This photographer/correspondent made the trip to Chattanooga starting with a home wakeup call (Glenside, PA) at 5:00 AM. After driving to PHL INT AIRPORT via the Blue Route, I checked myself and my cameras onto my prearranged 10:00 AM ATLANTA flight. Arriving at approximately 12:15 PM, I was greeted by a drenching rainstorm and more knowledge about the impending storm in Philadelphia for the following day. My Saturday flight was scheduled for 11:00 AM and I was concerned that it could possibly be cancelled and I would have to bed down in Atlanta. Anyway, I could not switch flights and the personnel advised me my best chance was to arrive early (3:00 AM) on Saturday to get a standby ticket. With this encouraging news, I headed off to the Hertz Rental Car station to pickup my prearranged car, which happened to be a beautiful Toyota Camry with 1800 miles on it. It was now close to 4:30.

With my new car, I headed up Rt 75 north to Chattanooga, driving mostly 10 mph on a 65 mph road. I guess the combination of rain and Atlanta rush hour were contributing factors. A trip that should have taken two hours took over three and I finally arrived at Finley Stadium at 8:00. After begging the parking attendants to let me park in the media lot, I now had to get my credentials. I headed for the "will call" windows and they said they did not handle Media credentials and they had to be "picked up" at a building three blocks from the stadium. I knew this would not work, as I was already missing the game and it was also pouring rain and I had no raincoat. I headed back to the car, got my Penn State credentials, put them around my neck and was good for the night. I should also say that coach Andy Talley and myself played football at Haverford High School. Andy was known as a good football player and a great dancer at that time in his life. It was very important to me personally and professionally that I record this game because I could never excuse myself if Villanova won and I "dropped the ball." I was doing this as much for Coach Talley as for myself.

I was finally at the game. It didn't take Montana long to start scoring and before I knew it, the score was 14-3 Grizzlies with 6 minutes 48 seconds left in the half. Villanova was looking troubled. Villanova was able to respond with a 5 yard touchdown by Matt Szczur before the half ended, while a missed extra point by Nick Yako kept the score Montana 14 Villanova 9 and it could have been worse. The first half belonged to a Grizzly named Marc Mariani, who had nine receptions for 178 yards.

The second half was a different story. Mariani was completely shut down by some new defensive strategies and the Villanova offense responded with a 13 play 81 yard drive that took 7:28 off the clock. Two second half touchdowns, one by Szczur and one by Chris Farmer proved too much for the Grizzlies. After the intermission, the Wildcats controlled the ball for over twenty minutes.

It was a tiring but fabulous experience for this old man. I have placed a few images on line and will add to these.

Panoramics of the team running on the field as time ran out, Chris Farmer Touchdown, 1st quarter field goal, touchdown celebration after Farmer Touchdown and more. Any player ordering a panoramic framed photograph will have a plate with all the scores, name of player, position, year and appropriate awards. This will be a lifetime keepsake, that is for sure.

Tom Mairs

If your son was in the game during this kickoff, he can clearly be seen when the image is printed to the standard panoramic size of 32" long and 10" high. This is a great view of the stadium and if purchased can create a lifetime of enjoyment and a piece that would display proudly in an office or private home. Remember, your son will always be a member of the team that won the first National Championship in Football for Villanova. The 32" print sells for $125.00 and framed with the Villanova pin and name plates is $349.00. Go to the link on the left column "Framed Team and Individual Samples" to visualize framing. All framing is double matted in Villanova colors and plates are cut into the mats, not pasted on. The most popular frame is the wood Black-Mahogany, but literally any frame you want is available. Payment options are PayPal (see link below), personal check or Visa or M/C. All cc are available if you pay by PayPal. Make sure you click on the link below to see the partial of this image. The internet can only do so much, the physical finished product will exceed your expectations, guaranteed.

see partial image of "Kickoff" to see detail

This touchdown catch by Chris Farmer put Villanova ahead 16-14 after a masterful 81 yard 13 play drive that took 7:28 off the clock. Whitney found Farmer in the left corner of the Grizzly endzone virtually alone. Farmer made the catch look easy as he skillfully kept his feet "in bounds." This drive, culminating with the touchdown, was a huge momentum changer. Make sure you click on the link below to see both the touchdown and the post game celebration, which of course can never be duplicated. Custom print alone 10" high and 32" long retails for $125.00 and framed with your choice of wood, double matted wth plates and Villanova athletic pin retails for $349.00, a lifetime keepsake that you will never regret purchasing. Make sure you click on the link to the left to see customized framing samples. Purchases can be made by Visa or M/C, personal check or PayPal (bottom link on home page).

see partial image of "Touchdown" to see detail

This xtra point image is exciting. The ball can clearly be seen coming through the posts, as Nick Yako revisted the Grizzlies endzone for a second opportunity, Nick did not disappoint. Make sure you click on the link below to clearly see the ball coming through the posts and the excitment of the Villanova players and the look of gloom on the Grizzly players, which of course could never be duplicated. Custom print alone 10" high and 32" long retails for $125.00 and framed with your choice of wood, double matted wth plates and Villanova athletic pin retails for $349.00, a lifetime keepsake that you will never regret purchasing. Make sure you click on the link to the left to see customized framing samples. Purchases can be made by Visa or M/C, personal check or PayPal (bottom link on home page).

see partial image of "Extra Point" to see detail

This image was created immediately after Chris Farmer's great touchdown catch. The spontanious outbreak from the Villanova players vibrantly illustrates a new level of confidence. If your son was involved on the field during this once in a lifetime moment, it would seriously be worth considering. The viewer can clearly see the enthusiasm and excitment on the players faces, which raised the notch up a mark for the Wildcats. Custom print alone 10" high and 32" long retails for $125.00 and framed with your choice of wood, double matted wth plates and Villanova athletic pin retails for $349.00, a lifetime keepsake that you will never regret purchasing. Make sure you click on the link to the left to see customized framing samples. Purchases can be made by Visa or M/C, personal check or PayPal (bottom link on home page).

see partial image of "Touchdown Celebration" to see detail

Chris Whitney has just received the ball, the linemen are acting out their pre-determined blocking schemes and Angelo Babarro is about to get the ball. Angelo is a hard nosed runnner and kick returner who loves football and the compitition it affords him. Angelo is also and A+ student in economics. If your son was in this image, it would be more than worth considering. This framed piece is proudly on display in the Villanova Football office. Another plus in this image is the Villanova team in the Villanova endzone with the painting of W I L D C A T S clearly spelled out. This makes an impressive piece even more desirable .Make sure you click on the link below to see detail of the developing play. Custom print alone 10" high and 32" long retails for $125.00 and framed with your choice of wood, double matted wth plates and Villanova athletic pin retails for $349.00, a lifetime keepsake that you will never regret purchasing. Make sure you click on the link to the left to see customized framing samples. Purchases can be made by Visa or M/C, personal check or PayPal (bottom link on home page).

see partial image of "Offense" to see detail

As I entered Finley Stadium (I was late as explained in the introduction), Villanova was setting up for Nick Yako's first and only Field Goal. If your son was in this play, the blocking and player numbers can clearly be seen, but the ball was a little to the left of lens' view. The W I L D C A T S end zone painting can clearly be seen and makes the image even more dramatic. Custom print alone 10" high and 32" long retails for $125.00 and framed with your choice of wood, double matted wth plates and Villanova athletic pin retails for $349.00, a lifetime keepsake that you will never regret purchasing. Make sure you click on the link to the left to see customized framing samples. Purchases can be made by Visa or M/C, personal check or PayPal (bottom link on home page).

see partial image of "Field Goal" to see detail

The post game celebration was surreal. This image captures the Villanova players with such enthusiasm they really don't know what to do. Some are hugging, others are jumping and some are looking for friends and relatives. The awards platform was also being carried out by 16 people that almost ran over this photographer. Custom print alone 10" high and 32" long retails for $125.00 and framed with your choice of wood, double matted wth plates and Villanova athletic pin retails for $349.00, a lifetime keepsake that you will never regret purchasing. Make sure you click on the link Framed Team and Individual Samples to see customized samples.

Purchases can be made by Visa or M/C,personal check or PayPal (bottom link on home page).  

see partial image of "Post Game" to see detail

This image is the panoramic of the team taken on October 2, 2009, the day before the William and Mary game, which Villanova won 28-17. All details of the national championship game and names of all staff members are included and the players names are being added as we speak. The print alone will be 12" high and 36" long and will sell for a special price of $99.00. A 12"x36" print can be placed into a standard poster frame, but remember, this is not a poster, it is a custom print. This can still be matted and framed like any of the the other panoramics to make a more formal and lasting image of the team that won the first national championship. Another option is to have your son's individual picture matted into the finished piece. Go to link Framed Team and Individual Samples on the left hand column to "get and idea" of what this might look like. Make sure you click on the partial image link below to visualize clarity. Purchases can be made by Visa or M/C, personal check or PayPal (bottom link on home page).

see partial image of "Team" to see detail