Vince Kowalski will be counted on as a leader this year for the Wildcats.

Vince Kowalski arrived at Villanova joining a football program right after it won a National title in 2009 and reached the National semifinals in 2010.

The Wildcats were on a run of success that had gone on for many years.

But graduation hit the Nova program badly after the 2010 season and coach Andy Talley was faced with the reality of having to play a lot of freshmen in 2011.

The 2011 season was the definition of the term “Baptism Under Fire” for many of the freshmen.

The result though was a thoroughly forgettable 2–9 overall record, 1–7 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play to finish in ninth place.

One major positive was these kids got a chance to learn the toughest, but most effective way to play successfully at this level.

The 2011 season worked probably the best for offensive tackle Vince Kowalski, who has developed into one of the best blockers in the FCS.

“It was tough, not only was I a freshman, we had a lot of true freshmen starting that year,” Kowalski said in a recent phone interview. “All of us getting thrown into the line of fire was tough. You can prepare all you want in camp as a freshman but nothing compares to that game speed, that first game on the field. It was a wake up call…the speed of the game is a lot faster, you have to be thinking a lot faster. It was a huge adjustment from the high school level.”

Kowalski said he never lost faith in his ability or his teammates. When asked if he ever had any second thoughts at for coming to Villanova, he replied without hesitation.

“No, not at all, I knew what we had going on going into the season,” Kowalski said. “I knew we were young. [Villanova] had just come off three really great years before we got there, It might have been time to have a down year.”
Kowalski and his Wildcat teammates adjusted well in 2012, forging an 8-4 overall record, 6-2 in CAA play.

Due to Old Dominion (7-1 in CAA play) being ineligible for the CAA title, the Wildcats finished in a four-way tie for the CAA championship. They received the CAA’s automatic bid into the FCS playoffs where they lost in the first round to Stony Brook.

Kowalski is headed into his junior year as one of the leaders on the team.
Talley talked about what it was like for the 6-foot-4, 305 pounder to have to come in and man one of the toughest positions in football.

“We should have red-shirted him,” Talley said. “But we needed him to play as a true freshman. He really got knocked around that first year. But he has height, ability and really good feet. Vince is also aggressive and smart. He is a good student as well.”

Kowalski said he was glad to his “Baptism under fire” out of the way while he was young and the team ‘s expectations were not as high as they might have been in another year.

“I’m glad it happened my freshman year instead of my senior year,” said Kowalski, who was a standout lineman at Williamstown High School in South Jersey. “After that season, we knew there was no where to go but up. Last year, we made tremendous strides, and this year we’re going make even more strides.”

One of those strides included teammate John Robertson, who became the second player to win the Jerry Rice Award, which is presented to the outstanding freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Any coach, running back or quarterback will tell you success in football starts in the trenches, but the guys battling in the trenches usually only have their name called over the loudspeaker at a game when they commit a penalty.
Kowalski said he was genuinely happy for his teammate and understands the situation with linemen.

“I’m used to it by now, I’ve been a lineman my whole life,” Kowalski said with a bit of a laugh. “I’m used to not being behind the spotlight. We’re in the trenches for a reason. We’re the ones doing most of the work opening up holes for the running backs. It is what it is. At this point I’m used to it. I’ll let the running backs get all the glory. I get my glory on the sideline after we score a touchdown. That’s enough for me.”

Kowalski is also happy for his high school team’s success in 2012 when the Braves captured the Group V State title and recording the first perfect season in school history.

“I was excited for coach (Frank) Fucetola,” Kowalski said. “He is probably the most hard working coach I have ever met. Every day he is bending over backwards for the kids. To see him win it, I was ecstatic.”

Kowalski says he stays in touch with current players and his former coaches.
“I’ve talked to [Fucetola] on multiple occasions, he’s still excited,” Kowalski said. “But his focus is on this year. Since he retired from teaching, all he does is put his time into football. He loves that so much better.”

Kowalski cited a solid returning corps of key players from the title team, gives the Braves a solid chance to repeat.

“A lot of their skill guys are back like Doug Banks, John Chamberlin Marques Little plus linemen Pete Halloran and Austin Odd,” Kowalski said. “They did lose some key seniors but I know the coaches will have them ready. I keep in contact with Coach [Mark] Suk, the offensive line coach. At the beginning of every season he’s a little bit worried but somehow he pulls a rabbit out of the hat and creates this monstrous offensive line.”

Talley said he thinks Kowalski has the size, talent and dedication to develop into an NFL prospect. Kowalski admitted the possibility of a professional career has crossed his mind.

“I’ve thought about it,” he said. “I don’t think about it every day or try to work myself up saying I’m going to be this big NFL stud. I have a goal in mind here right now and that’s to win a National title for Villanova. That’s (NFL) is going to be great in two years…it can happen. But for right now I can’t get ahead of myself. I have to worry about the goal in hand and that is bringing another national title to Villanova.”

Kowalski said he believes the Cats are good enough to make a run over the next two seasons, preferably this year.

“I think we do,” said Kowalski, who was selected to the Super 100 All-State Team, First team All-South Jersey and was a two-time first team All-Conference player. “We’re working really hard. We’ve been working with our strength coach, Coach Matusz, and he is really kicking us into shape, which is a good thing. We’re really going to need that for this year.

“There is a difference between confident and cocky,” Kowalski continued. “I think we’re definitely confident but we need to make sure we don’t get cocky at the same time.”

A lot of observers are picking the Wildcats to go far in 2013. Kowalski said he pays no attention.

“Preseason predictions don’t really mean much, you have to go on the field and prove yourself.”

Email Al Thompson at the.magazine2@footballstories.com