Oct. 22, 2003

Villanova football game notes for Saturday's Atlantic 10 slugfest of nationally ranked top five opponents. The Villanova Wildcats (6-0, 4-0) play host to the UMass Minutemen (6-1, 4-0) on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 3:30 p.m. The game can be seen live on Fox Sports New England and WFMZ-TV (Philadelphia). Click on the pdf lnk below for a complete version of Saturday's game notes.

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No. 2 Villanova Wildcats (6-0 Overall, 4-0 Atlantic 10)
versus
No. 5 Massachusetts Minutemen (6-1 Overall, 4-0 Atlantic 10)
Saturday, October 25, 2003
3:30 p.m.
Villanova Stadium (12,000)
Villanova, Pa.

SERIES INFORMATION

First Meeting: 1961, Villanova, 33-13

Overall: Villanova Leads 11-9-0

Overall Under Talley: 7-6-0

Last VU Win: 10/27/01, 47-13

Last UMass Win: 10/19/02, 17-16

MEDIA INFORMATION

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

Television: Game Coverage at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Sports New England and WFMZ-TV (Philadelphia) Play By Play by Paul Crane and Color Analysis by Jerry Glanville. Sideline Reporter: TBA

Radio: Game Coverage at 3:30 p.m. 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

VILLANOVA NEWS & NOTES

TALLEY'S TENURE: Currently in his 19th 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 131-73-1 mark, making him the all-time winningest coach in Villanova history. Talley's 24-year overall coaching record currently stands at 159-91-2. During his career as the Wildcat mentor, Talley has guided Villanova to six NCAA playoff appearances (1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2002), four conference titles and two Lambert Meadowlands Trophies. In 1997, Talley garnered the Eddie Robinson Award and the AFCA/GTE National Coach of the Year Award.

HONORING THE PAST: Continuing a tradition that was started in 1994, Villanova University will honor its glorious past this Saturday by retiring the jerseys of two former greats. This year's induction class includes John Babinecz (1969-71) and Brian Finneran (1994-97). Babinecz was a standout linebacker during his Main Line career. A three-year starter, he was a three-time All-East performer. During his career, Babinecz helped lead the Wildcats to an impressive 21-9-1 mark. A four-year starter, Finneran finished his Main Line career as the most decorated wideout in school history. In 44 career games, he tallied 265 receptions for 3,872 yards and 34 touchdowns. In 1997, he garnered the Walter Payton Award as the top player in Division I-AA football. Finneran is currently in his fifth-year in the NFL as a member of the Atlanta Falcons where he is in his second year as the Falcons starting wide receiver.

PLAYING FOR A WINNER: With the 21-17 win over Rhode Island on Oct. 11, Villanova guaranteed itself of a winning season. This rates as Villanova's seventh winning season in the last eight and it is the 14th time in head coach Andy Talley's 19-year Main Line career that he has guided the 'Cats to a winning campaign.

BACK IN THE DAY: Villanova head coach Andy Talley and Massachusetts head coach Mark Whipple are no strangers to one another. Talley served as Whipple's position coach during his playing days as an Ivy League quarterback at Brown University. Talley also gave Whipple his first college coaching job when he hired him as an assistant at St. Lawrence University in 1980. Talley was the head coach at St. Lawrence from 1981-84.

HOME SWEET HOME: To say that the home team has had the upper hand in the all-time series between Villanova and Massachusetts would be an understatement. In the 20 meetings between the two teams, the home team has won 17 of the 20 games, including the last 15 in a row. The last time the away team won in the series was in 1978 when Villanova earned a 25-21 victory in Amherst, Mass.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION: In the Sports Network poll released on Monday, Oct. 20, Villanova is ranked second with 2,563 points. McNeese State owns the top spot with 2,666 points. This represents Villanova's second highest ranking in the program's history. In 1997, Villanova was ranked No. 1 for the final six weeks of the regular season. With Massachusetts owning a No. 5 ranking, this Saturday's game is the second time this year that two Top 10 teams have met at Villanova Stadium. On Sept. 27, No. 5 Villanova defeated No. 4 Northeastern by a score of 28-7.

THOUGHTS OF 1997: Villanova is 6-0 for the first time since the 1997 season. The 1997 team tallied an undefeated 11-0 regular season and were ranked No. 1 in the country for the last six weeks of the season. That 1997 team improved to 12-0 with a first round playoff win before losing to Youngstown State in the quarterfinals to finish 12-1 overall.

STARTING QUICKLY: Villanova has dominated the first quarter of games this year. The Wildcats have outscored the opposition 50-7 in the first quarter of games this year. In addition, Villanova has scored on its first possession in four of the six games, including three first drive touchdowns and a first drive field goal.

HALFTIME HEROICS: Villanova has been outstanding in running the two minute drill before halftime. In three of the last four games, the Wildcats have scored a touchdown in the final 10 seconds of the second quarter, including scoring with no time on the clock in two of the contests. At New Hampshire on Sept. 13, quarterback Joe Casamento threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Matt Chila with seven seconds left before halftime. Against Northeastern on Sept. 28, junior wide receiver Curtis Waltman caught a 36-yard hail mary touchdown pass with no time on the clock in the first half. The following week versus James Madison, Terry Butler ran in from one-yard out as time expired in the first half. Villanova also scored in the last two minutes of the first half in the season opener versus Hampton when J.J. Outlaw tallied an 18-yard scoring catch with 1:23 left in the second quarter.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Villanova boasts one of the top running back tandems in the Atlantic 10 Conference in junior Terry Butler and sophomore Moe Gibson. Together, Butler and Gibson have combined to register 789 yards on 140 carries for an average of 5.6 yards per rush and seven rushing touchdowns. After six games, Gibson has amassed a team-high 426 yards on 61 carries (7.0 yards per carry) and four scores, while Butler has 363 yards on 79 carries (4.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. In addition, Butler has 15 receptions for 181 yards and Gibson has made six catches for 60 yards.

MOVE THE STICKS: Villanova has kept the chain gang busy throughout the first six games of the 2003 season. Entering play versus Massachusetts, Villanova has registered 145 first downs in the first six games for an average of 24.1 per game. The Wildcats have had at least 20 first downs in each game this year with the team's lowest first down total of the year coming against Temple when the 'Cats totaled 20 first downs.

THIRD DOWN SUCCESS: In the last four games combined, Villanova is 31-of-59 for 52.5 percent on third down conversions. For the year, Villanova is 42-of-84 on third downs for a 50.0 percent success rate. The Wildcats are currently tied with Delaware in the Atlantic 10 statistics for highest third down conversion rate.

TEAM EFFORT: In the latest Atlantic 10 statistics, Villanova leads the league in total offense and total defense, as well as passing offense and passing defense. During its 6-0 start, Villanova has tallied 2,762 yards of total offense for a conference leading 460.3 yards per game average, including a conference-best 260.8 yards passing per game. From a defensive perspective, Villanova leads the Atlantic 10 in total defense at 285.3 yards per game and have yielded a conference-low 151.8 yards through the air.

POINT PRODUCTION: Entering play this Saturday versus Massachusetts, the Wildcats are averaging 33.2 points per game. This statistic is no surprise when you look at Villanova's track record the last seven years. Dating back to the 1996 season, Villanova has averaged 30 points or more in seven consecutive years.

JOIN THE LIST: Due to his stellar play in the first part of the 2003 season, sophomore quarterback Joe Casamento has been added to the "Payton Watch" list. The "Payton Watch" list are the candidates who are under consideration for the Walter Payton Award given annually to the top player in Division I-AA football. The "Payton Watch" list will undergo two additional revisions prior to the distribution of ballots on Nov. 24th. The winner of the Walter Payton Award will be announced at the 17th annual I-AA College Football Awards ceremony held on Thursday, Dec. 18 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

CASAMENTO BY THE NUMBERS: Sophomore signal caller Joe Casamento has been nothing short of sensational in the early going of the 2003 campaign. In his first six games as a collegiate starter, Casamento is 143-of-199 (71.9%) for 1,481 yards to go with 12 touchdowns and seven interception. Casamento, who currently owns an efficiency rating of 147.24, has had just one subpar game and that came in his last outing versus Rhode Island when he was 28-of-37 for 201 yards to go with one touchdown and five interceptions. For his efforts this year, he has twice been named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week, in addition to earning The Sports Network National Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8. Casamento currently leads the Atlantic 10 in passing yards per game at 246.8.

PROVIDING MOE-MENTUM: Sophomore running back Moe Gibson has emerged as one of the team's top playmakers in 2003. After six games, Gibson has tallied 100-yards rushing in three of the six contests. Gibson's three 100-yard games have come against Hampton (13 carries for 129 yards), New Hampshire (11 carries for 100 yards) and Northeastern (15 carries for 105 yards). For his career, Gibson has four 100-yard rushing performances to his credit. In the first six games of the 2003 season, Gibson has recorded 61 carries for 426 yards (7.0 yards per rush) and four scores.

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS: In the latest Atlantic 10 Conference statistics, Villanova boasts two of the top returners in the league. Sophomore Moe Gibson leads the league in kickoff return average, while sophomore J.J. Outlaw is sixth in the conference in punt returns. Gibson has seven kickoffs for 218 yards for a 31.1 return average. He also has a 90-yard kickoff return for a score to his credit. Outlaw has returned 13 punts for 146 yards for an 11.2 yards per return average.

SUPER SOPH: Sophomore wide receiver J.J. Outlaw is quickly establishing himself as one of the top playmakers in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Entering play versus UMass on Oct. 25, Outlaw currently ranks second in the Atlantic 10 and 19th in the country in all-purpose yards with an average of 147.0 yards per contest. After six games, Outlaw has registered a team-best 33 receptions for a team-high 457 yards and two scores, 15 rushes for 164 yards, 13 punt returns for 146 yards and five kickoff returns for 115 yards. He has already had two, 200-yard all-purpose games and three 100-yard receiving games.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Fullback Phil DiGiacomo is the second member of his family to play football at Villanova. His father, Phil Sr., played defensive end and was a Villanova captain in 1977. Currently a junior, DiGiacomo has established himself as of the team's top performers. Entering play against UMass, DiGiacomo is tied for second on the team in receptions with 30 for 196 yards and three scores. He also has 13 carries for 62 yards for a 4.8 yards per carry average.

MOVING TARGETS: Entering play Saturday versus Massachusetts, Villanova has six players with double figure receptions, including three with 30 or more. Highlighted by sophomore J.J. Outlaw with 33, other Wildcats with double figure receptions include junior Noble Champen with 30, junior Phil DiGiacomo with 30, senior Matt Chila with 19, junior Terry Butler with 15 and sophomore John Dieser with 10. Champen leads the team in touchdown catches with four.

SACK ATTACK: One big reason why the Villanova defense has been so successful this year is due to the pressure that the Wildcats have put on the opposing quarterback. After six games, Villanova is second in the Atlantic 10 in quarterback sacks with 19. Junior defensive end Terence Taylor has a team-best 3.5 sacks, followed by sophomore defensive end Darrell Adams with 2.5. senior.

DOMINANT DEFENDER: Sophomore middle linebacker Brian Hulea played one of the best games of his young career in Villanova's last outing versus Rhode Island on Oct. 11. In the 21-17 win, Hulea made a career-high 18 tackles, including 12 solo stops. For his efforts against Rhode Island, Hulea was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week. After six games, Hulea has recorded a team-high 77 tackles (52 solo), one sack, one fumble recovery and 3.5 tackles for loss. He is currently second in the Atlantic 10 in tackles per game at 12.3. The Canfield, Ohio native has recorded double figures in tackles in four of the six games this season. In 16 career games, Hulea has led the Wildcats in tackles in 11 of the 16 contests. Despite missing the last five games of last year with mononucleosis, Hulea still managed to finish fifth on the team in total tackles with 70. For his efforts last year, Hulea was named third team All-Atlantic 10 and he is a 2003 preseason first team All-Conference nominee.

ALL-STAR SELECTION: Wildcat senior tight end Matt Chila has already been selected to participate in the inaugural I-AA College Football All-Star Classic to be held on Dec. 30 at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The 6-3, 250 pound Chila was a first team All-Atlantic 10 selection last year after recording 48 catches for 514 yards and five scores. For his career, Chila has tallied 91 receptions for 866 yards and 10 touchdowns. In Villanova's five games this year, Chila has recorded 19 catches for 116 yards and a score.

BACK-TO-BACK: Villanova's 23-20 double overtime win against Temple on Sept. 6 marked the second-straight year that Villanova has defeated both a Big East Conference and Division I-A opponent. In the 2002 season opener, Villanova won at Rutgers by a score of 37-18. The Wildcats become the first I-AA school to defeat a team from a BCS conference in back-to-back seasons since the Bowl Championship Series was formed in 1998. Villanova has played nine games against I-A competition since it restored football at the I-AA level in 1985, and in those 10 contests the 'Cats are 2-7. In the seven losses to I-A teams, the Wildcats average margin of loss has been 11.8 points per game.

VILLANOVA PICKED FIFTH: The Villanova Wildcats were picked fifth in the 2003 preseason Atlantic 10 Conference poll as voted on by coaches and media.

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

FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE: Brett Gordon will get to view Villanova Football from a different angle in 2003. After serving as the team's starting quarterback the last three years, Gordon has exchanged his helmet and shoulder pads for a clipboard and whistle, as he begins his first year as a Villanova assistant coach. Gordon will assist offensive coordinator Sam Venuto in coaching the Wildcat quarterbacks. Last year as a fifth-year senior, Gordon led the 'Cats to the semifinal round of the I-AA playoffs by completing 386-of-579 (66.7%) for a school record 4,290 yards and 36 touchdowns. For his efforts last year, he was named both the Atlantic 10 and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year and he finished second in the Walter Payton Award voting.

ALL-AMERICAN HISTORY: With star quarterback Brett Gordon being named a Walter Camp All-American last year, the Villanova football program has had a first team All-American in seven of the last nine years. In the program's history, 21 different players have earned All-American distinction.

    1994    LB  Tyrone Frazier    1996    WR  Brian Finneran    1997    WR  Brian Finneran        QB  Chris Boden    1998    RB  Brian Westbrook    2000    KR  Brian Westbrook    2001    RB  Brian Westbrook    2002    QB  Brett Gordon

OVERTIME HISTORY: During head coach Andy Talley's tenure at Villanova, the Wildcats have played in 10 overtime games and in those 10 games the Wildcats are 7-3. With the double overtime win at Temple on Sept. 6, Villanova has won five of its last six overtime contests. Of the 10 overtime games, seven have been played at Villanova Stadium. Before last Saturday, the Wildcats last overtime game came in 2001 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 currently in his fourth season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2003. Westbrook and Finneran both won the Walter Payton Award, given to the top player in NCAA I-AA football, during their senior seasons at Villanova. Finneran is currently the starter at flanker for the Falcons, while Westbrook is seeing time in the Eagles backfield, as well as on special teams as a return man. Last Sunday, the duo combined for three touchdowns, with Finneran catching an 18-yard touchdown and Westbrook scoring on a six-yard run and a game-winning 84-yard punt return with 1:16 to play giving the Eagles a 14-10 win over the Giants.

WILDCATS ON THE RADIO: For the seventh-straight season, WZZD-AM 990 will be the flagship station of the Villanova Football Radio Network. Play-by-play announcer Joe Eichhorn, who has been broadcasting Villanova football since 1988, returns to anchor the broadcasts. 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 2003, 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 each Thursday from 7-8 p.m. at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in King of Prussia, Pa.