1996 Villanova Wildcats football team

The 1996 Villanova Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the Villanova University as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their 12th year under head coach Andy Talley, the team compiled a 8–4 record.

1996 Villanova Wildcats football
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 29–35 at East Tennessee State
Conference	Yankee Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 14
Record	8–4 (6–2 Yankee)
Head coach	Andy Talley (12th season)
Offensive coordinator	Dave Clawson (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Dan MacNeill (9th season)
Home stadium	Villanova Stadium
Seasons ← 1995 1997 →

1996 Yankee Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
New England Division
No. 18 New Hampshire x		6	–	2					8	–	3
Maine		5	–	3					7	–	4
UMass		4	–	4					6	–	5
Connecticut		3	–	5					4	–	6
Rhode Island		2	–	6					4	–	6
Boston University		0	–	8					1	–	10
Mid-Atlantic Division
No. 7 William & Mary x$^		7	–	1					10	–	3
No. 14 Villanova ^		6	–	2					8	–	4
No. 11 Delaware ^		6	–	2					8	–	4
No. 23 James Madison		5	–	3					7	–	4
Northeastern		3	–	5					6	–	5
Richmond		1	–	7					2	–	9
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	at Rutgers*		Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ	L 28–38	27,307	[1]
September 7	UMass		Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	W 50–14	6,207	[2]
September 14	No. 4 Delaware		Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA (rivalry)	W 27–0	12,079	[3]
September 21	Fordham*	No. 18	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	W 49–10	12,357	[4]
October 5	at No. 15 Connecticut	No. 13	Memorial Stadium Storrs, CT	W 38–27	13,596	[5]
October 12	at Northeastern	No. 12	Parsons Field Brookline, MA	W 42–31	3,100	[6]
October 19	No. 19 William & Mary	No. 9	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	L 21–30	4,733	[7]
October 26	at Richmond	No. 17	University of Richmond Stadium Richmond, VA	W 20–3	8,841	[8]
November 2	Rhode Island	No. 16	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA	W 34–16	7,648	[9]
November 9	at No. 18 New Hampshire	No. 16	Cowell Stadium Durham, NH	L 0–34	1,231	[10]
November 16	at No. 18 James Madison	No. 21	Bridgeforth Stadium Harrisonburg, VA	W 40–23	9,500	[11]
November 30	at No. 8 East Tennessee State*	No. 11	Memorial Center Johnson City, TN (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 29–35	4,939	[12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "A Knight for defense; Chadwick saves Rutgers, 38–28". The Courier-News. September 1, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Villanova rips UMass". The Berkshire Eagle. September 8, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Villanova ends dry spell with romp over Delaware". Courier-Post. September 15, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Villanova rolls over Fordham". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 22, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Cats roll, 38–27, as end sets record". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 6, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Northeastern nothing special". The Boston Globe. October 13, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "W&M answers Villanova". Daily Press. October 20, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Villanova defense stymies Richmond". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 27, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Park, Finneran lead 'Nova past R. Island". The News Journal. November 3, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "A Swett win for New Hampshire". The Boston Globe. November 10, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Late interceptions preserve a 'Nova win". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 17, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Bucs won't stop here". Johnson City Press. December 1, 1996. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.