Andy Talley

Villanova coach Andy Talley hears the question wherever he goes, the one that quickly follows, "Hi, how are you?" How are you going to replace Brian Westbrook? The question has popped up often during this month of Villanova spring football practice, which ends today. It comes from the most passionate to the most casual of Villanova football fans, and with good reason. Westbrook is headed to the Eagles, who made him a third-round draft choice last weekend after a college career that saw him rewrite the record books of the Wildcats and the Atlantic Ten Football Conference, make the All-America team three times and win the 2001 Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA.

Villanova quarterback Clint Park stared across the line of scrimmage at his former Navy junior-varsity teammates, and he received a semi-cordial, semi- hostile welcome. It was Oct. 21, and Villanova was in the process of losing, 20-14, at Annapolis. Park had entered the game in relief of starter Tom Marchese, but the Navy players did not want to offer relief to an ex-teammate who transferred to Villanova after one season on the Navy JV. "It was weird," Park said. "I knew nine of their 11 starters on defense.

Villanova's forthcoming football season will be one of firsts: It will be the Wildcats' inaugural year in the Yankee Conference, perhaps the country's premier Division I-AA league. It will feature Villanova's first Division I-A opponent (Wake Forest) in eight years. It will be played with the first senior-dominated team since Andy Talley resurrected the program more than four years ago. With all this, however, comes pressure. This is the season the Wildcats settle into the schedule they have been aiming for since the program was restored at the Division I-AA level, the reward for those years of toiling in relative anonymity against the Paces, Mercyhursts and Catholic Universities of the world.

Andy Talley calls Tommy Colombo the heart and soul of Villanova's football team. But Colombo is not likely to be the starting quarterback on Saturday afternoon at Boston University. Talley said he has already decided which of his two quarterbacks - Colombo, a senior, or junior Brad Parpan - will start, but he will not announce the decision until game time. However, unless Talley was on a massive misdirection campaign yesterday, it certainly looks as if it will be Parpan. The Wildcats' head coach all but anointed the 6-foot-4 fireballer, who came on in the fourth quarter against Richmond on Sept.

For Villanova freshman quarterback Michael Rusnak, there was the sweet: two touchdown passes and 147 passing yards on 13 completions. And there was the sour: three fumbles, the last of which finished off Villanova's final chance late in the fourth quarter, letting the Wildcats fall to New Hampshire, 21-14. And with that, Villanova completed its season with a record of 5-6 overall and 2-6 in the Yankee Conference. This is the first time Villanova has suffered back-to-back losing seasons since football was reinstated at the university in 1985.

One week after riding the arm of quarterback Chris Boden to save its season, Villanova will try to avoid a letdown today when the Wildcats play Northeastern in an Atlantic Ten game at Villanova Stadium. A letdown would be a logical concern after the Wildcats' 48-45 triple-overtime victory over Connecticut, a game in which Boden threw for a school-record 444 yards and four touchdowns while completing 43 of 69 passes. But Wildcats coach Andy Talley doesn't think the "L" word fits his team, especially now that the goals of an Atlantic Ten championship and a NCAA Division I-AA playoff berth are back within reach.

Villanova had gone nearly seven quarters without a big play or a big turnover, or even so much as seeing what the goal line looked like. Then it happened. The Wildcats got two turnovers from their defense and turned them into touchdowns yesterday as they rallied to defeat Fordham, 25-5, at Villanova Stadium. "You can't coach big plays," Wildcats coach Andy Talley said. "We were trying to figure out who would make them. " Free safety Barry Alvis, who led the way with 10 tackles, made the first with an interception of quarterback John Pohlman.

Perhaps Villanova should have tried harder to get a game against a Division I-A opponent for the nonconference slot in its schedule. Whatever might have happened against a powerhouse couldn't have been as embarrassing as what did happen against New Haven last night. The Wildcats were flatter than bad champagne. They hurt themselves with turnovers and mistakes. The Chargers, a Division II team, fed off this ineptitude and showed no fear against the 12th-ranked team in Division I-AA.

Villanova football coach Andy Talley has a flair for theatrics. After pinning up on a bulletin board all the preseason football stories about the Wildcats being ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in Division I-AA and right on top of the Yankee Conference, Talley brought the articles to practice and burned them. The coach started a nice little bonfire right on the field. Message sent and message received, Villanova players said. Talley, whose team opens its season tonight at 7 at Villanova Stadium against Division II West Chester, continues to try to bring his players down a peg or two. "We do not feel we're even close to what we were in '91," said Talley, whose Wildcats were 10-2 in 1991.

Fred Maldonado, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound safety at West Chester East High, committed to Villanova last Monday after completing an official visit. Maldonado, a member of The Inquirer's all-Southeastern Pennsylvania first team in football, was one of 12 recruits visiting the Main Line campus. Six prospects - among them Cardinal O'Hara's John Dempsey and St. Joseph's Prep's Chris Whitney - had committed to the Wildcats before the weekend. Five of the remaining six gave head coach Andy Talley an affirmative by the final day of the visit.

The record may not show it, but Andy Talley sees it. Maybe that's because of the small glasses he wears. Or perhaps it's simply optimism. But the Villanova coach sees progress in his awfully young team. He sees an offense that is coming together and, if the pieces fall into place, could be deadly come next fall. The Wildcats (1-8 overall, 0-6 Colonial Athletic Association) managed to gain 405 yards of total offense last week against a powerful Maine team but came away with a 41-25 loss.

A young Villanova squad faced defending Colonial Athletic Association champion, and this year's favorite, William and Mary at Villanova Stadium on Saturday and took the game down to the wire. Going into the fourth quarter, inexperienced 'Nova trailed by one point. In the end, however, even that deficit was too much to overcome for the Wildcats as they dropped a 20-16 decision before a crowd of 6,027. The Wildcats' hopes of pulling off the upset ended when quarterback Christian Culicerto was intercepted by William and Mary defensive back B.W. Webb at the Tribe's 11-yard line with 3 minutes, 33 seconds left to play.

Villanova's football team is 0-3 going into its nonleague game against host Penn (0-1) Saturday night. And, no, the Wildcats have not played better than their record indicates. After losing 12 starters from squads that won a Football Championship Subdivision national championship and then reached the final four, 'Nova is one of the youngest teams in coach Andy Talley's 27 years at the school. "Obviously, we are a struggling football team right now," said Talley, whose team is winless after three games for only the third time in his tenure.

When: Saturday at 3:30 p.m., Villanova Stadium Radio: ESPN-AM 950 Records: Monmouth, 0-1; Villanova, 0-2 overall, 0-1 Colonial Athletic Association Series: First meeting Coaches: Monmouth, Kevin Callahan (19th season at Monmouth, 104-81); Villanova, Andy Talley (27th season at Villanova, 188-109-1) THREE THINGS TO WATCH The Wildcats will be without starting QB Dustin Thomas , who was injured last week against Towson.

When: Saturday at 7 p.m., Johnny Unitas Stadium, Towson, Md. Records: Villanova, 0-1; Towson, 1-0. Coaches: Villanova, Andy Talley (27th season, 188-108-1); Towson, Rob Ambrose (third season, 4-19). Radio: ESPN-AM (950). TWO THINGS TO WATCH Villanova quarterback Dustin Thomas had a rough beginning to his career as a starting college quarterback. But his coach stuck with him, so he will need to do much better this week. The Wildcats offensive line struggled against Temple, and this unit will need to step up and help its young QB. TWO THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW Talley is the CAA's all-time leader in wins with 112. A cornerback, Craig James, led 'Nova in tackles against Temple with 10. - Kevin Tatum

Around this time last year, the Villanova football team went into preseason camp as the defending national champion in the Football Championship Subdivision, and with a senior class poised to add to its accomplishments. But when the Wildcats began preparations for the 2011 season Thursday, all-American offensive tackle Ben Ijalana was not in the room. Neither was do-it-all star Matt Szczur. And three other all-Colonial Athletic Association first-teamers in linebackers Terence Thomas and Marquis Kirkland, and offensive guard Brant Clouser also have moved on. In addition, quarterback Chris Whitney and safety Fred Maldonado, who were second-team all-league, will have to be replaced, as will third-team selections Thomas Weaver (defensive lineman)

Villanova's spring football practice ended Friday, its program at a crossroads. Most of the stars who led the Wildcats to the 2009 national title and a 2010 national semifinal appearance in the Football Championship Subdivision are gone. Meanwhile, the program waits to hear whether 'Nova is moving up to play Big East football. The Villanova board of trustees is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the move. Last week, football coach Andy Talley said, "I think it's been disconcerting for the coaching staff" waiting for that decision, understanding that a lot of issues arise - from recruiting to facilities - if Villanova moves up to I-A football.

In April, Villanova is expected to finally decide whether it will move up to Division I-A in football and join the Big East, where it's played in all other sports for the last 3 decades. Yet coach Andy Talley insists that he hasn't dangled that carrot when it comes to recruiting. Instead, he's selling the fact that the Wildcats won a national Football Championship Subdivision title in 2009, and were in the quarterfinals ('08) and semis (last season). And it must be working, because the class he signed yesterday is projected as one of the best ever to hit the Main Line.

Like many talented football players, Dillon Lucas wanted to see what he could do if given the opportunity to play at the highest level in college. And there's every chance he still might, even if it's not right away. Today, the 6-2, 215-pound outside linebacker from South Jersey's Shawnee High will officially become part of a Villanova recruiting class being projected as perhaps the best coach Andy Talley's ever had. Which is obviously saying something, since the one that's moving on won an Football Championship Subdivision national championship and contended for two others.