April 12, 2002

VILLANOVA, PA. ----- Villanova University head football coach Andy Talley today announced the 2002 Wildcat football schedule. For the first time in school history, Villanova will play a 12-game regular season slate, including nine Atlantic 10 Conference games and three non conference contests.

The Wildcats will begin the 2002 season on Saturday, August 31 at Division I-A Rutgers. This will mark the fifth time in the last seven years that the Wildcats have opened the season versus a I-A opponent. Villanova's two other non conference games will be at Colgate on Saturday, Sept. 7 and at home under the lights versus the University of Pennsylvania on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Villanova will open the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, Sept. 14 when the 'Cats play host to the University of Maine in a night contest starting at 6 p.m.. Other notable home contests include a Parents' Weekend tilt against New Hampshire on Saturday, Sept. 21 and a Homecoming affair versus Hofstra on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Despite losing All-American running back Brian Westbrook, Villanova returns 12 starters and 23 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished 8-3 overall and 7-2 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The 7-2 league mark was good enough for a share of the Atlantic 10 championship, giving Talley the fourth conference title of his Main Line career.

8/31	at Rutgers			  TBA
9/7	at Colgate			  1 p.m.
9/14	Maine				  6 p.m.
9/21	New Hampshire (Parents' Weekend)  Noon
9/28	at James Madison		  6 p.m.
10/5	Hofstra (Homecoming)		  Noon
10/10	Pennsylvania			  7 p.m.
10/19	at Massachusetts		  TBA
10/26	Bye Week
11/2	William & Mary			  1 p.m.
11/9	at Northeastern			  12:30 p.m.
11/16	Rhode Island			  1 p.m.
11/23	at Delaware			  TBA