Sept. 4, 2003
No. 9 VILLANOVA WILDCATS (1-0)
at
TEMPLE OWLS (0-1)
Saturday, September 6, 2003
4 p.m.
Lincoln Financial Field (68,532)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Wildcats, coming off last week's 41-6 win over Hampton, and ranked No. 9 in the latest Sports Network poll, will play Temple of the BIG EAST at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 4:00 p.m. Click on the PDF link below for a complete version of this week's game notes.
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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 126-73-1 mark, making him the all-time winningest coach in Villanova history. Talley's 24-year overall coaching record currently stands at 154-91-2. 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.
THE NEXT LEVEL: Saturday's contest with Temple will mark the ninth time that Villanova has played against a I-A opponent since the Wildcats restored football at the I-AA level in 1985. In the previous eight games against I-A competition, Villanova has tallied a 1-7 mark. The lone win came in last year's season opener at Rutgers when the 'Cats registered a 37-19 victory. In its seven losses to I-A teams, Villanova's average margin of loss has been 11.8 points per game. Villanova's seven I-A losses have come against 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 1998 season opener) and Air Force (37-13 in 1999 season opener). All eight games against I-A competition have been played on the road with the exception of the Wake Forest game which was held at Villanova Stadium.
VILLANOVA VS. THE BIG EAST: The Temple game will represent the fifth game that Villanova has played as a I-AA program against an opponent from the Big East Conference. Villanova is 1-3 versus the Big East Conference. The 'Cats won at Rutgers last year by a score of 37-19 and suffered losses to Rutgers (38-28 in 1996, 34-21 in 2000) and at Pittsburgh (48-41 in 1998).
RIVALRY RENEWAL: Villanova and Temple will meet on the gridiron for the first time since 1980 when the two teams meet on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Lincoln Financial Field. In the last game played between the two teams, a Howie Long led Villanova squad earned a 23-7 win in a game played at Villanova Stadium on Nov. 22, 1980.
FAMILIAR FACES: A member of each coaching staff has connections to the opponent this week, as Villanova is set to meet Temple for the first time since 1980. Temple linebacker coach Spencer Prescott was a running back at Villanova from 1976-79. During his Main Line career, Prescott registered 104 carries for 395 yards and four touchdowns. From the other perspective, current Villanova defensive coordinator Joe Trainer served as a graduate assistant coach at Temple from 1991-92, earning a Masters Degree in Education in 1992.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: The Villanova offense started the season in fine fashion last Thursday versus Hampton by tallying 520 yards of total offense. In the win, the Wildcats had a balanced attack of 285 yards passing and 235 yards rushing. Last season, when the Wildcats averaged 409.7 yards of total offense per game, Villanova reached the 500-yard plateau in total offense in four of its 15 games.
DYNAMIC DEBUT: Much was made throughout the offseason on who would replace All-American quarterback Brett Gordon as the Wildcat signal caller. If last Thursday's performance versus Hampton is any indication, the Villanova offense looks to be in capable hands with sophomore Joe Casamento under center. In his first collegiate start against Hampton, Casamento completed 24-of-30 for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Casamento started the game by completing his first six pass attempts. Before Thursday, the last time Casamento started a game was as a senior at Christian Brothers Academy during the 2000 season. During his schoolboy career, Casamento tallied 5,017 passing yards, 1,400 rushing yards and 53 touchdown passes.
ATLANTIC 10 ACCOLADES: For his efforts in last Thursday's 41-6 win over Hampton, sophomore quarterback Joe Casamento was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week. Making his first career start, Casamento completed 24-of-30 for 252 yards and three touchdowns. On his team's first drive, Casamento completed all six of his passes on Villanova's 11-play, 74 yard drive that ended with him running in from one-yard out. In addition to his passing numbers, Casamento had 21 rushing yards on four carries.
CENTURY MARK PERFORMER: Coming off an outstanding freshman year in 2002, running back Moe Gibson showed with his performance against Hampton that he will not be affected by the sophomore jinx. In the season opening win last Thursday, Gibson recorded a career-high 129 yards on 13 carries (9.9 yards per carry) including a 58-yard touchdown run. This was the second 100-yard rushing game of his young career. In his 16-game Villanova career, Gibson has 462 yards rushing on 82 carries for a 5.6 yards per carry average and six touchdowns.
GAINING GROUND: Villanova had a great deal of success running the football in last Thursday's win over Hampton. In the win, the 'Cats amassed 235 yards rushing on 40 carries (5.9 yards per carry). In addition to Gibson's 129 yards rushing, junior Terry Butler recorded 49 yards on 15 carries. As a sophomore last season, Butler totaled 868 yards rushing on 202 carries (4.3 yards per rush).
SPREADING THE WEALTH: Villanova used a diverse passing attack in the season opening win over visiting Hampton. In the win, seven different receivers tallied a reception led by Phil DiGiacomo who made a career-high eight catches for a career-best 64 yards and a touchdown. Of the seven players who made a reception, five recorded three or more catches.
NO PASS ZONE: The Villanova defense was dominant in its week one win over Hampton, giving up just six points and 132 yards of total offense. The Wildcat pass defense was extra special as the Hampton passing game completed just 3-of-16 for a mere 12 yards.
SACK ATTACK: Villanova registered six sacks in last Thursday's win over Hampton with six different Wildcats being credited with a sack. Last season, Villanova recorded 41 quarterback sacks in 15 games. Of the 41 sacks, 29 were tallied by players who return for the 2003 campaign.
TOP TACKLER: Sophomore linebacker Brian Hulea led the Villanova defensive charge in last Thursday's win over Hampton with a team-high 14 tackles. In 11 career games, Hulea has led the Wildcats in tackles in eight of the 11 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.
BACKING BACCHUS: Villanova had one true freshman start in its season opener versus Hampton on Thursday, Aug. 28. In his collegiate debut, rookie strong safety Allyn Bacchus earned rave reviews for his play versus the Pirates. In the win versus his hometown school, the Hampton, Va., native finished third on the team in tackles with five solo stops to go with one tackle for loss.
PUNTING PROWESS: Sophomore punter Adam James began his season in a big way last Thursday in the season opener versus Hampton. In the 41-6 win, James recorded six punts for 267 yards for an average 44.5, including a career-long 56-yard effort. Last year as a redshirt freshman, James averaged 36.2 yards per punt (56 punts -- 2,026 yards).
FAMILY AFFAIR: Wildcat fullback Phil DiGiacomo is the second member of his family to be a standout on the Main Line. His father, Phil Sr., played defensive end and was a Wildcat captain in 1977. After seeing time as a reserve the last two years, DiGiacomo is slated as the starting fullback in 2003. In last week's season opening win over Hampton, DiGiacomo tallied a career-best eight catches for 64 yards and a touchdown and one carry for one yard. Last year as a sophomore, DiGiacomo tallied 183 yards rushing on 33 carries (5.3 yards per carry) and five touchdowns to go with 24 receptions for 180 yards and two scores.
BIG TARGET: One of Villanova's main offensive weapons this year will be senior tight end Matt Chila. 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 75 receptions for 779 yards and nine touchdowns. In last week's win over Hampton, Chila made four receptions for 29 yards. 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.
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
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
NOTE: In 1999, wide receiver Murle Sango was a second team All-American.
A NEW BEGINNING: Dating back to the 1996 season, Villanova has had its quarterback named to one of the All-Conference teams in six of the last seven years. With the loss of Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year Brett Gordon to graduation, Villanova will have an inexperienced signal caller in 2003. The starter under center for the Wildcats this year is sophomore Joe Casamento who is coming off a sensational debut in last week's win over Hampton. In the Hampton victory, Casamento completed 24-of-30 for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Last year as a redshirt freshman, Casamento served as Gordon's back-up, completing 2-of-4 passes for 13 yards. The last time Villanova entered a season unsure of who would be its starting quarterback was in 1997 when sophomore Chris Boden earned the job. All Boden did that year was complete 281-of-419 for 3,707 yards and a school record 42 touchdown passes to help lead Villanova to a perfect 11-0 regular season and a No. 1 national ranking for the final six weeks of the season.
BOOKENDS: One strength of the Villanova defense will be the play of its defensive ends. The Wildcats have a talented trio at defensive end including juniors Jamil Butler and Terence Taylor, along with sophomore Darrell Adams. Last season, these three combined for 148 tackles, 16.5 of the team's 41 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. In the season opener versus Hampton, the trio combined for seven tackles, two sacks and five tackles for loss. Taylor is a preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 selection, while Butler was named to the preseason second team.
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.
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 won four of its last five overtime contests. Of the nine overtime games, seven have been played at Villanova Stadium. 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 year, Finneran led the Falcons in receiving with 56 receptions for 838 yards and six touchdowns, while Westbrook tallied 46 carries for 193 yards and nine receptions for 96 yards.
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. There will be no show on Thursday prior to Villanova's two bye weeks or on Thursday, Sept. 25. The only show not scheduled for a Thursday evening is the Saturday, Sept. 27 show which will be held following the Northeastern game from 4-5 p.m.
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