Villanova’s Viral Piccolo Player Receives Message from Jay Wright

The 2014-15 Villanova Wildcats felt like a team of destiny, entering the NCAA Tournament with a 32-2 record that included a Big East Championship and a 15 game winning streak, as torrid a stretch as one could hope for at a time of year when momentum matters.

It all came to a crashing halt in the Round of 32, however, when No. 8 seed NC State knocked off the Wildcats 71-68, pulling ahead late in the first half and hanging on for the win. The TBS broadcast cut to the Villanova band in the immediate aftermath of the loss, still dutifully playing along despite the stunning end to the season. The camera eventually settled on a crying piccolo player, Roxanne Chalifoux, who took the internet by storm, inspiring a wave of memes and sympathy. Chalifoux even appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as a result of the viral moment.

With the tenth anniversary of that game coming up on Friday, March 21, CBS Sports tracked down Chalifoux for an interview… one with a surprise video appearance from former Villanova head coach Jay Wright. Wright called Chalifoux the catalyst for the Wildcats’ title run the following season, saying “not many people know this, but I credit you exclusively for us winning the 2016 National Championship. When I saw you crying but still playing your piccolo, I knew we couldn’t let that happen again. The Nova Nation loves you, go ‘Cats!”

Click here to watch the full video.