Villanova University

Nov. 13, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova University Varsity Club has selected the 2008-09 induction class to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in an announcement made today. The nine inductees for this year represent eight different sports. In addition, Rev. John Driscoll, O.S.A. will be presented with the annual Jake Nevin Award. The Varsity Club will hold its 33rd Annual Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on Friday, February 27 on campus at the Connelly Center. Ticket information for the event will be released at a later date. The inductees will also be honored the next day at halftime of the men's basketball game against Georgetown at the Wachovia Center.

The 2008 induction class includes athletes from eight different sports - baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, football, men's lacrosse, men's soccer, women's swimming and men's track - in addition to the presentation of the Jake Nevin Award.

Below are capsules of each of the 10 honorees.

Brian Kenny ('91) - Baseball

Brian Kenny was one of the top pitchers for Villanova during a four-year span in which the team compiled a .685 winning percentage while winning 144 games and the only two BIG EAST Championship titles in program history in 1989 and 1991. The Wildcats won a program-record 42 games in 1989 and the 144 wins are the most ever in a four-year period. Kenny was the 1990 Big East Pitcher of the Year and was a second team All-American that season. He also earned first team All-Big East accolades in 1991. Kenny is the school record holder for career victories with 27 and he ranks second in program annals in strikeouts (222) and complete games (16), third in innings pitched (293.0) and sixth in ERA (3.53).

Kenny Wilson ('89) - Men's Basketball

Kenny Wilson helped lead Villanova to 80 victories during his four years on the team, including two seasons with more than 20 wins. The Wildcats reached postseason play in four straight years with Wilson on the team, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1986 and making an Elite Eight appearance in 1988. Villanova also reached the NIT in 1987 and 1989. Wilson scored 1,390 points in his career and ranks 29th all-time on the program's scoring list. He is also the Wildcats all-time career assist lead with 627. Wilson was a four-year starter and as the starting point guard for the 1988 Elite Eight squad he earned All-Southeast Regional honors in the NCAA Tournament.

Nikki Benedix ('93) - Women's Basketball

One of the top scorers in school history, Nikki Benedix ranks 12th in program history in scoring with 1,280 points and is also 11th in rebounding with 606. She owns the senior class record for steals with 85 and as a senior in 1993 earned second team All-Big East honors for the second straight season. Benedix owns the 15th-best single-game scoring effort in team history thanks to a 33-point performance against Georgia Southern on November 30, 1991. Benedix was elected to the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame in 2000.

Curtis Eller ('93) - Football

One of the top defensive players in team history, Curtis Eller helped Villanova produce a 33-14 record and .702 winning percentage in his four seasons. The Wildcats reached the NCAA playoffs three times during his career and won the Lambert Meadowlands Trophy in 1992. Villanova finished with a 10-2 record in 1991 and a 9-3 mark in 1992, while going 24-8 in Yankee Conference play in Eller's career. Eller graduated as the program's all-time leading tackler and still ranks second in school history. Eller was a three-time All-Yankee Conference selection and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. He recently was named to the Yankee Conference 50th Anniversary Team. Eller was also a two-time first team All-American and a two-time first team All-ECAC selection.

Willie Oshodin ('92) - Football

Villanova compiled a .641 winning percentage during Willie Oshodin's career, going 29-16-1 overall. Oshodin helped the team go from a 5-5-1 mark as a freshman in 1988 to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the NCAA playoffs a year later. The Wildcats also went 10-2 in his senior season, setting a record for wins in a season at the time and still listing as one of just three seasons in school history with at least 10 victories. Oshodin helped Villanova win the 1989 Yankee Conference championship and was captain of the 1991 team's conference title. He earned first team All-Yankee Conference honors in 1991 and was a first team All-ECAC selection that season. His career totals include 182 tackles (103 solo), 13 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Oshodin went on to play in the NFL for the Denver Broncos from 1993-95. He was a two-time Yankee Conference All-Academic Team selection and in 1990 received District II Academic All-America accolades.

John McEvoy ('90) - Men's Lacrosse

John McEvoy helped lead the Wildcats to a 30-24 record and .556 winning percentage during his career. Villanova went 9-5 in 1989 and enjoyed a 10-game winning streak that spanned the 1989-90 seasons, including eight straight wins to close out the 1989 season. McEvoy ranks fifth all-time in points at Villanova with 136 and is also ninth in both goals (84) and assists (52). He was drafted by and played for the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League.

Brian Barr (`83) - Men's Soccer

Brian Barr played for the men's soccer team from 1979-82 and helped the program transition from a club sport to the varsity level. As a senior in 1982 he led Villanova to an 8-6-3 record in its first season as a varsity program. A prolific scorer, Barr scored four goals in a game against UMBC on September 23, 1981, a mark which is still tied for the school's single-game record.

Laurel Fournier ('90) - Women's Swimming

Laurel Fournier was a nine-time Big East champion during her Villanova career, winning five individual conference titles and swimming to four relay championships. She was named the Outstanding Female Swimmer at the 1988 conference championships, where she won individual titles in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle events. Fournier also anchored the 200 and 400 medley relay quartets that year. Her other individual conference titles came in 1987 (1,650 freestyle) and 1989 (200 freestyle) while her other two relay championships were in the 800 freestyle relay (1989 and 1990).

Craig Morris ('85) - Men's Track

During his standout career at Villanova, Craig Morris was a four-time Big East champion and in 1983 set a conference meet record in winning the 1983 indoor 500 meters. Morris had previously won outdoor titles as part of both the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams at the 1982 Big East Championships.

Rev. John Driscoll, O.S.A.

This year's Jake Nevin Award is being presented to Rev. John Driscoll, O.S.A., who was the 30th President of Villanova University from 1975-88 after serving as University Vice President from 1965-75. The newest building on the Villanova campus, Driscoll Hall, houses the College of Nursing and is named after him.

Father Driscoll led a period of tremendous growth and advancement at the University during his tenure as President. The purchase of land extended the borders of campus, new dormitories were constructed, and both the Connelly Center and the Pavilion were completed. That same period saw an increase in the University's academic reputation as the student body grew more select and geographically diverse, the academic curriculum more innovating and challenging, and the faculty more distinguished - characteristics that continue to distinguish Villanova today as one of the nation's leading Catholic universities.

The Wildcat athletic teams also thrived during Driscoll's tenure and the men's basketball team won the only national championship in program history in 1985. The men's cross country team won the 1979 national championship and both the men's and women's track programs had numerous individual national champions while Driscoll was President.

Prior to coming to Villanova in 1965, Driscoll served in many capacities at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, including philosophy teacher, vice president and dean, religious superior of Our Mother of Good Counsel Monastery, and as a member of the college's board of trustees. After stepping down as president of Villanova in 1988, Driscoll went back to Merrimack College where he was assigned as Prior of its Augustinian community. In 1995, Driscoll returned to the Saint Thomas Monastery at Villanova where he continues to reside.