March 29, 2006

On Saturday, May 6, the V Club will host the Villanova Football Gridiron Gala on campus in the Villanova Room at the Connelly Center. The event will celebrate the rich history of Wildcat football, which has been part of the fabric of the University for over 100 years.

For this special event, the V Club is inviting back former Wildcat players and coaches to celebrate the tradition of excellence that has defined the school's football program. Many distinguished guests and honored alumni are expected to attend the event, including former Wildcat greats Howie Long, Brian Finneran, and Brian Westbrook.

The Villanova football program played its first season as a varsity sport in 1894. Throughout its history, the team has made five bowl appearances, played in the NCAA Division I playoffs six times, and had 22 players earn first team All-America status. Over 100 former players have made the professional ranks. Two players (Finneran - 1997 and Westbrook - 2001) have been named Walter Payton award winners as the top offensive players in Division I-AA football. In addition, Head Coach Andy Talley was presented with the prestigious Eddie Robinson Award as the nation's top I-AA coach as well as the AFCA/GTE National Coach of the Year in 1997.

Long parlayed his success at Villanova into a legendary NFL career with the Oakland Raiders. He recorded 84 career sacks, made eight Pro Bowl appearances, and led the Raiders to a victory in Super Bowl XVIII. The pinnacle of his achievements was being named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1980s and later being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Now recognized as one of the top NFL analysts around, Long provides his insight and experience to FOX NFL Sunday.

Villanova's first Walter Payton award winner, Finneran has enjoyed a solid 7-year NFL career. A veteran leader for the Atlanta Falcons, Finneran reached at least 50 catches in a season for the second time in 2005. He was a key contributor to the 2004 Falcons squad that advanced to the NFC Championship game. Finneran's most productive season to date was in 2002 when he registered 56 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns.

The holder of 41 school records and five NCAA records, Westbrook has continued to flourish in a variety of roles with the Philadelphia Eagles. Only four years into his career, Westbrook has already accumulated 30 total touchdowns. Westbrook's shining moment came in 2004, when he led all running backs in receptions and earned an invitation to the Pro Bowl. In addition, he helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl XXXIX and scored a touchdown against the New England Patriots.

The emcee for the night will be Jim Murray, Class of 1960. Murray returned to his alma mater in 1966 as the Sports Information Director. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1969 and became the team's general manager in 1974. Under Murray's leadership, the Eagles enjoyed four straight playoff appearances from 1978-1981, culminating in the franchise's appearance in Super Bowl XV. Equally significant has been Murray's accomplishments off the field. He helped start the Eagles Fly for Leukemia campaign and co-founded the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia.

Head Coach Andy Talley, who has been leading the football team for nearly a quarter of the program's history, has a great appreciation for the significance of this night. Talley said, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring generations of former Villanova football players and friends together to celebrate 108 years of Villanova football."

Director of Athletics Vince Nicastro emphasized the importance of this event by stating, "The Gridiron Gala is part of our on-going effort to recognize the outstanding athletic traditions at Villanova. Football has been an important part of the Villanova experience for over 100 years and has created many wonderful memories for generations of students, alumni, and fans. Nicastro continued, "This will be an evening that will celebrate every era of Villanova football and one that fans won't want to miss."

More information and further details about the Gridiron Gala can be obtained by contacting the V Club at 1-877-434-1500. To download a brochure related to the Gridiron Gala, click here.