Villanova eager to send coach Andy Talley out a winner in final season

VILLANOVA'S football team finished 6-5 last season, after winning 11 times the year before. The Wildcats started as the fourth-ranked team in FCS. Then Walter Payton Award-winning senior quarterback John Robertson suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game. They lost the following week to Penn at home, their first loss to the Quakers in 15 meetings; the Quakers' scores including a 90-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Three games later, they lost at Towson by seven, as the Tigers ran back two interceptions for TDs (one an 86-yarder).

Still with a chance to make the playoffs, they lost the finale at No. 12 James Madison by nine. The Dukes scored on a kickoff, fumble (77 yards) and interception. By that point, the Wildcats were down to one healthy running back. There was a time earlier in the season when they played three backup offensive linemen.

That's how close they were, despite all the injuries and non-offensive TDs that went against them.

"We were probably 10 plays away from having a really good record," said redshirt sophomore quarterback Zach Bednarczyk, who threw for 1,396 yards and ran for 515 more as Robertson's replacement. "When John went down, I'm sure a lot of people thought our season was over. That says a lot about our program. I also think that's what's motivating us. We want to put ourselves on the map, even though we don't have a lot of big names coming back."

It really is his show now. Spring practice ends Friday, and the best news might be that nobody got hurt. But two starting offensive linemen (captain Nico D'Angelo and Brad Seaton, both seniors) and the starting tight end (senior Ryan Morris) sat out as they recuperate from injuries. They will be ready by training camp, part of a group that includes 10 fifth-year players for coach Andy Talley's 32nd and final season before he hands the keys to longtime assistant Mark Ferrante. The farewell tour starts Sept. 3 at Pitt.

Bednarczyk accounted for 15 TDs, 10 passing. And was responsible for many of those killer turnovers.

"It's just a whole different mindset I have to have," he said. "Not that as a backup you're treated much differently, but everything revolves around you now, as far as the team's success goes. The biggest lesson I learned was how important it is to protect the ball. It's been a point of emphasis, for the whole team, and will continue to be. You're not going to win games if you don't.

"It's not a good thing to go through, but I had to go through it. You can take it as a negative and put your head down and not want to play anymore, or you can try to get better. It's frustrating to watch (on film), just because they weren't smart decisions at all. I wish I could go back and change it, take a sack or something. You're trying to make something happen. But not every play has to be a huge play. When John went down, I was trying to make every play a huge positive. You just have to make sure every play's not a bad play. The good plays will come. You don't want to screw any of them up too bad. There's nothing wrong with a 5-yard gain.

"If you win the turnover battle and convert on third down, the (score sheet) shows you're almost always going to come out with a win."

The Wildcats have made the postseason five times in the last eight years. That includes a national title and a semifinal appearance back-to-back. They made the field in 2012, coming off a 2-9 season. And got in two years ago after going 6-5 in 2013.

"It's one of the best springs we've ever had, camaradarie-wise and team-wise," Talley said. "It's hard to put together 15 days of workouts, when there's no game to play for. But we have really good leadership. We have older guys. And I think they're disappointed about being part of a really good team that didn't get to the playoffs. There's a hunger there. They want to get back on that stage. That's part of our thought process. We've been one of those teams. That sticks with you.

"We could get overlooked, because we were 6-5 and not having John, and so on. I think that's probably when we're at our most dangerous . . . I don't think (my impending retirement) has come into play with me in any way, shape or form. It's something you build over time, with the ending really stretching into a new beginning, which I had a part of. Our staff will (still) be intact. With the pedigree that's been established, the pieces are in place for continued success."

Maybe Talley has one more prolonged run in him.

"We're aware of (the situation), but it doesn't change anything," Bednarczyk insisted. "Especially this season, because he's still here. When he's gone, things might be a little different. We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

First, there's those 10 plays to take care of. If you want to put together a proper farewell tour.

@mikekerndn