March 31, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova University head football coach Andy Talley today announced the 2005 Wildcat football schedule. The team will play an 11-game slate, including eight Atlantic 10 Conference games and three non-conference contests.

The Wildcats will open the season at Big East Conference member Rutgers on Saturday, Sept. 10. This will mark the fifth time in the last seven years that Villanova has played a I-A opponent. Villanova has won its last two games against I-A competition, including a 37-19 win at Rutgers in the 2002 season opener. Rounding out the non-conference portion of the schedule will be games versus the University of Pennsylvania on Sept. 24 and at Bucknell on Oct. 15. The Penn contest will be played at Franklin Field with Villanova serving as the designated home team.

Villanova's eight league games will consist of four at home and four on the road. The Wildcats will play Northeastern (Parents' Weekend -- Sept. 17), Rhode Island (Homecoming -- Oct. 22), William & Mary (Oct. 29) and Delaware (Nov. 19) at Villanova Stadium and New Hampshire (Oct. 1), Richmond (Oct. 8), Towson (Nov. 5) and James Madison (Nov. 12) on the road.

The Wildcats return 12 starters from last year's team that tallied a 6-5 overall record and a 3-5 Atlantic 10 Conference mark. Three of Villanova's 12 returning starters earned All-Atlantic 10 honors last year including defensive lineman Darrell Adams, linebacker Brian Hulea and wide receiver J.J. Outlaw. Adams and Hulea were first team selections, while Outlaw was a third team honoree.

Sept. 10 - Rutgers (Piscataway, N.J.)
Sept. 17 - Northeastern (Villanova, Pa.)
Sept. 24 - Penn (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Oct. 1 - New Hampshire (Durham, N.H.)
Oct. 8 - Richmond (Richmond, Va.)
Oct. 15 - Bucknell (Lewisburg, Va.)
Oct. 22 - Rhode Island (Villanova, Pa.)
Oct. 29 - William & Mary (Villanova, Pa.)
Nov. 5 - Towson (Baltimore, Md.)
Nov. 12 - James Madison (Harrisonburg, Va.)
Nov. 19 - Delaware (Villanova, Pa.)