History 2009 Villanova Football Significant Dates in Villanova History ovember 22, 1894: Villanova Col- Nlege’s first football game, a 24-0 victory over the Logan Athletic Association. November 13, 1895: Villanova’s first “intercollegiate” football game, a 12-0 win over Hahneman College. October 8, 1927: Opening day at Villanova Stadium. After the dedication ceremonies, the Wildcats celebrate by winning the first game at their new home, a 32-7 victory over Lebanon Valley College. September 28, 1928: Sophomore football player Leo J. Goodreau suffers severe injury dur- ing football practice. October 2, 1928: Sophomore football player Leo J. Goodreau dies as a result of injuries suf- fered during practice. Rich Richman (#15) played for the Villanova football team in the Liberty Bowl and for the May 7, 1930: Members of Leo J. Goodreau’s Wildcat basketball team on the same day in 1962. class dedicate the playing field in Villanova Sta- dium to his memory. Field in El Paso. The ‘Cats collect a 17-9 victory. April 14, 1981: Villanova’s board of trustees It’s remembered as one of the greatest days in elects to discontinue football, citing economic January 1, 1937: Villanova and Auburn play Villanova athletic history, for later that day the reasons. to a 7-7 tie in the first, and only, Bacardi Bowl in Wildcat men’s basketball team won the Quaker Havana, Cuba. City Tournament in Phil adelphia. December 1, 1981: The Committee to Restore Football at Villanova hosts their first December 6, 1947: The Kentucky Wild- December 15, 1962: The ‘Cats lose to Ore- benefit, featuring Bob Hope at the Academy of cats beat the Villanova Wildcats, 24-14, in the gon State, 6-0, in the Liberty Bowl at Philadel- Music in Philadelphia. The night is nicknamed, Great Lakes Bowl in Cleveland’s Municipal phia’s Municipal Stadium, in their last bowl game “Hope for Football.” Stadium. appearance. Later that day, the Wildcat men’s January 1, 1949: Villanova beats Nevada, basketball team loses to Niagara at the Palestra, November 3, 1982: Villanova’s student gov- 27-7, in the Harbor Bowl in San Diego’s Balboa 73-61. Rich Richman plays in both games for the ernment released results from a student survey, Stadium. Wildcats, as a quarterback at Municipal Stadium, showing 96.07 percent of students responding and off the bench as a forward at the Palestra. want football back. September 23, 1950: Pete D’Alonzo carries the ball 23 times for 201 yards in a 39-28 season-opening September 27, 1969: “One of the most December 14, 1982: Villanova board Villa nova victory against Duquesne. His yardage will dramatic comebacks in college football’s 101 of trustees agrees to review its position on stand as the single-game leader for 41 years. years,” claimed Philadelphia Bulletin writer football. Frank Brady. The Wildcats trailed at Dela- October 31, 1952: First night game at Villano- ware by 26 points three minutes into the final December 13, 1983: Villanova President va Stadium, under portable lights. Wildcats battle to period, when quarterback Drew Gordon came John M. Driscoll, O.S.A. announces that the a 20-20 tie against the Parris Island Marines. in off the bench to hit 7-of-17 passes for 127 board of trustees has elected to restore football. yards and three touchdowns. Villanova beat November 4, 1961: Villanova beats West Delaware, 36-33. May 29, 1984: The task of rebuilding Vil- Chester, 40-13, in the first game ever televised lanova Football is placed on the shoulders of from Villanova Stadium. The game is carried September 27, 1980: Villanova Stadium Andrew J. Talley, the 30th football head coach live on Phil adelphia’s Channel 3, then known as is re-dedicated, after installation of astroturf, in Wildcat history. WRCV-TV. lights and a new track. At halftime of the Boston College-Villanova contest, the track is dedicated October 10, 1984: Villanova announces it December 30, 1961: The Wildcats shock to legendary track coach James “Jumbo” Elliott. will be a member of the NCAA Division I-AA the Wichita Shockers in the Sun Bowl, at Kidd The Wildcats win the game, 20-9. Yankee Conference. 106 2009 Villanova Football November 3, 1984: A sold-out Villanova time coaching victories on the Main Line, earning of college football at any level for career all-purpose Stadium crowd of 13,400 is on hand for the his 66th win in a 28-3 drubbing of Buffalo. yards with a 46-yard rush in the second quarter first Villanova University football Home- versus William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. West- coming game since 1980, a Blue-White scrim- October 5, 1996: Villanova defeats Connecti- brook finished his illustrious Villanova career with mage. Comprised of walk-ons who worked cut 38-27 in Storrs, Conn. The win marked the 9,512 yards of all-purpose offense in 44 regular out for one month, the blue team beats the 100th career victory for Wildcat head coach Andy season games. white, 23-7. Talley. Also in the game, junior wide receiver Brian Finneran tallies a school record 16 receptions. December 20, 2001: Brian Westbrook wins September 2, 1985: Villanova beats Iona, 27-7, the Walter Payton Award as the top player in and goes on to a 5-0-0 season back on the gridiron. November 30, 1996: Villanova loses, 35-29, NCAA I-AA football at a banquet in Chattanooga, at East Tennessee State in the first round of the Tenn. November 19, 1987: A sold-out Villanova NCAA I-AA playoffs. In the loss, junior running Stadium is on hand for a nationally-televised back Curtis Sifford becomes the first Wildcat April 20, 2002: Brian Westbrook becomes ESPN clash with Holy Cross, the first night game back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. the first Wildcat to be drafted by the NFL since at Villanova Stadium since 1952. The ‘Cats lose Howie Long in 1981 when he was selected in the to Holy Cross, 39-6. July 1, 1997: Villanova becomes a memwber third round by the Philadelphia Eagles. of the Atlantic 10 Conference who takes over the September 24, 1988: Villanova beats Bos- day-to-day operations of the Yankee Conference. Dec. 7, 2002: Quarterback Brett Gordon ton University, 31-24, in a day of firsts. The game, completes 26-of-30 for 219 yards and two touch- played at Boston University’s Nickerson Field, is October 4, 1997: Senior wide receiver Brian downs as Villanova earns a 24-10 quarterfinal Villanova’s first in the Yankee Conference. It’s also Finneran becomes Villa nova’s all-time leading win over Fordham and advances to the semifinal Villanova’s first overtime game. Tied 24-24 at the receiver for career receptions and career receiving round of the NCAA I-AA Playoffs for the first end of regulation, the Wildcats had possession of yards versus JMU. In the win, Finneran tallied eight time in school history. the ball first in overtime. On fourth and goal the receptions for 144 yards and four touchdowns. ‘Cats fake a field goal, as holder Bob Brady found August 31, 2002: In the season opener in tight end Rich Lage alone in the endzone for the October 20, 1997: Villanova gains No. 1 Piscataway, N.J., Villanova defeats Rutgers by score. Villanova’s defense then held the Terriers national ranking for the first time in school his- a score of 37-19, giving the Wildcats their first in their possession, to win the game. tory. The ‘Cats reached the top spot in both the win over a Division I-A opponent since becom- Sports Network and ESPN/Sportsticker polls. ing a I-AA program in 1985. October 7, 1989: It took 3 hours and 40 minutes, but Villanova captured a 41-35 victory November 22, 1997: The Wildcats complete September 6, 2003: Villanova defeats in six overtimes against Connecticut at Villanova the first-ever undefeated, untied full season in school Temple, 23-20 in overtime, becoming the first Stadium. The game was won on Villanova’s history with a 49-35 win over Northeastern. Division I-AA school to defeat a I-A team from fourth play of possession in the sixth extra frame, a BCS conference in back-to-back seasons since as freshman Jeff Johnson ran for three yards off November 29, 1997: Hosting the first-ever the Bowl Championship Series was formed in left tackle for the game winning touchdown. post season game at Villanova Stadium, the Wild- 1998. The game was also the first regular sea- cats record their first NCAA I-AA playoff victory son football game of any kind to be played at November 25, 1989: Playing in the post-season with a 49-28 win over Colgate. Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. for the first time in 27 years, Villanova loses to eventual National Champion Georgia Southern, 52-36, in the December 1, 1997: Head coach Andy Talley May 6, 2006: Villanova honors the history first round of the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs. and wide receiver Brian Finneran make national of Wildcat football by hosting the Gridiron Gala. headlines, as Talley earns the Eddie Robinson More than 300 people attended the on-campus October 26, 1991: Pat Kennedy rushed for Award as the top I-AA coach in the country and event including Wildcat legends Howie Long, 249 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries Finneran garners the Walter Payton Award, sym- Billy Joe, Brian Finneran and Brian Westbrook. against William & Mary, in a 35-21 Villanova bolizing the best player in I-AA.