as a junior, Gordon completed 262-of-382 for 3,017 yards to go with 25 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. By throwing for 3,017 yards, Gordon became just the second Villanova signal caller to throw for 3,000 yards in a season. The only other Wildcat to accomplish the feat is Chris Boden, who did it three times from 1997-99. Gordon was rewarded for his play last year by being named third team All-Atlantic 10.
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 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. Massachusetts4. Hofstra5. Delaware6. VILLANOVA7. Richmond8. New Hampshire9. Rhode Island10. Northeastern11. 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 nine years. In the program's history, 20 different players have earned All-American distinction.
1994 LB Tyrone Frazier1996 WR Brian Finneran1997 WR Brian FinneranQB Chris Boden1998 RB Brian Westbrook2000 KR Brian Westbrook2001 RB Brian Westbrook
NOTE: In 1999, wide receiver Murle Sango was a second-team All-American.
ALL-AMERICAN VOID: The Villanova Wildcats lost 11 starters from last year's team that went 8-3 overall and claimed a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference championship with a 7-2 league mark. Of the 11 starters that graduated, three earned All-American distinction during their Wildcat careers. Running back Brian Westbrook was a three-time first team All-American (1998, 2000, 2001), wide receiver Murle Sango earned second team All-American honors in 1999, while offensive tackle Eamonn Allen garnered first team All-American recognition last season.
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) will be entering 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. Entering the first week of the regular season, Finneran is slated as the starter at flanker for the Falcons, while Westbrook is listed as the No. 3 running back on the Eagles depth chart.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS: With the team's top two receivers from a year ago lost to graduation, big things are expected in 2002 from senior wide receiver Brian White. As a junior last year, White made 33 receptions for 391 yards and a team-high tying six touchdown receptions. White enters the 2002 campaign 13th on Villanova's all-time reception list with 106.
VILLANOVA CAREER RECEPTION LIST
1. Brian Finneran (1994-97) 2652. MURLE SANGO (1998-present) 2333. BRIAN WESTBROOK (1997-present) 2144. Bob Brady (1986-89) 1875. Josh Dolbin (1994-97) 1696. Mike Siani (1969-71) 1487. John Mastronardo (1973-76) 1408. Scott Donald (1989-92) 1279. Steve Ward (1997-00) 12210. Jeff Johnson (1989-92) 11911. Tom Boyd (1967-69) 11512. Harold Hart (1989-93) 10713. BRIAN WHITE (1999-present) 106
HOME STATE OPENER: 14 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 natives of the Garden State.
Bryan Adams Fr. LB Pleasantville, N.J. Baylen Botts Jr. DT E. Hampton. N.J. Marvin Burroughs Fr. QB Atlantic City, N.J. Matt Chila Jr. TE Ocean City, N.J. Michael Castellano Fr. DE Freehold, N.J. Clarence Curry Jr. DB Parsippany, N.J. Thomas Moloughney Fr. DB Mahwah, N.J. David Reid RFr. OL Medford, N.J. Henry Ridley Jr. RB Toms River, N.J. Jason Rogers Jr. OL Dayton, N.J. Mike Tesei Jr. DT Nutley, N.J. Kevin Trapp So. OL Bridgewater, N.J. Brian White Sr. WR Hamilton, N.J. Jamison Young Sr. LB Sicklerville, N.J.
LEADING THE WAY: Junior linebacker Jamison Young developed into a playmaker for the Villanova defense last season. In 11 games a season ago, Young tallied a team-high 89 tackles to go with nine tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and an NCAA Division I-AA leading five forced fumbles. For his efforts in 2001, Young was named third team All-Atlantic 10. Young is a 2002 Atlantic 10 pre-season second team selection.
SAFETY NET: After turning an outstanding junior season at cornerback last year, Gary Johnson will be making the move to free safety in 2002. As a cornerback last year, Johnson led the Atlantic 10 Conference in pass break-ups with 20 to go with 55 total tackles, two intrceptions and a forced fumble. Johnson is a 2002 pre-season second team All-Conference selection.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Villanova will have a brand new look to its offensive line in 2002 with the addition of three new starters. Lost to graduation from last year's line is first team All-American tackle Eamonn Allen, third team All-Conference selection Robert Richardson and offensive guard Adam Barondess. This year's line will be anchored by senior tackle Sean McCarthy and junior guard Jason Rogers who return to start up front. Rounding out the 2002 line will be junior tackle Mike Roseman, who is moving from defensive tackle to offense this season, junior center Mike Finn and senior guard Chuck Tornetta who saw time as a reserve last season.
GETTING HIS KICKS: For the first time since 1997, Villanova will have a new look to its kicking game. For the last four years, the Wildcats have had the luxury of having consistency in the kicking game with Casey Hannon serving as the team's place kicker with Chris Birch handling the punting duties. Last year, Hannon was a first team All-Conference selection and Birch was selected to the third team All-Atlantic 10 squad. Villanova will look to redshirt freshman Adam James to serve as both the team's punter and place kicker this season. As a senior during the 2000 season at Harrison High School in Marietta,Georgia, James earned first team All-State honors by the Associated Press and he was chosen a first team place kicker by the Marietta Journal. His career bests in high school included a 48-yard field goal and a 63-yard punt.
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.
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 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 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.
