Villanova starts new era as 10th-ranked team in FCS

For over three decades, Andy Talley was Villanova football.

He started the program back up from scratch, at the FCS level following a four-year absence, and molded it into a national brand. He produced three Walter Payton Award winners (and very nearly a fourth). And won a national championship in 2009. All of which should get him into the Hall of Fame one day.

But it's no longer his baby anymore. Talley retired after last season, his 32nd. Now longtime assistant Mark Ferrante, who played quarterback for him at Division III St. Lawrence once upon a time, assumes control. Which means …

"There's going to be some subtle changes, but I don't think there will be a lot of noticeable differences, at least not early on," said Ferrante, who will start his debut season ranked 10th. "A lot of people have asked me about that. For me, the day to day, the Monday to Tuesday and Tuesday to Wednesday, those have gone a lot faster. The two hours when we're on the field practicing goes slower. Now I'm bouncing around. I'm not just with my offensive lineman like I used to be. I promised Sean Devine, the new offensive-line coach, that I'd leave him alone. Believe me, we may have upgraded in that coaching position.

"I'm not a coach coming into a new situation. The uniforms haven't changed. I haven't done any of that stuff. Coach Talley did a great job here. If you have a winning formula in place, why would you want to change anything? He taught me how to do things, as far as everything he's developed into the culture of this program. I'm not coach, and he's not me. So our personalities are different. As I grow with the position, that may become more evident down the road. But not right now.

"The players have heard me before. Coach has put me in those situations. I've been to banquets, handled media days. He sent me to head-coaching meetings, for various reasons. I've spoke in front of the team to break down a practice, or to start a practice, or in a team meeting. It's just that now I'm doing it all. So they're hearing it more frequently."

One thing Ferrante hasn't done is call all the shots in a game. He'll get his first opportunity Saturday afternoon at Lehigh, which is ranked 17th and gave the Wildcats all they could handle last year on the Main Line. The following week in South Philly, it's Temple with a new quarterback coming off a trip to Notre Dame. Looking at it realistically, the Wildcats probably have a better chance of starting 0-2 than 2-0. But they have a whole bunch back from a team that went 9-4 and reached the second round of the playoffs.

"I think it definitely helps that [Ferrante] was here for so long with coach Talley," said senior linebacker Ed Shockley, who tied for the team lead last season with 86 tackles. "We have the same goals, the same mentality. We have our own expectations. Rankings are nice, but they don't mean anything. You have to go out there and play. Our league is really tough. If you can get through this league, you can definitely win a national championship."

Which James Madison did last season. And the Dukes, who are No. 1, host Villanova on Oct. 14. But the Wildcats will face plenty of other challenges besides that in what might be the country's toughest conference.

"It's a grind," said senior defensive back Rob Rolle, who had an FCS-high seven interceptions in 2016 and scored two touchdowns (another was called back because of a penalty). "Every week can be like a heavyweight fight, regardless of who you're playing. You're going to face adversity.

"We had a lot of moving parts in the offseason. But there weren't any hiccups. If we get everyone on the same train it's going to be dangerous. We've been close. That just makes you hungry. What do you have to do to put your team over the top and not be on the bitter end of it?"

The defense ranked as the tops in FCS, but lost three players after last season, including second-round NFL draft pick Tanoh Kpassagnon. The offense has to replace two starters from an offensive line that disappointed a bit. But junior quarterback Zach Bednarczyk has the potential to be another one in a long line of Villanova's really good ones, and there are enough playmakers around him at the skill spots. Still …

In last year's wins, they averaged 33 points. They scored two offensive touchdowns in the losses. That had better change.

"It's frustrating," said Bednarczyk. "We had the opportunity at the end of the [10-7] South Dakota State game to go down the field and potentially win it. But we couldn't do it."

Instead, their season ended, one step short of a quarterfinal trip to North Dakota State.

Now, with Talley retired, a new era is about to get underway.

"I mean, coach Ferrante has always been around," Bednarczyk said. "You still can sense some of the coach Talley things. So it's been a very smooth transition."

Ferrante has waited patiently for his time. Talley left him with a good team. How good remains to play out. And in FCS, there can be a huge difference between going 9-2 and sometimes even 8-3. If you get to the postseason, you want to have an opening bye, and you want to play at home as much as possible.

The next guy up knows how it works. He learned from one of the all-timers.

Saturday, at Lehigh: The 17th-ranked Mountain Hawks averaged 38 points a game last season, when they won their last nine to make the FCS playoffs. They only lost by five at Villanova in Week 2. They do have to replace quarterback Nick Shafnisky. But Brad Mayes looked real good when he was hurt. Which probably means Mark Ferrante's long-awaited debut will be anything but easy.

Sept. 9, vs. Temple at Lincoln Financial: It's not as if they haven't beaten the Owls before. But it was a while ago. The last two meetings, in 2011 and '12, weren't close. Temple will have a new starting QB and plays at Notre Dame the week before. So it could be interesting.

Sept. 16, vs. Lafayette: It's the home opener, and the Wildcats seldom lose on the Main Line. Especially against teams they're supposed to beat on paper. Last year it was 31-14 in Easton, when they scored two defensive TDs.

Sept. 23, at Albany: It's the conference opener and first of two potentially dangerous night games on the road. They won at home last year, 24-13, in a matchup of ranked teams.

Sept. 30, at Towson: They lost down there two years ago, 28-21. And beat the Tigers in 2016 at home, 40-21. If they only have one loss after this game they should be in prime shape for the stretch run.

Oct. 7, vs. Maine: Have beaten Black Bears three straight. This is one they have to get.

Oct. 14, at James Madison: Harrisonburg, Va., is never an easy place to visit. And the Dukes appear to be loaded again. It doesn't mean the Wildcats can't win. They just won't be expected to.

Oct. 28, vs. Elon: With a week off to get over whatever happened at JMU, this has to be another gimme.

Nov. 4, vs. Richmond: This could mean the difference between having an opening bye and/or home games in the postseason. And they know what it's like to travel in December. The Spiders, who are at JMU the following week, won last year down there, 23-0. They scored a TD in the closing seconds when they could have just run out the clock. Those kind of memories tend to linger.

Nov. 11, at Rhode Island: See Elon, minus the preceding bye.

Nov. 18, vs. Delaware: They've taken 11 of the last 12 meetings. Last year it was 41-10, in Newark, Del. in Andy Talley's regular-season farewell. But many have been decided at the very end. There should be something at stake, maybe even for both sides.