Oct. 15, 2007

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova football head coach Andy Talley has been named one of the 75 greatest living Philadelphians, it was announced recently. In conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the Philadelphia Eagles, the team and Dunkin Donuts partnered to celebrate those in the community for their contributions to the city.

Talley was chosen for the successful Bone Marrow Program that he started at Villanova 12 years ago. Each year the football team holds a drive to register potential bone marrow donors and more than 5,000 people have registered since Talley started the program. The significance of the bone marrow program came to fruition last year, when current football player Joe Marcoux was a perfect match for a patient in need and donated blood-forming cells to a leukemia patient.

While gaining a great deal of recognition for his work in the community, Talley has also been the head coach of the Villanova football team since the university restarted the program in 1985. Talley has built the current program from scratch and amassed 152 career victories with the Wildcats. He is the program's all-time victories leader and entered the season ranked seventh among current FCS head coaches in career victories and 19th in winning percentage. Talley recorded his 150th career win at Villanova earlier this season when the Wildcats defeated Maine in their home opener.

In commemoration of 75 seasons of Eagles football in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated the players, fans and community that brought excitement and passion to the franchise's history. As part of this recognition of success and community, Dunkin Donuts honored the 75 Greatest Living Philadelphians for their ongoing contributions to the city of Philadelphia and its people. The program specifically aimed to highlight an individual's community-driven activities and accomplishments.