Oct. 18, 2005
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Former Villanova University football standout Brian Westbrook will have his jersey retired at halftime of the Villanova homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 22 against Rhode Island. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
"Brian Westbrook is truly deserving of this prestigious honor. The statistics he put up during his Villanova career are simply amazing," said Wildcat head coach Andy Talley. "It is an honor for me to say that I coached not only a great player but a great person in Brian Westbrook. He is truly a once in a lifetime player."
Villanova's retired jerseys are permanently recognized on the wall of The Swimming Center next to the scoreboard in the west end of Villanova Stadium. The jersey numbers continue to stay in circulation and are recognized on the Wall of Fame in the form of football-shaped plaques with each recipient's name and number.
Westbrook finished his Wildcat career holding 41 school records, 19 Atlantic 10 Conference marks and five NCAA records. As a sophomore in 1998, he became the only player in the history of college football at any level to rush for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season. He culminated his career in 2001 by winning the Walter Payton Award as the top player in all of NCAA I-AA football, and was one of just five I-AA players selected to play in the 2002 Senior Bowl.
The three-time first team All-America selection and two-time Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year, Westbrook rushed for 4,499 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career. He also amassed 2,639 receiving yards and 30 receiving scores while adding 2,814 yards and five touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns. In the final game of his collegiate career, Westbrook broke the NCAA All-Divisions record with 9,952 career all-purpose yards. He was also a two-time ECAC Player of the Year.
A third round pick in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Westbrook's success has continued at the professional level. His offensive skills helped the Eagles win the 2005 NFC championship and advance to the Super Bowl where he scored a touchdown against the New England Patriots. Westbrook was also selected to play in the 2005 Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
