Penn's Bagnoli faces Villanova's Talley one last time

When the rivalry between two longtime coaching friends ends Saturday at Franklin Field, Penn football coach Al Bagnoli expects Villanova's Andy Talley to pick up the tab for at least one dinner.

The two were friends years before they arrived at their current jobs, and the relationship grew when Bagnoli took over at Penn for the 1992 season.

Their rivalry will end Saturday when Villanova visits Penn at 3 p.m.

Bagnoli, 61, announced in the spring that this would be his final season, and no doubt one of the things he will miss most is his competition with Talley, who is 71.

But first, he would simply like a meal from the Villanova coach.

"I am waiting for some kind of dinner," Bagnoli said, cracking up while making his demand after Wednesday's practice at Franklin Field. "I tell him I helped his career won-loss record, at least he can give me a dinner certificate."

Now in his 23d season at Penn, Bagnoli is the only coach in Ivy League history to win nine outright titles. Yet against Villanova, the Quakers' record mirrors that of the Washington Generals.

Bagnoli and Penn are 0-12 against Talley and Villanova.

Then again, Villanova is a scholarship school and Penn is not, and the Wildcats should be the favorites each season.

The last game in the series decided by seven or fewer points was in 2008, when the Wildcats won, 20-14, in overtime.

Four of the 12 games have been decided by seven or fewer points, so Penn has provided its share of competitive games in this series.

This season, the gap between the teams seems to have widened. Villanova is 2-1 and ranked fifth in this week's Football Championship Subdivision coaches poll. The lone loss was a 27-26 double-overtime thriller at Football Bowl Subdivision's Syracuse. Penn is coming off last week's opening 34-31 loss at Jacksonville.

Talley has warned his team all week about Penn and its competitive spirit under Bagnoli. And Talley will truly miss seeing his friend on the opposing sideline after Saturday.

"I am sorry to see him end his career, but he has had a fabulous career and is getting out while he is on top, and there is a lot to be said for that," said Talley, who is 206-126-1 at Villanova and 234-144-2 overall. "But the coaching game is going to miss a really true legend in the Ivy League."

Bagnoli's record at Penn is 146-73. His .666 winning percentage is the second highest in Ivy League history, and he is the winningest coach in Penn's 137-year history.

"He's a tribute to college football, and a lot of people can learn a lot of lessons from Al Bagnoli," Talley said.

It's no surprise that Bagnoli says the same about his friend.

"I think he is a guy who gets it, gets it on the field, off the field, carries himself great and we have had a really nice relationship," Bagnoli said.

The two have known each other since they were Division III head coaches in Upstate New York, with Talley at St. Lawrence and Bagnoli at Union.

Talley was 28-18-1 in five seasons at St. Lawrence from 1979 to '83. Bagnoli was 86-19 in 10 seasons at Union from 1982 to '91.

When Bagnoli arrived at Penn, one of the people who helped ease the transition was Talley.

"He has been a guy who has been a mentor to the coaches in the Delaware Valley - myself included," Bagnoli said.

The two frequently kid each other, something that comes from such a long relationship.

"You can make fun of him and he can make fun of you," Bagnoli said. "He has a very nice personality."

Adds Talley: "He is a gentleman and a class act."

Both will cherish facing each other one last time.

And once the game is over, regardless of the result, Bagnoli no doubt will eventually get his meal from his longtime friend.