Twirling her braided pigtails, Penn senior Gina Talley confesses that she will be on Villanova's side of Franklin Field for this Saturday's football game when the Wildcats take on Penn.
She won't just be cheering for the Wildcats though, she'll be watching the game from the sidelines, keeping an eye on her dad, Villanova head coach Andy Talley.
Gina hated football though, until age eight when she made her dad explain the rules to her.
Since then, she has been an avid spectator for almost every Villanova home game and many of the away ones. She even came directly after her LSAT course to watch the second half of this past Saturday's game against Northeastern.
Although she enjoys the games, Gina stressed the importance of being there for her dad.
Andy also spoke spoke enthusiastically about his daughter's attendance.
"It's great, especially after wins, to see your daughter on the sidelines," Andy said. "If we lose, she's still there for me."
Gina is rooted in Villanova football. She had favorite players when she was younger and liked staying in the hotels during away game weekends.
Before football stadiums were wireless, Andy remembers his daughter carrying the cord for his headset around for him.
Her dad, coaching at Villanova for almost her entire life, never pressured her to go to Villanova for school, though. Gina came to Penn to play softball, but has not played since her freshman season.
Andy is now in his 21st season at Villanova's helm, and is the career leader in coaching wins at the school with 139 -- a number that also puts him ninth among active Division I-AA coaches.
He has also taken the Wildcats to the I-AA playoffs six times, advancing as far as the second round twice and the semifinals in 2002.
And because of this history, becoming a Penn football fan still isn't easy for Gina.
"Gina has Villanova football ingrained in her," Andy said. "She's been Blue and White for too long."
Gina is excited for Saturday's game because she thinks Franklin Field is a great place to play.
However, Saturday's matchup puts her in a difficult spot.
"Regardless of who wins, I'll lose," Gina said. "I'm both the home and away team at the same time."
The game will decide who can take the bragging rights.
Gina said no one at Penn really gives her a hard time about cheering for Villanova, but mentioned that one friend on the Penn football team won't let her hear the end of it if they win.
Although they are affiliated with the opposing schools this Saturday night, Gina and her father will be united by football on the sidelines.
"Winning the Penn game is awfully important, for more reasons than one this time," Andy said.
