2016 opponent

[Gangtackle11]

Lehigh Football blogger reporting that Villanova will be on Lehigh's 2016 schedule.http://www.lehighsportsforum.com/forums/topic/lehigh-football-schedule/

Pitt is the FBS foe. I wonder if Lehigh is replacing Fordham or Penn?


This post was edited on 2/18 6:06 PM by Gangtackle11

 

[VUWildCat2003]

I was honestly thinking about Lehigh today. I went to lacrosse camp back there in 1994.....which is depressing, and I visited the campus recently while driving through those parts. I never made a Football game there but that will change. I hope they get that series going again and keep the series with Fordham going. I live on Long Island so it's nice to have a local game.

 

[Gangtackle11]

Most likely get Stony Brook in 2016/17 schedule.

 

[VUWildCat2003]

I went to the playoff game there a few years ago when Stony Brook had those 2 big time running backs. I think one of them was a transfer from Iowa or something. It was friggin' freezing and we lost, other than that, nice place to watch a game!

 

[paschall]

A guess, Penn. Sorta hate to see the series end. Lately the games haven't been all that competitive, and the crowds are dwindling. There also has been some noise from the people at Penn that they would be just as happy to have us off their schedule as not. Andy's buddy, Bagnoli is gone, so I suppose this may be as good a time as any to end the series.

 

[UncleEd]

Just a guess - Penn.

 

[UncleEd]

Maybe Coach T will have Cats play Columbia now that published reports have his buddy Al Bagnoli in talks with Columbia about their head coaching job. New AD at Columbia is Peter Pilling who was at Nova as part of the IMG team.

 

[DCFRANKLIN]

Columbia game back in '86 was a nail biter. We had all Frosh & Sophs. They were trying to snap record losing streak. ABC cut to updates from Baker Field. We pulled it out with a strong 4th Qtr. rally. Fun memories.

 

[Gangtackle11]

I would hope Villanova would limit their future games with the Ivys. A top FCS school with 63 scholarships shouldn't be playing the Ivys except in rare cases.

 

[UncleEd]

Gang - I really think Lehigh replaces Penn. Thus no Ivys. The Columba talk is just that- pure talk. Not going to happen.
Lehigh is a good opponent. Cats should win 3 out of ever 4.
This post was edited on 2/19 8:59 PM by UncleEd

 

[Gangtackle11]

UE: I suspected as much. Thanks. A FBS, Fordham, Lehigh OOC schedule is solid.

 

[UncleEd]

I think most of us know the FBS schedule for the next 4 years, but it might be worth stating again - 15-at UConn 16 -at Pitt
17 at Temple 18 at Temple

 

[prospect]

Uncle Ed, I am so done with Temple. I now we get some money from them and the team does't have to travel, but I don't like losing big to them from a local standpoint,like the last two games. I think we could haveplayed with them the last two years, but I don't want to listen to all the local VU haters if we catch them when the are up and we are down. I never saw fans of a1A program as concerned with a1AA program as many of their fans are with Villanova.And if we beat them, people don't think it is tha big a deal. But most years, they will beat us. I just think the negatives outweigh the positives from a local standpoint. Thoughts??

 

[UncleEd]

Forget those last two games. Won't happen again. Cats won't be down in 17. The 16 season scares me. Cats will need to replace some of the best players in our history. The QB will be without experience. How do you replace the talent from the 15 team that might well lead Cats to another national title? IMO Cats have many very talented under classmen. But in 16 they will just be very inexperienced. But by 17 Nova will be strong again. You mention Temple being up. That will be the day. Those last two games our Cats were down. As I said won't happen again. Of course if people don't think it is a big deal when we beat Temple it is because those people have no respect for TU football.
As for the local dislike of Nova - just let it go. The Nova haters you mention are mostly Hawks some LaSalle people. For years a LaSalle grad,president of their alumni athletic club sat in front of me at the Nova home football games and cheered for Cats.
Many Temple fans are bitter about Villanova's athletic success. Cats hold an edge in both football and basketball all time series. Big state U can't even get up on a small Catholic U. And if those TU fans(the few they have) were good sports fans they would congratulate teams like Nova that every year step up to play an FBS team. I won't even mention our 25 -2 men's hoops team # 6 in country. 4-0 in B5 with of course another win over Temple. In 1842 Augustinians from Philly opened a college in the Philly suburbs. Some Philly people never got over it. Tough.
You know I am a South Philly guy. Three of us from my grade school went to Nova. 24 guys from my high school ,South Catholic started VU with me. Maybe you don't meet enough Nova families. Try to avoid those jealous Philly clowns that are bad sports.
Finally, I have seen some rotten posts on our board by Temple people who stupidly injected religion into athletic posts. I was shocked by some of those posts. So in that respect I can feel your pain.
GO CATS

 

[paschall]

Temple "seems" to be getting better recruits. It's going to be tough to beat them going forward. 85 recruits vs 63, always is a huge advantage. When we play them in 2016 we will have a rookie QB at the helm. Too bad Army and Navy apparently want no part of playing us, they would be much more preferable than playing Temple. Temple thinks beating us is a huge accomplishment. I guess it is since they trail the overall series. Don't need to hear from their silly fans, all 8,000 of them, how great it is when they beat us.

 

[UncleEd]

Paschall big problem with your post, Our Cats will play FBS Pitt in 16, Temple in 17 and 18.
Agree it is really difficult for an FCS team to step up and beat an FBS team. But Cats have done it twice, beating Rutgers and Temple. Agree TU seems to be getting better recruits. Cats are also getting great recruits. Just not as many as TU. There in is our biggest problem.

 

[Gangtackle11]

The FBS game provides revenue to the program and IMO is the only reason games are played. Given that it is a money thing it doesn't sting a bit when the Cats get thumped even by Temple. I like to see them play an FBS team that they can compete against and most they do. I'm sure Syracuse wasn't thrilled to have to count on our kicking game to provide them with a win in double OT. Some years they get blown out, but most they will be competitive and every once in awhile grab an unexpected W.

The real season starts the following week. What you hope is you aren't beat up and saddled with key injuries to play against FCS/CAA teams. Temple or any other FBS for that matter takes the 'Cats to the woodshed than so be it.

That said I'd a more than a little concerned if I followed a certain team out of Storrs, CT. I'd be willing to wager UConn would rather be facing another FCS opponent than Villanova given where the UConn program currently is.

 

[centraljerseycat]

Going forward Lehigh and Bucknell will be replacing Penn and Fordham on the schedule.

 

[Gangtackle11]

Adding Bucknell & Lehigh in 2016 along with FBS game with Pitt. 2017 sees Temple added.

I like the Pennsylvania flavor on the schedule!