by KYW's Mike DeNardo

It's a high honor for Villanova's national championship football team.

With the NCAA trophy at center stage in the Crystal Tea Room atop the former Wanamaker's department store, members of the national champion Villanova football team today accepted this year's Wanamaker Athletic Award -- given to the team that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia.

Head coach Andy Talley (far right in photo) realizes his team is in good company:

"Julius Erving, the Philadelphia Phillies, Jimmy Rollins, (Ryan) Howard.  So to be with those names and those organizations, you're really up there where the air is rare."

Running back Matt Szczur (pronounced Caesar), who was just drafted by the Chicago Cubs but is still eligible for his senior year of football, was humbled as well:

"It's a very prestigious award.  I think the Phillies got it the year they won the world championship.  So being up there with them is just unbelievable.  I'm just grateful to be here."

Talley's team won the Wanamaker Community Service Award two years ago, for their work with the National Bone Marrow Donor Program.

(Photo by KYW's Mike DeNardo)