V-Day Musings

February 14, 2006

Today, V-day may mean roses and candy for your sweetheart but for the rest of the week, it has to stand for victory over Villanova next Sunday. The greatest win in the history of the suburban Philadelphia school came against the Hoyas in the 1985 national championship men's basketball game when they played a perfect game and upset the Blue & Gray by the score of 66-64. Last year, 20 years later, the tables were turned, as the Hoyas sent the Wildcats to perhaps their most embarrassing

defeat ever. Sweetening the occasion was a same score victory in their own campus pavilion and with the entire 1985 Nova team and coaches in attendance and honored at halftime. Ah, revenge is a plate best served cold. And don't they deserve a second helping this year?

Unfortunately, the Villanova campus arena holds only 6,500, so tickets to the venue are virtually non-existent. Best to check the ticket-selling services or scalpers. Expect to pay serious coin.

Last week, I promised more Hall of Fame photos. I have posted several below. You can also read the citations presented to the inductees and hear their responses by clicking on the links found at this page: 2006 Hall of Fame citations and streaming video. Additional photos can be found there as well.

My picks for most interesting contests this coming week:

> Men's Basketball: Time to regroup for some road battles this week. First, a tough challenge against Marquette, and then, the mother of intensity-loaded conference clashes, the #17-ranked Hoyas (17-5) face #4-ranked Villanova (20-2) on Sunday at noon in the unfriendly on-campus confines of the Pavilion. The Wildcats are one day removed from taking down UConn who ascended to #1 after the Blue & Gray dethroned Duke several weeks ago.

> Women's Basketball: Let's hope that the solid road win against Syracuse last weekend provides a boost to the Hoyas (10-12) when they face #15-ranked DePaul (20-5) on Wednesday at 7:30 pm in McDonough Gymnasium. Take a break from the Olympics and get over to campus to help the women hoopsters exorcise the Blue Demons.

> Track & Field: The 27th edition of the BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field Championships moves this year to Akron, Ohio. The new location is due to the westward shift of the geographic center of the conference and the elimination of the indoor track at the Carrier Dome, the only previous host site in BIG EAST history. The Hoya men and women thinclads will test their mettle against some of the top individuals and teams in the nation. The two-day event at the Athletics Field House on the U of Akron campus will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday. Sunday's events will begin at 8:30 am with the awards ceremony at 3:00 pm.

> Swimming & Diving: The Hoya swimming and diving teams (M:4-7; W:7-5) will send 11 women and nine men, who qualified for the BIG EAST Conference championships, to East Meadow, NY on Wednesday through Saturday. The conference has sponsored swimming and diving championships each year since 1980. The event will be held at the Nassau Aquatic Center for the eighth consecutive year.

Last week, the Hoya athletic teams posted an overall win-loss record of 3-3 and earned a 7th place finish in standings competition. Men's and women's indoor track had multiple first place finishes.

RETURN to VFTH Home

Former Associate AD Denis Kanach and Coach Gagliano

Track alums Conan Louis '73 and Sam Gabremariam `98

Hall of Famers Jim DeRienzo '80 and Steve Stageberg `69

Penny Rickard '88 with daughters Paige and Lacey

Kelley Jones '88, Coach Gagliano and Penny Rickard '88 share a light moment prior to the dinner

Teammates and coaches of Penny Rickard join her for a post-dinner photo

Hall of Famers Tom Quinn '55 and Steve Stageberg `69

Jack the Bulldog joins 2006 Hall of Fame inductees Penny, Lynn, Ray

Penny Rickard '88, Lynn Moore '89, Ray Humphrey '87 at halftime of GU-Pitt basketball game

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