Two big games coming up for Villanova

YOU DIDN'T need a Ph.D in schedule-ology to know back in August the two games most likely to define Villanova's CAA season were bunched within 2 weeks of each other and would take place in Virginia.

The first has arrived.

Tomorrow afternoon the Wildcats (5-1, 3-0) - who moved up a spot to fifth in the FCS rankings - will be at No. 15 William & Mary (4-2, 1-1). On Nov. 1 they will travel to No. 19 Richmond (4-2, 1-1), following their homecoming against Morgan State (3-3).

If the Wildcats want to put themselves in postion to have a good playoff run, which means not going on the road for as long as possible, this is where you begin to really make that convincing closing statement.

William & Mary and Richmond have both lost to No. 3 New Hampshire (5-1, 3-0), which Villanova doesn't play. Richmond lost to those Wildcats by three at home on Sept. 20. William & Mary went down last week in Durham, 32-3.

"I know they'll have their guys ready for us," said coach Andy Talley. "They have to knock us off if they want to stay in the race. And that's never been an easy place to play regardless."

His quarterback, John Robertson, has been the CAA's Offensive Player of the Week four times. He could be the frontrunner for the Walter Payton Award that goes to the national player of the year. But it's weeks like this that might well make the difference one way or the other.

"He's as consistent as anyone I've had [at that position]," Talley said. "And he's still playing with a cast on his [left] hand, and a hip-pointer. He's been the show so far. I hope the beat goes on . . .

"We're still trying to prove ourself. In the CAA you know you're going to have to go on the road and play good teams. And play well when you get there. They protect their homefield as well as anyone. It's a traditional southern school. I'm sure they'll play it up big."

Center Ross Hall is still out with an injury, but running back Austin Medley will be back from his. The kicking is once again being handled by freshman Steve Weyler from Cardinal O'Hara.

Two years ago, the Quakers were 1-3. They finished 6-4 and somehow got Al Bagnoli his ninth Ivy solo title.

Now they're 0-4. But if they won out, the worst they'd probably get is a shared ring. Which would still tie Bags with Yale's Carm Cozza for the most ever.

Just saying.

First they have to get to one. And they won't have any better shot than at home against winless Columbia, a team they've beaten 17 straight times.

"You know it's bad when you're getting two or three of those pity phone calls from your friends, just making sure you're OK," said Bagnoli. "It's been a rough stretch. We certainly could use a win at this point.

"I've never been so happy to be back in the Ivy League [for good]. Thank goodness. It feels like we haven't been home. Even the Villanova [41-7] game didn't seem like it was at home. Maybe now the game will slow down considerably for our kids."

The Quakers also dropped their last four last season. Before that, the only time they'd lost that many in a row in Bagnoli's 23 seasons was the last four of 2005. And that was after they suffered the tragic loss of one of their players.