Sept. 12, 2002
Check out the Villanova football game notes for Saturday's game featuring the 11th ranked Villanova Wildcats hosting the 6th ranked Maine Black Bears at 6:00 p.m. Click on the pdf link below for a complete version of the Wildcats' game notes.
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Game No. 3 No. 11 Villanova Wildcats (2-0 Overall, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
vs.
No. 6 Maine Black Bears (2-0 Overall, 1-0 Atlantic 10)
Saturday, September 14, 2002
6 p.m.
Villanova Stadium (12,000)
Villanova, Pa.
SERIES INFORMATION
First Meeting: 1988, Maine, 20-17
Overall: Villanova Leads 5-4-0
Overall Under Talley: 5-4
Last Villanova Win: 9/23/00, 47-21
Last Maine win: 10/20/01, 44-40
Streak: Villanova has won 5 of last 7
MEDIA INFORMATION
Interview Requests- All Interview requests should be directed toward Dean Kenefick, Director of Media Relations, (610) 519-4120.
Television: Live on CN8 (Play By Play Marc Zumoff/ Color Analysis Rob Brooks)
Radio:
Game Coverage 6 p.m.
Pre-Game Show 5 p.m.
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
SCOUTING MAINE
MAINE REPORT: The Black Bears enter play this week ranked No. 6 in Division I-AA with a 2-0 overall record and a 1-0 Atlantic 10 Conference mark. Maine defeated Central Connecticut State (52-3) in the season opener and William & Mary (27-14) last week. Both games were played in Orono. Maine is led offensively by senior quarterback Jake Eaton who has completed 27-of-42 for 350 yards to go with four touchdowns and one interception in two games this season. Eaton has also rushed for 133 yards on 18 carries this year (7.4 yards per rush). Junior Stefan Gomes and freshman Ryan Waller have been Eaton's favorite targets. Gomes has eight catches for 96 yards, while Waller has made seven receptions for 94 yards and two scores. Maine's leading rusher thus far this season is sophomore Marcus Williams who has tallied 239 yards on 40 carries and three touchdowns. Defensively, senior linebacker Stephen Cooper has made a team-high 16 tackles to go with four tackles for loss, a quarterback sack and an interception. Last season, Cooper was the Co-Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year. Linebacker Rob Kierstead has registered 13 total tackles in two games.
BLACK BEAR HEAD COACH JACK COSGROVE: Maine is led by 10-year head coach Jack Cosgrove. During his tenure at Maine, Cosgrove has led the Black Bears to a 44-58 record. Last season, Cosgrove earned the Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Coach of the Year Award along with Tim Stowers of Rhode Island. The 2001 campaign was a special one for Cosgrove as he guided the Black Bears to a share of the Atlantic 10 championship with a 7-2 conference mark and a trip to the NCAA playoffs where Maine advanced to the quarterfinals. He also garnered conference Coach of the Year distinction in 1996. Cosgrove was named head coach at Maine after serving as an assistant from 1987-92, including being the offensive coordinator from 1989-92. After graduating from Maine, Cosgrove was a graduate assistant for the Black Bears from 1978-81 under Jack Bicknell. He received his first head coaching experience at Stoughton High School from 1981-84. Following his stint at Stoughton High, he went on to Boston College as an assistant coach from 1985-86. As a player at Maine, Cosgrove was a two-time second team All-Yankee Conference quarterback and an ECAC All-Star.
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 116-69-1 mark, making him the all-time winningest coach in Villanova history. Talley's 23-year overall coaching record currently stands at 144-87-2. 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.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Villanova will be making the first of five television appearances on Saturday when the Wildcats play host to the Maine Black Bears. The game will be seen live beginning at 6 p.m. on CN8. Other Wildcat television games include Hofstra (Oct. 5-Comcast SportsNet), Pennsylvania (Oct. 10-CN8), William & Mary (Nov. 2-Comcast SportsNet), and Delaware (Nov. 2-CN8).
FAST START: The 2002 Villanova Wildcats have started the season in fine fashion by tallying two-straight wins on the road. The last time Villanova won its first two road games of the season was in 1997. Villanova fans are hoping this is a good omen, as the 1997 Wildcats went 11-0 during the regular season and were ranked No. 1 in the country the final six weeks of the season.
A NEW LOOK: The Wildcats will be playing the first football game ever on the new Villanova Stadium playing surface when Villanova and Maine do battle this Saturday. During the Spring of 2002, the former Astro-turf playing field was replaced with a synthetic grass surface known as AstroPlay. The new surface was used by the Villanova men's and women's lacrosse teams last spring and this summer by the WUSA's Philadelphia Charge. The Villanova football team practiced on the new surface during both spring ball and fall camp.
HOME OPENERS: After playing the first two games on the road, the Villanova Wildcats will return to the Main Line to open the home portion of the schedule when they host the Main Black Bears on Saturday, Sept. 14. During his Villanova career, head coach Andy Talley has recorded a 13-4 mark in home openers, including winning the last six in a row. The last time the Wildcats lost a home opener was in 1995 when they fell to Boston University by a score of 21-16.
CONFERENCE OPENERS: Saturday's game with Maine will not only be Villanova's home opener, but it was also be the team's Atlantic 10 Conference opener. Since Villanova began conference play at the Division I-AA level in 1988, the Wildcats are an impressive 11-3 in conference openers. In those 14 conference openers, Villanova is averaging 32.0 points per game. The `Cats have won six-straight conference openers and have scored at least 30 points in every contest during this six-game stretch.
THE MAINE EVENT: Villanova will be opening conference play versus the University of Maine for the fourth-time in history when the two teams meet this Saturday. In the previous three contests, the Wildcats are 3-0 with the average margin of victory at 30.3 points. In the three conference opening wins over the Black Bears, Villanova has averaged 42.0 points per game. Maine is just 1-4 at Villanova Stadium, including dropping the last four in a row.
UNDER THE LIGHTS: Saturday's game with Maine will mark the ninth time in school history that the Wildcats have played a night game at Villanova Stadium. Entering play Saturday night, Villanova is 6-3 in night games played at home.
DOMINANT D: The Villanova defense turned in a dominating effort in last Saturday's 20-0 win at Colgate. The shutout was the first by a Villanova team since Sept. 16, 2000 (VIllanova 42, Norfolk State 0) and just the third shutout since the 1997 season. In addition, it was just the 10th shutout by a Wildcat defense since Villanova restored football at the I-AA level. In the win over Colgate, the Villanova defensive unit allowed only 134 yards of total offense, including just 23 rushing yards and a total of nine first downs. In the first half, the Raiders managed only 11 yards of total offense. After two contests, the `Cats are allowing 201.5 yards of total offense per game and they have yielded just 108 yards rushing for a 1.8 yards per rush average.
CRACKING THE TOP 10: With his four catch, 15 yard performance last Saturday at Colgate, senior wide receiver Brian White moved into the top 10 on the all-time Villanova career reception list. White, who currently has 122 career catches, ranks tied for ninth with Steve Ward who played on the Main Line from 1997-00. 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.
VILLANOVA CAREER RECEPTION LIST
1. Brian Finneran (1994-97) 265 2. Murle Sango (1998-2001) 233 3. Brian Westbroook (1997-2001) 214 4. Bob Brady (1986-89) 187 5. Josh Dolbin (1994-97) 169 6. Mike Siani (1969-71) 148 7. John Mastronardo (1973-76) 140 8. Scott Donald (1989-92) 127 9. Steve Ward (1997-00) 122 BRIAN WHITE (1999-present) 122 10. Jeff Johnson (1989-92) 119
A MATTer OF RECORD: Junior tight end Matt Chila turned in the best game of his Wildcat career last Saturday at Colgate. In the win, Chila recorded a career-high six catches for a career-best 95 yards. After two games this year, Chila has nine receptions for 123 yards. The 6-3, 250 pound Chila was a second team All-Atlantic 10 selection last year and he was a 2002 pre-season first team choice.
BACK-TO-BACK: Senior quarterback Brett Gordon recorded his second-straight 300-yard passing game last Saturday against Colgate when he completed 28-of-40 for 377 yards and a score. Gordon now owns eight career 300-yard passing games. After two games this year, Gordon is 52-of-79 for (65.8%) for 698 yards to go with four touchdowns and two interceptions. For his career, Gordon has completed 499-of-746 for a completion percentage of 66.8 percent. Former Wildcat signal caller Chris Boden (1996-99) owns the school record for highest career completion percentage at 61.5 percent.
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.
VERSATILE PERFORMER: Sophomore running back Terry Butler is making the most of being the team's feature back. In his first career start at Rutgers on Aug. 31, Butler tallied his first career 100-yard rushing game by gaining 121 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. Butler came back last week at Colgate to register his first career 100-yard receiving game when he caught six balls for 103 yards and a 43-yard scoring catch on a screen pass. After two games, Butler leads Villanova in scoring with 18 points on three touchdowns.
2 FOR 100: In addition to Terry Butler who had six catches for 103 yards, senior wide receiver Shaz Brown also recorded a 100-yard receiving game last week at Colgate, giving the `Cats two players to reach the century mark in receiving yards. In the win, Brown was credited with five receptions for 103 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 eight 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: Villanova lost six starters from last year's offensive unit that helped the Wildcats go 8-3 overall and claim a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference championship with a 7-2 league mark. Of the six 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.
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) 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 second 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.
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.
