Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Heisman Tracker: Ingram's Down, Who's #1?


The most respected individual trophy in all of college sports is the Heisman trophy. The award is handed out to the individual that outperformed every other player in the nation. With that said, the hype for the award lasts all season long, and the candidates are always under the spotlight. Let's take a look at Cherry & White Nation's Heisman Update.

Moving Down: RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

News broke today that the reigning Heisman trophy winner will miss the season opener against San Jose State following arthroscopic knee surgery. However, he might not be able to suit up against Penn State in the second game of the season. Knowing that he will miss one to two non-conference games in a tough SEC conference, Ingram's chances of winning the Heisman in back-to-back seasons is slim to none.

Moving Up: RB Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh

Stemming from the absence of Ingram, the sophomore back now is the leading candidate for the Heisman. As long as he can remain healthy for the entire season, I fully believe Lewis will be the one hoisting the Heisman come seasons end. Pitt gets a few easy contests in the beginning of the year, including New Hampshire and Florida International, which should bode well for Lewis statistically. Mix that in with the national spotlight he will receive by playing in the Big East, and Lewis is C&W Nation's preseason Heisman favorite.

Cherry & White Nation's Heisman Rankings

  1. RB Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
  2. RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
  3. QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
  4. RB DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
  5. QB Kellen Moore, Boise State
  6. RB John Clay, Wisconsin
  7. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
  8. QB Ryan Mallet, Arkansas
  9. QB Case Keenum, Houston
  10. RB Evan Royster, Penn State

12 Positions 12 Days: Defensive Line


Our first stop on the defensive side will be at the defensive end position. The biggest name on the line is reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Adrian Robinson. After starting 10 games in 2009, the Harrisburg, PA native compiled a conference high 13 sacks. He also led the team in forced fumbles (5), tackles for loss (14), and finished the season with 46 tackles. Heading into 2010, Robinson is a member of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, as well as the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list.

Backing up Robinson will be Morris Blueford and Sean Daniels. Blueford, a redshirt junior, played in 12 games last season, starting in four of those. He finished with 26 tackles and three sacks, but will be stuck behind Robinson, so his playing time will be limited.

Freshman Sean Daniels has a bright future ahead of him. He won't see too much time at defensive end this season, but he will learn a lot from Robinson and Blueford. As a senior in high school, Daniels also played running back, rushing 1,365 yards with 14 touchdowns, and also had 61 tackles with 3.5 sacks. His athleticism will be a great asset for him heading into his time as a Temple Owl.


At the other side of the line, Shahid Paulhill looks to be the leading candidate for the job. He was redshirted last season, but played in the Big 33 All-Star game following his high school senior season. The potential for Paulhill gives him the advantage in this positional battle, but Kamal Johnson, another redshirt freshman, will also get some shots to prove himself during the season. Coming out of high school, Johnson chose Temple over the likes of South Florida and Syracuse, and was an All-State honoree for Willingboro H.S. Both of these young talents will get their chances to claim the starting gig, but expect Paulhill to get the first opportunity.


Starting up front at defensive tackle is Muhammad Wilkerson. He had a great 2009 campaign, starting all 13 games, finishing the season with 61 tackles, seven sacks, and 10.5 tackles for loss. The Linden, NJ native was named a First-Team All-MAC honoree, and will look to do the same in 2010.

Behind the 6-foot-5, 305 lb. Wilkerson is Jaimen Newman, a freshman defensive tackle. As a senior at Matoaca (located in Virginia), Newman recorded 14 sacks and 40 tackles. He also had six sacks in his junior season. Once Wilkerson graduates, Newman will have gained a lot of experience, and should be a vital part to the Owls' defense down the road.


Starting alongside Wilkerson is senior Elisha Joseph. He's never been a full-time starter, receiving three starts in 2009, as well as 2008, and one start in his freshman year. But he should be a key contributor on Temple's defense this season, as he will be getting a lot of action in 2010.

Behind Joseph is sophomore Jeff Whittingham. He entered his freshman year as an offensive linemen, but converted to the defensive line this spring. We'll have to see how his decision to switch pays off before we can judge him.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Linebackers!

Monday, August 30, 2010

No Harvey Could Give Temple Advantage


When the Temple Owls fell to the Villanova Wildcats 27-24 at Lincoln Financial Field, there was one individual who completely, shall I say it, destroyed the cherry and white in every possible way. His name "was" Brandyn Harvey (notice the past tense, which signifies that he has moved onto the NFL, and thus making him a non-factor in the upcoming game).

In that opening game, Harvey broke out onto the scene, finishing with 142 receiving yards on 9 receptions, and reached the endzone with 1:42 left in the game, tying the game up at that moment. The 142 yards was a season-high for the California native, and in fact, it took him about four complete games to total 142 receiving yards. Following the Temple game, he mustered up a not-so-impressive 12 receiving yards against Lehigh, five yards against Pennsylvania, and then 102 yards against Northeastern (his final 100+ yard game of the season). Even with those three games combined, he still fell short of his total against the Owls.

Maybe we should just consider Harvey a "Temple-Killer" because his greatest game occurred against the Owls, or maybe he was just having a REALLY good day that day. Whatever way you look at it is up to you, but the fact that he is no longer on the Wildcats roster should give Temple a boost of confidence, knowing that the individual who torched them in 2009 is no longer in uniform.

So who will be replacing Harvey? Junior Matt Szczur will now handle the duties of the departed Harvey. When he suited up against Temple last season, he did nothing special, recording 31 yards on four catches, but also saw some time in a Wildcat-type offense, rushing for five yards on three attempts.

Don't be surprised to see Szczur taking anywheres from 5-10 snaps in the Wildcat offense. With Harvey no longer on the team, the 5-foot-11 receiver is the team's biggest weapon. The entire Temple defense will need to keep this guy under watch at all times because of his ability to break a big play off at any moment.

For Temple fans, the only thing we can pray for is that Szczur has no where near the type of game that Harvey was able to muster up. If the Owls can contain Szczur, they will be in a good position to come out with the 'W' this Friday.

Terrance Knighton's Rise in the NFL


Former Temple defensive tackle ('05-'08) Terrance Knighton, selected 72nd overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009, has a very bright future ahead of him in the NFL. After a stellar first season in which he was arguably the best rookie defensive tackle out of his draft class, Knighton is ready to make a name for himself in the national spotlight, and his journey is unraveling before our eyes.

I spoke with Terry O'Brien of Black and Teal, a fan site devoted to the Jacksonville Jaguars, hosted by Fansided.com. The topic of our discussion was Terrance Knighton, and what Jags' fans are expecting from the young player this season.


1. With a year under his belt in Jacksonville, how do you see him being implemented into the Jags' defense this season?

Terrance Knighton is a main pillar in the front of the defense. There are no real backups for him. He is a real talent. He came into camp 30 pounds heavier and said his mother was cooking for him. The trainer took him home and his wife, an Olympic swimmer, cooked for him. He lost the weight. He has been wonderful in pre-season. He is a starter.

2. With Aaron Kampman now on the outside of Knighton, do you think that will give Knighton more opportunities up the middle? Or do you think it will work the other way around, in which Knighton will help Kampman get more 1-on-1's on the outside?

Terrance is frequently double teamed. Tyson Alualu jumps around. So what he see happening is three things. First, Terrance forms a wall for Aaron Kampman to come around. Terrance pushes the double team back and Aaron sneaks around back. We got a sack against Miami that way. Second is a stunt with Tyson where they cross. Third, if Terrance is single teamed, he pushes the guy into the backfield. They are teaching him a lot of different items, but I don’t expect a lot of sacks from him.

3. Do you think Knighton will surpass his rookie totals of 45 tackles and 1.5 sacks in his sophomore season?

I do. First off, with Tyson Alualu in the middle, teams will test the middle with the run giving him more opportunities. Second, with more pressure from the line in general, he will be more open. Right now, he has been more effective than Tyson Alualu.

12 Positions 12 Days: Guards/Center

Our final coverage of the Temple offense will end with the right/left guards, and the centers.

The left guard spot is still up for grabs between two players.One of the competitors is Wayne Tribue, who played in 13 games last season, with five of them being starts. The 6-foot-4 junior was also utilized on the field goal unit last season.

Competing with Tribue is Derek Dennis. He was redshirted last season following a knee injury after seeing his first action of the season against then No. 5 Penn State. As a true freshman, the New York native started 10 games, then saw six starts in his sophomore season. He is a bigger body then Tribue, and has previous experience, but we will have to see how he comes off his knee injury to judge if he's ready to start.

Behind Tribue and Dennis is sophomore Stephen Yuan. In 2009, Yuan saw action in four games, and was a part of the field goal unit in Temple's wins over Kent State, Akron, Miami (OH), and Navy.

At right guard is Pat Boyle and Colin Madison. Despite being a first team All-MAC selection, Madison is listed behind Boyle on the depth chart. But just like Bernard Pierce's situation, don't get too worried about him being benched, as this is just another one Coach Golden's motivational maneuvers. Expect to see Madison get the start against Villanova this Friday.

Pat Boyle saw action in 10 games last season, receiving no starts, but did get good experience for the future. Once Madison graduates, Boyle will be the every down starter. He did record four starts in 2008, so the in-game experience is there, but with Madison coming off a terrific season, his playing time will remain the same as in 2009.

Starting at center is John Palumbo. In 2009, the New Jersey native was named as a third-team All-MAC honoree following his 12 starts on the line. He didn't open as the starter, but received his first start against Penn State, and from that moment on he continued to receive the starts.

Behind Palumbo is Jeremy Schonbrunner. He saw action in nine games last season, and did not receive any playing time during his time as a freshman. With Palumbo being a staple on Temple's offensive line, Schobrunner will continue to watch from the sidelines in preparation for when it's his time to start in the future.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Defensive Ends! 

Saturday, August 28, 2010

12 Positions in 12 Days: Offensive Tackle


With the skilled positions now covered on offense, it's time to get a better look at the big guys up front, the ones who will create the holes for Bernard Pierce and Matt Brown, and the guys who will keep Chester Stewart standing (hopefully). The first place we'll cover on the offensive line is the left and right tackle spot.

Junior Steve Caputo, standing at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, is a terrific run blocker. He was one of the better linemen last season in creating holes for Bernard Pierce, and will look to continue that success into 2010. He's overcome a few injuries in his football career, but that hasn't slowed him down yet, so let's hope he can finish out this season with a clean medical sheet.

Backing up Caputo is Darryl Pringle. The redshirt-freshman stands at 6-foot-6, 327 pounds, and will learn from Caputo as the season progresses. Whether or not he sees a lot of action in 2010 is to be determined, but as mentioned before, Caputo is a bit injury prone, so Pringle will always need to be ready for action.

Starting at right tackle is Darius Morris. The 6-foot-4, 315 pound Long Branch native was a first team MAC player in 2009, and gave the Temple offense a lot of protection from the right side. If Temple is to continue their dominance on the ground, Morris will need to maintain his success from 2009 into the new season.

Behind Morris is red-shirt sophomore Martin Wallace. He grew up in New York, choosing Temple over other schools, such as Connecticut and Louisville. Just as Pringle will be doing, Wallace will get a good learning experience behind Morris, who will be in his final season as a member of the Temple Owls. Expect to see him get some reps each game to give him experience for when it is his time to start at right tackle.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Guards

Friday, August 27, 2010

12 Positions in 12 Days: Wide Receiver


Now that Chester Stewart has been announced as the every down starter at quarterback, it's time to take a look at who will be on the other end of his passes each and every game.

Senior Michael Campbell is the the expected #1 starter, while Rod Streater may possibly fill the role opposite Campbell.

Last season, Campbell led the team in receiving yards (419), and finished second in receptions (27) and tied for first in touchdowns (3). In Temple's offense, the receivers aren't going to be heavily relied upon, but when it comes to convert a long third down, or make a big play, Coach Al Golden will call on Chester Stewart to give one of these receivers the chance to make a play. One advantage Campbell has over many collegiate cornerbacks is his size - standing at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds.

Junior Rod Streater enters his first season with the Owls after committing to Temple following a stint at a junior college, Alfred State College. Statistically, it's hard to estimate what he is capable of, but by looking at his athleticism and fantastic size (6-foot-4, 195 lbs.), Streater could be a valuable asset when it comes to converting in the red zone.

Another competitor for the starting gig is Joe Jones. If you prefer to judge a player by his numbers, then you would probably go with Jones as the starting wideout. He led the team in receptions with 29, compiled 387 receiving yards, but only found the endzone once. His niche in the Temple offense will be his reliability when it comes to picking up a key first down. His receptions total gives us a good idea that he can make a big catch when it comes to that situation.

Freshman receiver Deon Miller will most likely be behind Campbell on the depth chart, but that doesn't mean he won't see a good amount of opportunities. In what seems to be a trend with the Temple receivers, Miller stands at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, giving Stewart a big target in the red zone. He's been impressive throughout the offseason because of his down field ability, and with his size, it's hard to not imagine him being a major weapon during the season.

Senior Delano Green might not get a lot of touches this season, but if an injury strikes one of the above mentioned players, he will be the one to step in. He finished 2009 with eight receptions for 129 yards, including a 21 yard reception against UCLA in the Eaglebank bowl.

The last of the bunch is junior Darryl Shine. He's a JUCO transfer from Fullerton, and is the smallest one in the receiving corps (5-foot-10, 175 lbs.). But don't let that fool you, he has a good knack for finding and exploiting open space, so don't be surprised to see him make a couple big plays this season, if he gets a chance.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Tackles!

Former Temple Guard Signs Deal Overseas

Luis Guzman, the starting pointing guard in 2009-10, has signed a contract to play overseas in Slovakia for BK 04 AC LB SPISSKA NOVA VES, a professional team based in Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia.

Guzman was a team captain for the 29-6 Owls last season, and accomplished a few career highs in his final season as a member of the cherry and white. He posted 4.9 points per game, 3.2 assists per game, and 4.2 rebounds per game, which were all career highs for the 6-foot-3 guard.

He isn't the only former Temple guard heading overseas to play ball. Ryan Brooks announced earlier in August that he will be taking his game over to Germany to play for the LTi Giessen 46ers.

With the NBA being such a competitive league for incoming rookies, and since the guard position is quickly becoming a spot for dead-eye shooters, Brooks and Guzman's decision to go overseas is a rather smart move.

The competition outside of the United States isn't a drop off from the NBA, in fact, the level of physicality may be greater in Europe.

We'll continue to track both Brooks' and Guzman's progress overseas once the season gets underway.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Bernard Pierce Award Watch List; Daily News Live Video

Sophomore running back Bernard Pierce has had his name involved in a lot of news stories recently. It started off when Temple's depth chart was released, and Pierce's name was underneath fellow sophomore, Matt Brown. However, the idea that Brown will be the opening week starter against Villanova still seems illogical, and the reasoning for placing Pierce at #2 for the moment is truly for motivational purposes, and the fact that he has missed a handful of practices with a head injury.

Aside from his current standing with the team, Pierce has been named to the Doak Walker Award watch list. The award is in its 21st year, and is handed to to the nation's top running back following the conclusion of the regular season.

Pierce is apart of three other award watch lists, including the Heisman trophy, the Walter Camp Player of the Year award and the Maxwell award.

After a stunning freshman campaign, Pierce has been the media darling this offseason, and he continued that today with a brief appearance on Daily News Live during Temple's fan festival. In his short and sweet appearance on the show, Pierce discussed his Heisman candidacy, which seems to be the biggest topic of discussion when it comes to the media.

Hopefully, he doesn't let the spotlight get the best of him as he pursues a handful of individual awards in his sophomore season, and more importantly, a MAC championship and a bowl victory.

12 Positions in 12 Days: Tight End



With the quarterbacks and running backs covered, we now move down to the tight ends. With most starting positions still up for grabs, the tight end positions is, perhaps, the biggest battle going on right now. With five different players all vying for the #1 spot, the tight end situation won't be decided until just before the opening game versus Villanova.

Out of all of these players, quarterback-turned-tight end Vaughn Charleton might be the unofficial leading candidate for now. After throwing for 1,390 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2009, Charleton decided to switch his focus to the tight end position, and so far, the move is paying off. However, the 6-foot-4 tight end has missed a few practices because of problems dealing with the heat, as well as head conditions. Whatever the case may be, when Temple gets ready to take on Villanova in seven days, I expect Charleton to have his name penciled in as the clear-cut starter.

One of two red-shirt juniors competing for the tight end job is Evan Rodriguez. He may be the smallest of all the competitors at tight end, but he is coming off a decent season in limited opportunities. With just 13 receptions last season, Rodriguez scored on three of those catches, and finished with 145 receiving yards.

The next red-shirt junior is Matt Balasavage. Unlike Rodriguez, he had no impact last season, securing just one reception for one yard. In 2008, the Lancaster native had two receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown, and is most likely not going to see a bigger role in this offense in 2010.

Just like Charleton, junior Morkeith Brown is switching positions, moving from the defensive side of the ball to tight end. His 6-foot-6, 250 frame makes him the biggest target out of all the tight ends, but he still has to prove himself as a reliable option for Chester Stewart and the Temple offense.

The last of the bunch is red-shirt freshman Alex Jackson. With Charleton expected to be the starter, and Balasavage and Rodriguez most likely ahead of him, Jackson will take this season as a learning block for the future.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Wide Receiver!

Q&A with Owlified: August 26


After a lot of news surfaced this past week regarding the Owls' depth chart and with a few surprises (if you want to call it that) concerning the offensive side of the ball, I decided to take a step away from chipping in my own viewpoint on the developing scenarios, and bring in one of the more respected Temple bloggers out there.

Dave Gerson, owner of Owlified.com, took some time out of his hectic schedule to bring his never ending knowledge of Temple football and opinions pertaining to the week's past news stories. With that said, it's time to see Dave's thoughts on Temple's recent roster moves.

1. The Owls recently decided to go with Chester Stewart at quarterback, which was expected all along, but now has become official. What is your take on the junior quarterback, and how do you see him performing in the upcoming season?

I'm really excited to see Chester Stewart take control of this offense. He is a different player than Vaughn was, and really adds a sense of mobility to his position. Chester has had plenty of opportunity and experience now (his first career game was in Happy Valley, doesn't get much better than that) and will take over a veteran offense that has had time to develop and grow as a unit.

C.S needs to improve his accuracy, coordination (controlling snaps), and decision making. Besides that, he's a quality quarterback. Of the four or five other QBs on this team, Stewart is the most experienced and best candidate for the starting spot. I'm excited to see him on the field September 3rd.

2. In somewhat of a surprising move, Coach Al Golden placed fellow sophomore running back Matt Brown ahead of Bernard Pierce on the depth chart. What was your reaction to this move, and do you think Golden is using this for motivational purpose, or is it really because of Pierce's head injury?

I've been asked this question a number of times, and say the same thing: I'm not worried or surprised at all. Anyone who pays attention to Coach Golden's style of coaching knows that he uses the depth chart as a way to wake players up. Bernard missed several practices due to injury, which gave backup Matt Brown almost every first team snap there was. His play during that time earned him the top spot on the depth chart.

This was definitely done for motivational purposes, but to be honest there's not too much more you need to do in Bernard Pierce's case. He will be ready and will be the starter for the Villanova game.

3. The depth chart was recently announced, and aside from the the running back position, were there any other roster moves that surprised you?

This is obviously not the official depth chart for the season, so there is no surprise for me specifically that certain starters (Bernard Pierce, Colin Madison, Peanut Joseph) are listed as backups.

James Nixon and Vaughn Charlton have made unbelievable strides during the off-season, with both players switching positions. Nixon is competing with Marquise Liverpool (another former offense player turned defense) for a starting cornerback spot, while Charlton will make a push for a top spot with the tight ends.

Taking a look at the redshirts, though, I am surprised that there are less freshman that will be held out for a year. This means the level of talent has gone up, and that this team is deeper than ever.
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We thank Dave for taking some time to do this Q&A, and expect to see more of his thoughts and opinions on Cherry & White Nation once the season gets underway.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

12 Positions in 12 Days: Runningback

Following our look at the current quarterback situation, we can now move our attention to the newest development in Temple's backfield. Prior to this week, sophomore running back Bernard Pierce was Temple's go-to-guy and the team's unofficial media spokesman. But after suffering an injury to his head, but not to the extent of being a concussion, Pierce has taken a step back not only in development, but on the depth chart.

The new #1 back (for now, however) is sophomore Matt Brown. The little guy, standing at just 5-foot-5, had a pretty solid freshman campaign, but was hidden behind Pierce's emergence last season. On 89 attempts, Brown compiled 529 yards and five touchdowns. His best games came in the final two regular season affairs against Kent State and Ohio. He ran through the Kent State defense all day, finishing with 156 yards and two touchdowns, and then followed that up with 172 yards and one touchdown against the Ohio Bobcats.

Brown averaged 5.9 yards per rush last season, which was just a tad bit higher then Pierce's average. Despite his low-key media attention, Brown is just as capable as Pierce is of carrying the load, and has similar characteristics of Darren Sproles in the NFL.

With Brown currently holding the top spot, Pierce is now stuck at second-string. However, no one can take away what he did in his freshman year. He eclipsed 1,000 yards, scored 16 times, and carried the ball 236 times. Not too bad for a freshman.

He surpassed 100-yards on six different occasions, and even topped out over 200-yards twice (212 @Toledo, 267 @Navy).

Together, Brown and Pierce make up a formidable backfield that will cause headaches for opposing defenses. They may not receive the attention that other backfield tandems receive, such as Virgina Tech's Darren Evans and Ryan Williams, or Alabama's Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, but that doesn't mean they aren't something to be fearful of. Just as Pierce took the nation by storm in 2009, expect these two guys to continue to break out onto the national scene.

Aside from Pierce and Brown, the Owls have two more backs on their depth chart. Redshirt sophomore Ahkeem Smith did not play in 2009, but recorded 26 yards on just 11 attempts back in 2008. Also competing for the third-sting spot is freshman Myron Myles, coming out of Ambler, Pennsylvania.

The backfield is composed of young talent that will continue to develop throughout the next few years. Both Brown and Pierce have a chance to hit 1,000 yards if given the right amount of opportunities, and if any of them were to suffer an injury, the Owls have confidence in Smith and Myles, as well.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Fullback!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

12 Positions in 12 Days: Quarterback


Coach Al Golden announced that the team's starting quarterback will be Chester Stewart this past week, and for Temple's program, it was the right decision. The junior quarterback is coming off a season in which he started in the final four games, excluding the Eaglebank Bowl against UCLA.

He finished with a good QB rating at 112.43, but this is credited to the fact that he appeared in less then half of the team's games. He did finish the season with 514 yards through the air and three touchdowns on 26-for-64 passing.

The one statistic that could go a long way to determining how the team fares in 2010 is the fact that he averaged 7.91 yards per pass, which shows that Stewart is looking to stretch the ball downfield to pick up the first down. With nearly eight yards per completion, the idea that the Temple ground game, led by Bernard Pierce and Matt Brown, can pick up a good portion of yardage per attempt, will give Temple a pretty efficient offense heading into the 2010 campaign.

The spot behind Stewart on the depth chart is still up for grabs, however.

Mike Gerardi, a native of Parsippany, New Jersey, is competing with redshirt-fresman Chris Coyer for the second-string role. Neither Coyer or Gerardi have taken a snap with Temple, applying more pressure of Stewart to be smart and avoid any injuries that could jeopardize not only his season, but the entire Temple unit as a whole.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Running Back!

Bernard Pierce demoted?


After having an entire Heisman campaign dedicated to him, Bernard Pierce is suddenly out of Temple’s starting lineup. Now I know that seems impossible to fathom, but Coach Al Golden has declared sophomore running back Matt Brown as the team’s #1 running back on the depth chart… for now.

"Bernard will be the first to tell you that Matt should be first [string] right now," Golden said yesterday at Temple's Edberg-Olson Hall. "Matt hasn't missed a down - not one play the whole training camp."

So is Golden being dead serious when he says that Brown is starting over Pierce?

In my opinion, I don’t believe it for a bit. Although, Pierce has been battling through an apparent head injury (which has not been considered a concussion) suffered two weeks ago, which forced him to miss a couple days of preseason drills, there’s no way Temple can seriously be considering benching him behind Brown.

Maybe Golden is just trying to bring Pierce back down to reality since he’s been the focus of the national media because of his Heisman contention and being dubbed as one of the saviors of Temple football. But in all honesty, Matt Brown is a good looking running back, and he did rush for over 150 yards twice last season against Ohio and Kent State, but he is still not Bernard Pierce.

With 12 days separating the offseason and kickoff against Villanova in week one, something will convince Golden to place Pierce ahead of Brown, but for now, Pierce is Temple’s second-string running back, despite how crazy that may sound.


Sunday, August 22, 2010

Temple signs 6-10 forward Jimmy Mcdonnell

Temple has signed Jimmy Mcdonnell to a scholarship. Jimmy is a 6'10 forward from Jackson Memorial high school in New Jersey. He earned the scholarship with a solid senior year where he averaged over 13 points and 6 rebounds per game. He also averaged 4 blocks per game. However, Mcdonnell really helped himself out by playing summer basketball and catching the eye of Temple scouters. Jimmy has good ball handling skills along with being able to hit long jumpers. He received the scholarship when former Temple forward Carmel Bouchman decided to stay in Israel rather then return to Temple. He's most likely going to red shirt his freshman year so he can build up his strength to become a more formidable low post presence.

Early Assessment: Temple vs. Villanova


It seems that the season can’t get here any faster. With so much to be excited about with Temple’s rise in the national outlook of college football, the opportunity to finally be ranked this season is not out of their realm, and with a long shot Heisman candidate in Bernard Pierce, the 2010 season has the possibility of being, arguably, the best single season in Temple football history. With that said, Temple must come out victorious against their weaker opponents, and that will quickly occur in the opening game when the Owls face Villanova at the Lincoln Financial Field. Though the game is over 10 days away, it’s never too early to take a look at Temple’s opponent come week one.

Redemption
After a heartbreaking 27-24 loss at Villanova to open the 2009 season, the Owls have plenty of motivation heading into this seasons opener. There is no reason that every single player on the Temple roster should not be fired up for this one. It’s also worth noting that Temple used then-freshman running back Bernard Pierce sparingly, which had they realized the potential of Pierce heading into the opener, then Temple would most likely have come out on top against the Wildcats.

An opening day win over Nova is a must if Temple plans on crashing the top 25 at any point this season.

Pierce’s Heisman campaign begins
Like I mentioned, he is a long shot at capturing the hardware come seasons end, but that’s no reason to be down on the possibility. The first step in his campaign will be to run all over the Nova defense, something that he wasn’t able to do last season because of limited touches.

Villanova lost their two top defensive linemen in Tim Kukucka and Phil Matusz, which means they will have an inexperienced line heading into the opener. Their biggest strength on D lies in their secondary, where they return 4 of their 5 starters (since they play a 3-3-5 style defense). However, this shouldn’t halt Pierce’s hopes of running all day on their defense.

Nova’s Offense vs. Temple’s Defense
The Wildcats’ Zone-Read Option scheme gives the quarterback the opportunity to either hand it off, or to pull it back in and run it himself, which makes for a difficult challenge for opposing defenses. The Wildcats are led by quarterback Chris Whitney, who set the school record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 983 yards in 2009. His ability to break off a run at any moment will give Temple the task of applying some sort of QB spy in most situations.

However, if Temple can get pressure from their defensive line, they will eliminate the inside run, and force Whitney to scramble around the backfield and make an accurate pass on the run, which is no easy task.

Stay tuned for a further breakdown of the Temple-Villanova game the day before, which will include a Q&A with a Nova blogger, as well as our predicitions for the game!

Temple names starting quarterback


From the beginning of the offseason, it was expected that Chester Stewart would garner the honor of being Temple's opening day quarterback. Coach Golden recently announced who would be starting under center, and to no surprise, Stewart was the decision.

The junior quarterback has started just seven games throughout his Temple career, with four of those starts coming in the 2009 season. Stewart gives the Owls a solid passer, as well as a threat on the ground. He scored two rushing touchdowns in his junior season, along with 514 yards and three touchdowns on 26-for-65 passing.

However, Temple won't have to rely too much on Stewart considering that their main option is sophomore running back Bernard Pierce. One of the nation's top running backs, Pierce gives Temple a legitimate running threat to relieve Stewart of having to make to many completions. But that doesn't mean Stewart won't be a key part to the offense. When opposing teams figure out how to stop Pierce, the ball will be in the hands of Stewart to carry Temple out victorious.

With Stewart starting, redshirt freshman Chris Coyer and redshirt junior Mike Gerardi will have the duties of backing up Stewart, or in a case of emergency, taking over for him.

(Picture source: MAC Football Nation)

Friday, August 20, 2010

Temple joining Conference USA

Temple is following the recent trend of "conference mixups", and will be on their way to Conference USA for football. The switch from the MAC to the C-USA will take place in 2011, which gives Temple one more shot to claim a MAC title.

So what's the difference between the MAC and Conference USA? The bowl games. The biggest difference is the bowl lineups, with the C-USA receiving more exposure when it comes to the selection of bowl matchups.

With the move not technically official yet, it's hard to give any sure facts as to the matter, but the move is a definitely a step in the right direction for Temple football.

Just imagine the scenario if Temple wins the MAC as they are expected too, and then go to the C-USA and win the conference title in their first season. Talk about a crazy turn of events.

So who can Temple expect to see once 2011 comes?


  • East Carolina

  • Marshall

  • Memphis

  • Southern Miss

  • UAB

  • UCF

  • Houston

  • Rice

  • SMU

  • Tulane

  • Tulsa

  • UTEP

(Note: There is also another team that is expected to join the C-USA in 2011.)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Gadson surprises many with arrival


With one week before the preseason began, Temple appeared to have their roster set. But then came the dismissal of signee Aaron Hush for academic reasons, opening up a scholarship for Temple to utilize.

With the open scholarship now available, Temple quickly went out and picked up the pride of Iona Prep, Gregory Gadson. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive tackle had his mind set on attending a prep school since he was unable to receive any offers from a Division I school, until Temple made a surprise offer to him.

Back in February, Temple displayed some interest in the talented youngster, but for whatever reason at the time, did not offer him a scholarship. However, four days before training camp, Temple contacted Gadson, and in a matter of time, he was on his way to Philadelphia.

The addition of Gadson gives Temple more talent on the defensive line, and a lot of potential for the next four seasons.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Brock signs with Tennessee


From 1999 to 2002, Raheem Brock was the one force that Temple had on defense. He finished his career as a four-time letterman, and compiled 160 tackles, 11 sacks, and 35 quarterback pressures in his 33 games as a member of the Cherry and White nation.

But now, the former 2002 seventh-round draft pick has found a new NFL team after many successful seasons as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. He will continue to play in the AFC South, but not for Indy, instead, he will move down south to Tennessee in hope of knocking off his former team.

In his career, Brock has amassed 288 tackles, 28.5 sacks, and 11 forced fumbles. Oh yeah, and let's not forget that he even has a Super Bowl ring.

We wish Brock the best of luck down in Tennessee, and I anticipate at least one sack this season on his former quarterback, Peyton Manning.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Charleton's progression


After tossing 10 touchdowns for just under 1,400 yards, and starting in Temple’s first bowl game in 30 years against UCLA, fifth-year quarterback Vaughn Charleton decided to switch positions. The decision to move from quarterback to tight end has been questioned by many, but the entire Temple coaching staff is thankful for the switch.

"He impressed everybody," Owls coach Al Golden said. "I don't think there was a guy on the team who didn't say, 'Did you just see that?' "

With Charleton taking over the duties of an every down tight end for the Owls, it will be interesting to see how he performs in his first season at the position. He does, however, have the size to be successful at tight end. His 6-foot-4 presence will be widely used down the middle of the field, and he has even bulked up nearly 25 pounds in preparation of taking more hits this season, especially over the middle.

"I was pretty confident I could do it," [Charleton] said. "I have a good idea of where the tight end is supposed to be on all the routes. Picking up the running game is the biggest thing I had to work on in the offseason."

So will Charleton make an impact right off the bat? He will go up against a mediocre defense in Villanova to open the season up, and won’t face a legitimate defense until week three against UCONN, and then the following week at Happy Valley to face Penn State. Hopefully he will get enough reps in before conference play opens up so he will be ready to be a key contributor against the MAC opponents.

(quotes gathered by Philly Inquirer)

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Temple-Penn State to be on ESPN?


Yesterday, I explained how the Temple-Penn State series had been extended for another five seasons. With Temple quickly becoming known around the college football world, there will certainly be a lot more opportunities to prove themselves. One way they can do this will be a possible date with Penn State on the ESPN network.

It is rumored that the upcoming Temple vs. Penn State game on September 25 will be televised on one of the ESPN stations.

According to the Penn State Examiner's official twitter page:

"Heard this: #PSU - #Temple will be aired on an ESPN network, a Temple source tells me. Could be announced this week. /Buster Olney."

For a team like Temple, who has played behind the scenes for nearly two decades, the opportunity to gain some exposure through ESPN is one they can’t pass up. If you haven’t seen it yet, Temple’s sophomore running back, Bernard Pierce, appeared on ESPN’s First Take a few days ago.

The overall media attention for Temple is higher then it’s ever been, and for Temple fans, we can finally get some good coverage of one of the nation’s up-and-coming teams.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Q&A with The Owl's Nest


Perhaps the most prominent Temple blog on the internet, The Owl's Nest has continued to provide Temple fans with excellent analysis of each and every game, as well as hosting it's very own podcast system. If you haven't noticed, Cherry & White Nation recently partnered up with The Owl's Nest, and there site's link is posted on the sidebar for easy access.

I was lucky enough to be able to ask a few questions to The Owl's Nest manager, Dave Gerson, regarding the upcoming football season. Enjoy!

1. Okay, the "Bernard Pierce for Heisman" campaign is off and running. But with a handful of other competitors for the Heisman, such as Alabama's Mark Ingram and Penn State's Evan Royster, do you believe Pierce has a realistic to bring home the hardware this season?

I think that the main purpose of this "Heisman" campaign was to sell tickets. Of course, you want to get the Temple name out to as many people as possible. This campaign, you might notice, hasn't really gotten out further than the Philadelphia area because that's where all the advertising is going to. The main idea is to sell tickets to the Mayor's Cup, and make people want to come out and see an All-American in Philly.

It would be nice to see B.P. get more and more exposure, but I personally feel that a push during his sophomore year is a little premature. If he can do even better than his 2009 performance this season, I think we'll start to see more and more discussion. Junior year is when people can make better assessments. Who knows though? If Temple could beat Connecticut, Penn State, and sweep the MAC I think that'd be the only way that Pierce would have a legitimate shot this season.

2. Following up that Pierce Heisman question, is the sophomore back even the best running back in the state of Pennsylvania? (Penn State - Evan Royster, Pittsburgh - Dion Lewis)

Pennsylvania is arguably the deepest state in the country as far as talent goes in the backfield. Evan Royster is a two-time 1,000 yard rusher playing in one of the best conferences in the country. Right now I feel that he is deserving of the "best" halfback, if there truly was one.

Lewis and Pierce have put up similar numbers against common opponents, but one might argue that a level of talent played against gives D.L the edge. I think it's too early to really grade Lewis and Pierce since they were both freshmen, so we'll get a better understanding of both of these players as they enter their second year of play.

I'd love to make the argument that Bernard Pierce is the best back in PA, though!

3. The biggest game of the season has to be at Penn State. However, Temple must avoid overlooking their first three games against Nova, Central Michigan, and UCONN before they take on the Nittany Lions. Do you think Temple will go into Happy Valley with a winning record?

The biggest game of the season is of course Penn State, but I might not necessarily say that this game is the most important. Out-of conference games can have major impacts on teams, but as it did last year Temple's post-season plans obviously are determined by how we play in the MAC (I would say Northern Illinois and Ohio are the most important games in-conference). I want to beat PSU.

I have a firm belief that the Owls will prepare much better for Villanova than they did last year. One thing that makes this year's game different than last year is that Bernard Pierce will see the field against VU. Pierce only had a few touches last year since he was a freshmen, and admits that he wasn't really prepared to even play.

Count Villanova as a win, along with Central Michigan. I think with LeFevour out and a new head coach/style of offense, this is a team that might be a little vulnerable near the beginning of the season.

Connecticut is tough to say, because I really do believe if the Owls have enough momentum we can beat them. A win over a Big East team will really beef our resume for not only this season, but in the years ahead (if we want to make a case that we deserve a Big East, ACC, other conference big) as well. UCONN is a possible favorite to win the Big East as well.

The Owls could potentially go into Happy Valley undefeated. If this happens, I really think that PSU fans will be a little nervous, and we can finally give them a run for their money. Temple needs to play smart football up to September 25th.

4. Temple's quarterback play in 2009 wasn't spectacular, but how do you see Chester Stewart performing in 2010?

Coach Golden admitted himself that nobody should be certain about the quarterback situation just yet. Chris Coyer, a highly regarded freshman QB, along with Mike Gerardi and freshman Connor Reilly will all give the starting position a run. Chester is the most experienced of the bunch, and I'd expect to see him get the job.

He needs to utilize his mobility a lot more in my opinion. Also, miscommunication with the center seemed very common with him. There's no questioning his arm strength, it was merely a matter of accuracy and precision.

I believe Coach Golden will choose the most talented and best prepared quarterback for the season opener.

5. Give us your final verdict: How many wins will Temple finish with, and can they get to back-to-back bowl games?

My heart says we go 11-1. My mind says 9-3/8-4. We're going bowling once again.

Temple to Renew Series with Rutgers


The two universities, separated by the Delaware River, haven't squared off since 2004, when Rutgers defeated Temple 16-6 in what ended up being the Owls' last year as a member of the Big East conference. The rivalary has been idle for six years, and with the series expected to resume in the coming years (possibly 2015), Temple will have a shot at redemption against the Scarlett Knights.

When the two teams took part in Big East conference play, neither Rutgers, nor Temple, were anywhere close to being a competitive football team. But now that Rutgers has found recent success behind the coaching of Greg Schiano, just as Temple has done under Al Golden's reign, the two teams are rising quickly up the polls.

The rivalry will bring back the competition of being the best team along the Delaware River. With Temple located in Philadelphia, and Rutgers located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the two campuses aren't that too far apart. So who will come out victorious in this series, Rutgers or Temple?

Taking a step away from the announcement of the Rutgers-Temple series, it has also been reported that Temple has extended its series with Penn State for another five years. The two Pennsylvania campuses have currently been involved in their own rivalry, but Penn State has proved to be the best team in state this decade.
As for when the Rutgers-Temple series will begin, and as to how long the series will last, that is to be determined, but I will continue to track the progress of this developing story.

Brooks Heading Overseas


Former Temple basketball star, Ryan Brooks, hoped to find a team in the NBA. Unfortunately, the NBA wasn’t the place for Brooks, but that doesn’t mean his basketball career is over. He will take his game overseas, where he will play for the LTi Giessen 46ers, a pro team in Germany.

The Lower Merion High alum finished his senior season at Temple boasting career highs in nearly every aspect. By seasons end, Brooks was averaging 14.3 points, 4,2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He and big man Lavoy Allen led Temple to a spot in the 64 team field known as March Madness, but fell short in their opening game against Cornell.

Following his senior season at Temple, Brooks joined the Philadelphia 76ers’ summer league team in Orlando. In his brief time as a Sixer, Brooks posted 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20 minutes per game during the Orlando Summer League.

His decision to play in Germany isn’t a bad choice, as he will be getting paid to play the game he loves, and who knows, if he can be a standout player in Germany, he may draw the attention of some NBA teams next season, and get another shot at his ultimate goal in life.

Cherry & White in the NFL: Terrance Knighton


The newest installment to Cherry & White has finally arrived. “Cherry and White in the NFL” will take a look at the former players for Temple, and how they are handling the everyday life as a member of an NFL roster. Our first visit takes us down to Jacksonville, Florida where former Owls’ defensive tackle, Terrance Knighton, now calls home.

The second-year defensive tackle is set to make a big splash in Jacksonville after they sent away their Pro Bowl caliber defensive tackle, John Henderson. However, reports are circulating that Knighton is struggling to stay in shape. From what I’ve been hearing, he is nowhere near what Albert Haynesworth is dealing with, and he should be able to get himself down to his ideal size.
The past season for Knighton went very well. After he started 16 games, he had compiled 45 total tackles along with 1.5 sacks and even forced a fumble along the way. With Henderson gone, you have to believe that his stats should see an increase. But then again, with no Henderson starting alongside him, offensive lines may target him and completely eliminate him from being a factor.

The third round pick was, arguably, the lone bright spot on a struggling Jags defense in 2009. But this offseason hasn’t been to kind for Knighton, nor has training camp. It’s been reported that he is taking reps with the second-team defense, even after his superb 2009 campaign.

But don’t get discouraged by him being demoted to second-team is strictly based on the fact that he is a bit out of shape as of now. Just as the Washington Redskins are dealing with Haynesworth’s inability to pass a simple conditioning test, the Jags need to work Knighton just a little bit harder to get him ready. By Week One, Knighton will be lining up over the center, just where he belongs.

So what are our predictions for Knighton in 2010? It’s hard to judge how a defensive tackle will do, but (not trying to sound hopeless), I don’t see Knighton eclipsing 50 tackles this season, but anywhere from 35-45 is a reasonable assumption. He will, however, record a few more sacks, possibly around 3 to 4 by season end.

Let's just hope that Knighton can get back in shape as he was in rookie season, and continue to rise into a force up the middle.

J.T. Noone Takes Big Step From USL to MLS

Former Temple standout midfielder J.T. Noone was signed by the Philadelphia Union on July 30th. Noone was a two time Academic All American while at Temple. Noone also was named 2nd team All America in 2008; the first Temple athlete to be named an All American in 22 years. Noone led the Owls in assists for three straight years and is the all-time leader in assists at Temple with 26 total. Noone also added 12 goals in his career at Temple.


Noone was invited to the MLS Player Combine for possible draftees. Unfortunately Noone was not selected in the 2010 MLS Draft, however, he did not go completely unnoticed. Philadelphia coach Peter Nowak had Noone trial in preseason friendlies with the Union. He has been training with the Union ever since. However, he played for the Harrisburg City Islanders for the 1st half of the season. Noone got his chance to prove himself against high profile opponent Celtic, a storied Scottish club. He played well enough to get Nowak's attention and after a friendly between Harrisburg and Philadelphia in which Noone played a half for each team, the Union decided to sign him. In order to make room they cut 3rd string rookie goalie Brian Perk.

Noone is a very young and talented player. He will fit in well with a young and talented Philadelphia team. He has the ability to both score and set up others as evident by his play in the preseason for the Union, in which he had both a goal and an assist in the first two games. Noone can play as an outside midfielder and as a forward. His versatility should help the Union and also help him find playing time. Only time will tell how well he will do. The team at Cherry and White Nation wishes him best of luck in the MLS representing temple proud. Good Luck Noone!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Preparing for the NBA: Lavoy Allen


After his stellar junior season, Lavoy Allen attempted to take his game into the NBA. However, he decided to withdraw his name from the draft, and finish out his time with the Temple Owls. With him returning for his senior season, the Owls now have a big-time star leading them into the 2010-11 season.

The offseason for Allen has been nothing but helpful for not only him, but for the Temple basketball program as a whole. He was selected to take part in a scrimmage between Team USA and a select few of collegiate players. The team was coached by one of the best minds in college basketball, Villanova’s Jay Wright, as well as Washington’s Lorenzo Romar.

At the camp, Allen realized that he has the potential to be a shut down defender in the NBA since he only allowed the sensational NBA star, Kevin Durant, to hit one deep three-pointer on him while he was marking him. He also spent time learning from Danny Granger, Lamar Odom and Jeff Green.

His decision to remove his name from the NBA Draft was based on the fact that not many teams displayed any viable interest in him, and the one team that appeared to be interested in him (Portland Trail Blazers) told him that they would not use their lone second-round pick on him. With that said, Allen turned down the NBA for another year, and will be wearing the cherry and white for another season.

As fans, we are drawn to the fact that Allen is arguably the best player on the team, but he still has a lot to work on him if he wants to succeed in the NBA. The one thing that scouts are nailing him on is his shooting.

“One of the main things they said is I need to take more shots, that’s one of the main things I’m concerned with,” said Allen. “I’ve been working on my mid-range jump shot, and I’ve been consistent with that. I was pretty inconsistent last year. I’ve been more consistent in the past than I was last year, and I’m trying to get that back.”

His 11.5 points per game in 2009 were nothing to be ashamed of, but he will need to build upon those numbers in his upcoming season.

But the one thing that he can do very well is rebound, and his 10.7 rebounds per game last season will back that up. His rebounding ability will translate very well into the NBA game, and his 6 foot 9 body figure, combined with his wide wingspan, will give him an advantage amongst many NBA forwards.


(Quote gathered by Scout.com)