July 23, 2008

BALTIMORE, Md. - At the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Football Media Day held on Wednesday, July 23 at the ESPN Zone in Baltimore, the Villanova Wildcats were picked to finish fourth in the league's South Division in a poll of the league head coaches and selected media.

The University of Richmond (11 first-place votes) earned the top spot in the South, followed by James Madison (seven first-place votes) and Delaware (one first-place vote). William & Mary was chosen to finish fifth and Towson sixth.

In the North Division, reigning CAA champion Massachusetts was picked to be the league's overall champion once again. The Minutemen received 17 first place votes and were followed in the division by New Hampshire (1 first-place vote), Hofstra (1 first-place vote), Maine, Northeastern and Rhode Island.

Wildcat junior defensive lineman Tim Kukucka (6-3, 250 lbs, Wall, N.J.) was honored at the media event as he was named first team pre-season All-CAA. As a sophomore last year, Kukucka was a second team All-CAA selection after recording 40 tackles, a team-best 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Villanova returns 17 starters and 33 letterwinners from last year's team that finished 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the CAA. The Wildcats will kickoff the 2008 season on Saturday, August 30 at Big East member West Virginia. The CAA opener is set for Sept. 27 when Villanova plays host to Richmond.