Aug. 19, 2009

Photo Gallery

VILLANOVA, Pa.--On Wednesday afternoon at Villanova Stadium, the Wildcat football team held its annual preseason Media Day prior to the day's scheduled practice. Villanova players and head coach Andy Talley were on hand to talk about the upcoming season, which will get underway at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, September 3 at 7 p.m. when the Wildcats play Temple in the inaugural Mayor's Cup game.

Earlier on Wednesday, head coach Andy Talley appeared with Temple coach Al Golden on Fox 29's Good Day Live, followed by a photo-op at Mayor Nutter's office in which the Mayor's Cup trophy was unveiled.

Below are quotes from head coach Andy Talley and some of the players from Media Day. Click on the link at the top of this release for a photo gallery from this morning's activities promoting the season opener.

Head Coach Andy Talley...

On the pressure of meeting high expectations heading into the season: This is the season we have been shooting for. Last year there was a high level of expectations as well, but we were still kind of under the radar. Last year we were able to get up there and prove that we were a capable team but all along this was the year we were shooting for. We should be a good team this year; now the question is can we be a good team?

On the mindset of being a championship-caliber team: Last year we were 4.5 seconds away from having an opportunity to compete for a title. The players came out of last season thinking that we can win a title. We want them to think that way but we also know that in our league there is a road block every single week.

On this year's schedule: The good thing for us is that we play our first five games in Philadelphia. That is a good thing, but the bad thing is that after that we play New Hampshire and James Madison on the road, back-to-back with a break in between, and then play at Richmond. That makes it quite difficult. From a schedule standpoint, it makes it tougher this year to be able to win nine games. I look back at last year and marvel at the fact that we switched quarterbacks after three weeks and were still able to go 8-1 in the league and get to nine wins. We did it with a really good defense and an offense that held on to the ball. This year will probably be similar in that respect.

On the team's strengths and questions marks entering the season: Our big question mark is at kicker. We lost Joe Marcoux and we have a redshirt freshman, Nick Yako, who we know has a great, strong leg. What we need to see is how Nick handles being in pressure situations and how he will do in our league, especially in a league where every game goes down to the wire.

Defensively, we lost three trademark players, including defensive end Dave Dalessandro and a really good linebacker in Darrel Young. We don't have a lot of depth in these spots, at defensive end and in the secondary.

Our offense will be a strength for us this year. We have a lot of skill and the offensive line is pretty good. We have some good receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher in Aaron Ball. Overall, we have a lot of talent coming back. When you have been at the level we have been at and played at places like Maryland and West Virginia, it gives you a team that is primed to go further, and we hope that we can do that. To be successful, any team has to keep its quarterback healthy. We have two great quarterbacks so that is a real big plus for us.

On playing Temple in the season opener: I like the Temple game a lot, first of all because it enhances college football in the Philadelphia area, which is so dominated by pro football. Secondly, this game gives us a chance to play a so-called money game at home without having to travel. We aren't going to play in 100-degree heat because the game is at 7:00, and we aren't going to play in front of 70,000 people like we did at West Virginia. We are playing in a place where we are familiar with what is going on.

The past rivalry between Villanova and Temple will play into the game also, given the fact that a few years ago we were fortunate to upset them. Al Golden has brought the program along so nicely. They really should have been a Bowl team last year; they just had a couple of tough losses at the end. It will be challenge for us, but the game gives us what we want, which is an opportunity to play an FBS opponent and a chance, if things go right, to be very competitive in the game.

On quarterbacks Chris Whitney and Antwon Young: It isn't an easy situation, because we have a great player in Antwon who will be the backup. As a fifth-year player, you want to come back in your fifth year and be the guy. We told Antwon that we would play him but that Chris will be the guy. Antwon will have to get the job done during the season, because he wasn't going to beat Chris out in the preseason or in the spring. We have won a lot of games with him the last couple of years and we wanted Antwon to be a part of it and be ready to play. He accepted that role, and by accepting it we expect from him to be a great teammate and be a great guy to coach. So far he has been exactly that.

Junior quarterback Chris Whitney...

On Antwon Young: We have a good relationship and we help each other on and off the field. We read coverages and if one guy is standing behind the other in drills we can help each other out if one of us misses a read.

On the Villanova team: I think we can be really good this year. The goal every year is to win a championship and nothing has changed starting this season. We have a lot of weapons and know what we want to do. I think last year we had the mindset that we were good enough to go all the way. This year we want to carry over that mindset and we just need to take each game one by one.

On the pressure of high expectations: We like being highly ranked. We know we have to come each day and take each practice and each game one by one, like last year. The CAA is a tough league and any team can beat another team on a given day. We have to leave it all on the field. After last year's experience getting to the playoffs, this year we know what we want to do and each game is a step towards reaching our goals.

On playing Temple: It is exciting to be playing them. Hopefully a lot of people will be there and it will be exciting to play another team from our same area. Some of know each other and that should get the high school people coming out to the game. We don't look at it as a situation where we have nothing to lose. We want to win the game every week and we work the same way each week in preparation no matter who the opponent is.

Junior wide receiver Matt Szczur...

On the expectations of the team going into the season: I don't feel like there is that much pressure if we just go out and play and take things one day at a time, take each practice and each game one at a time. If we want to have a chance to compete for a national championship, first we have to be able to win a CAA championship. Those are what our own expectations should be.

On playing in a league as strong as the CAA: I think our league helps us during the season. We play in, in my opinion, the best FCS conference in the country. That will help us if we make it to the playoffs.

On having beaten last year's national champion (Richmond) during the regular season: That isn't something we really talked about. It was kind of hard to think about that, for me and the other guys.

On his role this year: I think my role will be pretty much the same as last year. I will run some slot and may see time at quarterback in one of the packages we run, and I might get in on some special teams.

On quarterbacks Antwon Young and Chris Whitney: They both have handled the situation really well. They are splitting reps in practice and they have done that during games as well. There didn't seem to be any problem with that last year. They both offer different strengths. Antwon is a great pocket passer, while Chris can scramble and hurt you with both his legs and arm.

Senior quarterback Antwon Young...

On his fifth year: Going into last year I think I rushed back a little bit and this summer I just tried to work more on my footwork drills and getting confidence back in my game. I am trying to focus on the little things I have gained through experience. Last year I got in the habit of trying to make big plays so now I just want to let things come to me.

On the offense and offensive line: We have some starters back on the offensive line and what I have noticed this year is that we have more established playmakers throughout the offense.