Thursday, September 30, 2010

Last Look at the Temple-PSU Game

Just as we do after every game at Cherry & White Nation, we've contacted a Penn State blogger to give us his take on last Saturday's game.

Charlie of Nittany Lion Whiteout took part in our pregame Q&A, and will once again help us out in our "Last Look" Q&A.

1. Temple was so close to pulling out the upset, but the better team prevailed, and Penn State is now 3-0. At what point in the game did you begin to think "No way, Temple might win"?

The moment Temple scored their second touchdown. Although there was plenty of time left in the game, it was the defensive lapse I feared entering the game. Fortunately the defense eventually settled down and put on a clinic holding the Owls to 46 total yards in the air.


2. Sticking with the first question, when did you see the momentum turn in Penn State's favor?

I saw the momentum shift with 6:53 left in the 3rd quarter. Temple still held a 13-9 lead but Penn State's defense once again stifled Temple (with Stewart almost being sacked on the Temple 1 on 3rd down) and forced them to punt from their own 10 yard line. Devon Smith caught the punt at Penn State's 45 and would have taken it to the house had he not been tripped on the 7 yard line. Although that fantastic return would eventually be negated by a holding call, it provided the boost Penn State needed. It was tangible proof how easy it was to reclaim the lead with just a play.


3. Temple's Chester Stewart played very poorly, and did nothing to help his team; however, Rob Boldin did good enough to get the victory. How would you grade Boldin's performance in last weekend's game?

Bolden's performance was mediocre at best, going 18 of 28 for 223 yards but no touchdown. But he did exactly what was asked of him and that's to play smart and not turn the ball over. Chester Stewart is the perfect example of how detrimental it is to a team's success when you turn the ball over. Stewart single handedly accounted for 3 of Temple's 4 turnovers and makes it that much harder to overcome.

It was really great to see Evan Royster return to last season's form. He was unable to break the 100 yard mark through the first 3 games of this season, but accounted for 187 yards on 26 carries against Temple. But it would be foolhardy to expect such production against Iowa. Iowa's rushing defense is allowing just 65.5 yards a game, that's good for 3rd best in the nation. Even with Royster's record day against Temple, Penn State is averaging 159.3 total rushing yards a game, ranked 61st in the nation. Advantage, Iowa. I would just be happy if Royster breaks 100 against the Hawkeyes, but if the only way we can beat the Hawkeyes is through the air, then I'm all for it.

5. Where would you rank Penn State among Big Ten teams, as of now? Which team do you fear the most? How about player?

To date, Penn State has beaten the teams they were supposed to, and lost to the one most expected them to lose. But very few people expected the improvement shown by that team in Ann Arbor. So at this point I consider the Nittany Lions to be the 4th best team in the conference tied with Michigan and Michigan State but still well behind the preseason favorites Ohio State, Iowa, Wisconsin. No one in the league wants to face Ohio State and Terrelle Pryor right now.

--We thank Charlie of Nittany Lion Whiteout for helping us throughout the week of the Temple-PSU game.4. It looks like Evan Royster finally found his stride. Do you think he will be able to carry that momentum into next week's game against Iowa?

Monday, September 27, 2010

Pierce Listed as Game-Time Decision

When Temple squares off against Army next weekend, star running back Bernard Pierce may be able to suit up.

When Pierce suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Penn State game this past weekend, his right leg looked to be more seriously damaged then just a "game-time decision" would suggest.

However, if Pierce is unable to go then Matt Brown would be next in-line.

Against Penn State, Brown was unable to convert on a third-and-short in the final quarter, which gave Penn State all the momentum following a huge defensive stop.

Brown composed 48 yards on 12 carries in the game, averaging 4.0 yards per run.

If Pierce can go, Temple will be a heavy favorite against Army; if he can't, then Temple could be in for a serious battle against the Black Knights.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Pierce's Injury Remains a Mystery

We've all seen the images of star running back, Bernard Pierce, limping down the sidelines in front of 104,840 fans at Beaver Stadium.

Pierce injured his ankle halfway through the third quarter, and from that moment on, the Temple offense was never able to click with Matt Brown as the replacement back.

Before leaving the game, the sophomore running back had compiled 42 yards on 10 carries, and reached the endzone twice. His first touchdown was a five yard run with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, and then from three yards out with :10 seconds left on the clock in the same quarter.

Once word breaks of the severity of the injury and whether or not Pierce will be forced to miss any time, Cherry & White Nation will report the news here as soon as possible.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Temple's Heroic Effort not Enough to Defeat PSU

The perfect season that was is no more, but that doesn't mean Temple shouldn't be proud of their 3-1 start.

For the first time in years, Temple competed with Penn State for nearly the entire game, and held the lead from 9:03 in the first quarter all the way to 1:38 in the third quarter.

Temple started off strong, scoring on a five yard run by Bernard Pierce to give the Owls a 7-3 lead.

With a 7-6 lead in the first quarter, Pierce continued to run strong, and found the endzone yet again, this time from three yards out. However, Temple failed on an attempted two-point conversion.

Speaking of Pierce, he left the game in the third quarter with an apparent injury to his ankle. He did not return to the game following the injury, and there is not word yet on the severity of the ankle injury.

If there's one area that Temple needs to work on, it's third down efficiency. The Owls went 1-11 on third downs, which proves that the Owls are not able to rely on the arm of Chester Stewart to convert on third and long.

Stewart didn't have a great day today, going 8-for-19 with a measly 49 yards. For the first time this season, Stewart had a problem with turnovers, throwing a combined three interceptions in the game, with two going to Penn State safety Nick Sukay.

The Nittany Lions didn't play good by their standards, but for the first time this season, running back Evan Royster was able to get off to a good start and carry that momentum throughout the game. He ran for a career-high 187 yards on 26 yards, but didn't reach the endzone once in the game.

Freshman Rob Boldin threw for 223 yards on 18 completions, and avoided throwing any interceptions.

The player of the game has to be kicker Colin Wagner, who made a career-high five field goals, with his longest coming from 45 yards away.

Penn State combined for 439 total yards compared to Temple's 202 yards.

Coach Joe Paterno is now 26-0 against the Temple Owls, who have won just three times against the Nittany Lions since the teams first started playing each other in the 40's.

Temple now stands at 3-1, and is off to a great start heading into conference play. They currently are 1-0 in their conference with a win over Central Michigan, and are now set to take on Army next weekend.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Knowing the Enemy: Penn State

It's that time again.

The highly anticipated game is upon us. Temple vs. Penn State has all the makings to be a great game. Two 2-0 teams, inner state rivals, and with revenge on the mind of every Temple Owls player, this Saturday's game can't come any sooner.

To help us get a better understanding of what the Penn State Nittany Lions look like, I spoke with Charlie of Nittany White Out.

1. How would you grade freshman quarterback Robert Boldin's performance so far this season, and what kind of impact do you see him bringing to the game this weekend?

Robert Bolden is a work in progress. If I could award him an Incomplete that would be the grade I would give him. But just for argument's sake he gets a B. This is a very talented QB with outstanding poise that breaks the mold of your typical true freshman. He was superb against Youngstown State (20/29 239 yards) and Kent State (17/27 217 yards), but against those opponents could have made anyone look good. Fortunately Penn State faced the defending and top ranked team on the road. Against Alabama, Bolden was 13 for 29 in a hostile environment. Not bad when you consider McElroy's numbers 16 of 24 during the same game. Bolden was able to pass the ball down the length of the field against the Bama D on numerous occasions only to turn over the ball in the red zone. Once he stops forcing the ball into bad situations and learn to throw the ball away instead, he will earn his way to an A.

2. Continuing with Boldin, do you think he will be able to lead the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten championship this season? How about the future?


No. Although the turnovers hurt, Bolden won't be the reason why Penn State won't have a shot at the Big Ten championship this season. Surprisingly Penn State's weakness is on the defensive side of the ball. Against Alabama, the O-line managed to hold Alabama to 0 sacks all game, the defensive however was gashed for 180 yards on the ground and 229 through the air. A defensive breakdown unseen since USC's performance in the Rose Bowl. Bolden's performance so far has been commendable, and the fact that he is a true freshman has Lion fans giddy about the possibilities in seasons to come.

3. Evan Royster is, perhaps, you're most explosive weapon on offense. But Stafon Green (correct me on spelling if I'm wrong), is also a talented halfback. Which one will play the biggest role against Temple?

Evan Royster has yet to find his footing this season. His performance thus far has been disturbing for Penn State fans who expected Royster to carry the offense before we saw what Robert Bolden was capable of. Instead, Stephfon Green has helped in carrying the load as everyone waits for Royster to return to last season's form. It isn't Royster nor Green that Temple fans should be worried about this Saturday though. By the time the game is over, Owl fans will know the name Silas Redd.

To date, Royster has carried 31 times for 110 yards (3.5 average) and Stephfon Green has carried 22 times for just about as much (104 yards, 4.7 average). Silas Redd has actually half the number of carries as Royster, but just 40 less total yards. Among the 3 featured backs, he actually leads the team in average yards per carry.

4. Temple's offense, led by Bernard Pierce, has been night-and-day this season, particulary Pierce. After a strong outing against UCONN, the offense is flying high. How will Penn State gameplan for Temple's running game, and what specific defenders should Temple fans keep an eye out for?

Penn State has always been stout against the run (Alabama aside). Look out for defensive tackle Devon Still who leads the team in sacks. Defensive end pressure has been a bit of a concern heading into last week's game. Through 2 games, none of the DEs have logged a sack until Kent State.

5. History suggests that Penn State will walk away with the win against Temple, but in all honesty, what are your feelings on the game? Are you at all fearful of a loss, as hard as that may seem?

I'd put my mood at cautiously optimistic. Let's just put it this way, Temple with arguably it's best squad in recent memory last season, the one that went 7-0 in conference play before falling to Ohio for the MAC East title and a shot at the MAC championship, still merely managed 2 field goals against Penn State. I get that the Owls are 3-0, their best record since 1979, and against somewhat legitimate opponents, but don't forget that Joe Paterno is undefeated against Temple. To date, he has never lost against Wayne Hardin 8-0, Jerry Berndt 4-0, Ron Dickerson 4-0, Bobby Wallace 1-0, and current head caoch Al Golden 4-0 and I just don't see that changing this season.

6. It's that time. Give us your prediction.

Penn State 31 - Temple 14

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We thank Charlie of Nittany White Out for taking some time to take part in our weekly preview, and I suggest you check out his site for more coverage of the Penn State-Temple game.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Temple, Penn State Extend Series

The undefeated Temple Owls are set to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions (2-1) this Saturday, but before the game begins, word broke out that the season series will continue for another three years.

The series will carry into 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons.

Currently, Penn State and Temple are in the midst of a seven year series that began in 2006, and will end in 2012. That means there will be a one year gap in 2013 in which Temple won't play Penn State.

The overall series has consisted of 39 games between the two inner state rivals. However, Temple has been on the short end of the stick in nearly all 39 games. They have won a dismal three games out of those 39 meetings.

Since Joe Paterno has taken over at Penn State (which was forever ago), the Nittany Lions are a perfect 25-0 against the Owls.

The last time Penn State lost to Temple was in 1943 when the Owls won 13-0.

Hopefully, Temple can find a way to get their fourth win of the season, as well as their fourth win ever against Penn State, when the two teams meet this Saturday.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Temple's quest for national recognition

'Mid-Major schools don't deserve national recognition', however, a new dawn is upon us, and the mid majors are quietly rising to the occasion.

When you think of Mid-Major schools, teams like Boise State, TCU, BYU, and even Utah come to mind. Not so fast. There's another team quickly joining the ranks of those schools, the Temple Owls.

The national media and fans of college football are quick to point out that Temple never gets quality wins, and being stuck in the Mid American Conference gives them no legitimate conference wins.

Though this may have been true at one point, the Owls have strung together three QUALITY wins this season, and are sitting pretty at 3-0.

They opened their season with a huge victory over inner-city rival Villanova, who was coming up off a FCS National Championship run. The Wildcats returned nearly all of their starters from a year ago, which means that Temple defeated a championship team. Also, don't forget that the Big East is trying to bring 'Nova into their conference in the coming years. Well, what about Temple?

Following their win over the Wildcats, Temple knocked off the "Kings of the MAC", Central Michigan. The Chippewas dominated the conference for the past several years under the reigns of Dan LeFevour. So Temple knocked off a conference champ, not too shabby.

Then came September 18, the day that Temple finally knocked off a BCS-school. The UCONN Huskies, belonging to the Big East, were lit up the Owls on all cylinders.

Wait, so Temple defeated the following:

  • Reigning FCS National Champions
  • MAC Champions
  • Big East school
Sounds to me that Boise State, TCU, BYU, and Utah have some competition.

Animated Drive Chart: UCONN-Temple

FULL SCREEN VERSION

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Pierce, Defense Guides Temple to 30-16 Victory

For the first time since 1979, the Temple Owls are 3-0 after their victory over Connecticut, 30-16.

Sophomore sensation, Bernard Pierce, finally was able to get off on the right foot for the first time this season. After rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2009, Pierce was still in search of his first 100-yard game of the 2010 campaign, but that search has ended after Pierce complied 179 yards against the Huskies.

In addition to his 179 yards, Pierce reached the endzone on three occasions, including a 27 yard reception to start off the scoring for Temple.

Pierce's backup, Matt Brown, was rarely used, only receiving two touches for six yards.

The passing attack was led by Chester Stewart's 160 yards on 16 completions, with his biggest weapon coming in the form of Joe Jones, who led Temple with 74 receiving yards, and made an all important block on a Bernard Pierce run to set up a touchdown.

Defensively, Temple was led by reigining MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Adrian Robinson Jr. In what appeared to be a "Houdini-like" play, Robinson ripped the ball out of UCONN's star running back Jordan Todman's hand, and took the ball down the sidelines for a touchdown that gave Temple a 20-16 lead.

The entire defense played great all four quarters, despite allowing Todman to rush for 167 yards.

Pierce and Robinson were the catalysts in Temple's unbeliveable victory, but punt returner Delano Green made, arguably, the most important play of the game.

Half way through the fourth quarter, Green fielded a punt, even though he should have called for the fair catch. With a swarm of UCONN and Temple players surrounding him, Green broke right, then bounced backwards and back outside, picked up two huge legal blocks, and stormed his way up field before being tripped up by his own guy at UCONN's four yard yard line.

Pierce ended up scoring a few plays later, and that all but clinched Temple the victory.

With Temple now standing at 3-0, the Owls will be on the road for the first time this season in Happy Valley, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions. Not many folks predicted Temple to defeat UCONN, and the same will apply for Penn State, but we have all seen miracles happen before.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Animated Drive Chart: CMU-Temple

Courtesy of Rocky Top Talk, I now have access to an animated drive chart of each and every game for the Temple Owls.
 
What is an animated drive chart? Well, it's sort of something that you would see on ESPN if you were watching the gamecast for a particular game. The interactive tool will display each and every drive with the outcome of each drive, and will keep score at the top, just as if you were watching it live.
 
Enough of the explaining, let's check out the feature in it's full display!
 
FULL SCREEN VERSION

Why Matt Brown Should Start


At the beginning of the season, Matt Brown was nothing but an after thought to fellow running back Bernard Pierce, who was coming of a stellar freshman year.

Pierce was getting a lot of local hype as a possible Heisman candidate, while Brown was not even talked about leading up to the season. He was assumed to get very few touches and only come in when Pierce needed a break, or if there was ever an injury to his counterpart.

Fast forward, now we are 2 weeks into the season and Matt Brown is Temple's starting running back. Pierce has struggled with nagging injuries that have forced him to lose touches so far in the season. Brown jumped on this opportunity, and has performed far and above his expectations.

In the young season, Brown has 102 yards rushing on 26 carries, averaging 3.9 yards per attempt. Brown has even added 22 yards on five receptions. Brown is also tied with Pierce at a touchdown-a-piece on the year. He has proven he can produce when given the opportunity.

Pierce has seemed much less effective this year because he hasn't been able to run people over like he did last year. Brown, on the other hand, has continued to work on finding the holes the offensive line leaves for him and sprint through for a big gain. Brown is the complete opposite of Pierce, a very small elusive back that doesn't need to run through defenders to get to open space. He is able to fit into small holes and get extra yardage. Pierce has to rely on yards after contact. However, Pierce has had injury problems this year that have made him much less effective.

Brown will get better over time with finding holes and getting faster. I feel Pierce may deteriorate over time and he will end up not running for huge gains because he can't run people over. If Pierce can't stay healthy this season, then Brown should be able to take over the starting spot for good.

Heisman Tracker: Pryor Remains Top Dog

For the second consecutive week, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is the unanimous #1 selection following Ohio State's crucial win over Jacory Harris' Miami Hurricanes.

The top ten has altered, with a few more running backs jumping into the top ten, while some players have dropped out of the rankings after struggling this weekend.

The biggest mover this week has to be Michigan's quarterback, Denard Robinson. Perhaps the most exciting player in the nation, Robinson lit up the Notre Dame defense for over 500 total yards of offense, including the longest run ever in Notre Dame's home stadium.

Right behind Robinson (in terms of biggest mover) is freshman running back Marcus Lattimore. The South Carolina halfback lit up the Georgia Bulldogs, running for 182 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 236 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

Another new face to the Heisman rankings is Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter. The senior running back has quietly ran for 414 yards this season and six touchdowns, including four touchdowns against Washington State. If he continues this pace, Hunter will continue to climb the Heisman polls nationwide.

Looking at the list, you'll notice one name that was left off: QB Jacory Harris. Not only did the Hurricanes lose to Ohio State, but Harris threw four interceptions and just one touchdown. If he wanted to win the hardware this year, he would have had to pull out the victory over the Buckeyes in order to gain national recognition.

1. QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State

2. QB Denard Robinson, Michigan

3. QB Jake Locker, Washington

4. QB Kellen Moore, Boise State

5. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

6. RB Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

7. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

8. QB Matt Barkley, USC

9. RB Jacquizz Rodgers, ORST

10. RB Kendall Hunter, OKST

From the Eyes of Owlified: CMU-Temple


A common trend on Cherry & White Nation is to get fellow college bloggers involved in our site to bring in a wide variety of opinions and personalities. One of our more respected guests is Dave Gerson, the owner of Owlified.com.

1. Temple started the game off with a deep ball to Rod Streater. How come you think Temple went away from throwing downfield following the 56 yard completion?

I have don't understand why the Owls shied away from the passing game. Campbell and Streater through two games have proven to be pretty reliable, but I don't think the coaches are willing to throw the long ball that much. Delano Green and Joe Jones have also contributed, but the Owls' game plan hasn't really called on them much. I would like to see more of Deon Miller as the season goes on as well. Unless they are somehow going to end up redshirting him, there's no reason you can't utilize a 6'5" wideout against any opponent.

CMU is a very talented team thought that I'm sure would have made immediate changes to the coverage so that something like that wouldn't happen again. They weren't giving Chester a lot of time to making throwing decisions when the Owls weren't running the ball.

2. What are your opinions from Thursday night's game, what impressed you the most, and what area are you most concerned about following the game against CMU?

What impressed me the most was the play of the defense as a whole. There are so many positives you can pull from this game that come from the D. If not for the secondary's decent coverage, CMU could have blown up at any point. Wideout Cody Wilson was a handful enough to cover, but the defensive backs got the job done and limited the passing attack of the Chips. Not to mention Kee-ayre Griffin's crucial overtime interception.

If not for the all out rush by the defensive line on the final play of regulation, I don't think we would have won the game. Muhammad Wilkerson's forced fumble was the only way that we could have gotten that clock to run out rather than an attempted field goal. Adrian Robinson, Elisha Joseph, Shahid Paulhill, and Kadeem Custis gave Central Michigan's Ryan Radcliff a lot of problems as the game progressed.

The one area that I'm concerned with is the offensive line. This group was looked at as one of the top units in the entire country, and to me it doesn't seem like they are playing like that right now. The pass blocking needs to give Stewart some more time to settle in the pocket rather than force things. On the run, the addition of a fullback helps but the front five or six are what set our backs up for their plays.

3. Chester Stewart isn't blowing up the box scores, but he has avoided interceptions, although he has coughed the ball up down the stretch in both games. What is your perspective on Stewart and his performance so far, and what will he need to do differently against UCONN?

Chester has the potential to be a great quarterback. His decision making has definitely improved over the last few years and will continue to do so as he gets more and more experience. We've known that he is capable of making plays on the ground as well, and have started to see him use his legs a little more in 2010.

I think that against a team like UConn we will see more throwing from Chester again, and it will be his job to make the right choices and smart moves. Two areas I will once again stress are simple: the control of the snaps and protecting the football. John Palumbo/Jeremy Schonbrunner and Chester Stewart need to be on the same page whether under center or from the gun. Temple has lost too many downs because of a fault in the snap. Second, Chester needs to learn to protect the ball when he is being rushed. You cannot let the ball be exposed when you're being attacked by opposing linemen.

4. The topic has been brought up a lot recently. Let's say you're in Al Golden's place. It's week three against UCONN, and you need to put the best team possible on the field. Who do you start at running back?

It all depends on who performs at practice. Matt Brown has stayed healthy and productive through the first two games and has earned his spot in the backfield. Bernard Pierce has gotten his touches, but has once again gotten roughened up a bit (Not sure exactly what's going on with the hand, but I'd like to assume it's nothing serious).

I don't think that Pierce's production is going down because he is not playing, I think that it's because the running game as a whole is not playing well. You block well for any back, he'll get you yards. The offensive line needs to step it up for both of these guys come Saturday. Brown and Pierce sharing the carries is not the problem, it's what they are doing with those carries that is.

5. What do you think Temple will need to do to not only compete with the Huskies, but pull out the victory?

Temple is more than capable of beating UConn, but needs to play smart and productive football. If the defense can play as lockdown as they did against CMU, I think we're in a solid position. Winning the turnover battle only betters the chances of winning the football game. The offense, though, needs to show up and put some points on the board early in the game; we need some consistency out of this group. I don't think the coaches should be afraid to try and air the ball out a little also. We cannot have an offense mainly focused on the run over the pass; this gameplan needs some diversity.

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We thank Dave for providing his insight onto last week's game, and we look forward to hearing from him throughout the season.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

The Effect of UCONN's Onslaught of Texas Southern

In their final tune-up before their visit to Lincoln Financial Field to take on the Temple Owls (2-0), the Connecticut Huskies put on a "Texas-sized" beat down over the Texas Southern Tigers, 62-3.

If there's one thing to be thankful for as a Temple fan following UCONN's victory, at least it wasn't the Owls on the other end of that scoreboard.

With that large of a point differential, some people will say that UCONN will be riding high into the Linc with all the confidence in the world, while others will claim that the Huskies will have a let down game next week. So what should we expect from UCONN in their matchup against the Owls?

When your team manages to exploit the defense for 307 rushing yards, there certainly is something wrong with the opponent. Of course, Texas Southern is a FCS school, so the level of competition is nothing compared to what Temple will bring to the table, but 62 points is still 62 points when it's all said and done.

At one point in the game, the Huskies had a 55-0 lead.

There is no way that Temple will come out their poorly against UCONN, but it's still going to be an uphill battle for the Owls. Whenever the Owls square off against a Big East opponent, the advantage will always be in favor for the bigger school, but Temple isn't a slouch either.

However, Temple's 2-0 record shouldn't intimidate Connecticut at all because, honestly, the Owls could easily be 0-2 if it wasn't for the leg of Brandon McManus. If Temple wants to compete in next weekend's affair, they must get some sort of production from sophomore back, Bernard Pierce.

So far this season, Pierce has made little to no impact, and missed the second half of the Central Michigan game following an apparent hand injury. Heading into the season, many were claiming him to be a Heisman candidate.  Well, that talk has come to an end, and the pressure is no excuse anymore, Pierce must find a way to get back in his 2009 rhythm.

Leading up to next week's game, Temple will be facing a lot of doubt when it comes time to take on UCONN. The media will be hyping up UCONN after their 62 point day, and will give Temple little to no shot.

But just as we've seen before, the college game is unpredictable, and Temple could easily pull out a win if they click on all cylinders.

Stay tuned all week for more coverage of the Temple-UCONN matchup!

From the Mind of a Victim: Thoughts on the Temple-CMU game


With Temple now off to a 2-0 start after they won their first ever overtime game in school history, they can now get ready to take on Big East opponent, UCONN.

But before Cherry & White Nation begins our coverage leading up to the game, it's time to take our last look back on the Temple-CMU game.

Previously, I spoke with FireUpChips before the game to get his take on Thursday's game. Now that the game has concluded, let's see what he thinks about how the game played out.

1. Well, where to begin. What was your opinion on the game, and did it play out the way you had expected, and if not, what went differently?

I thought Thursday's game was very sloppy but I picked CMU to "pull out an ugly one" and it sure was ugly. Both defenses played a lot like I thought they might but Temple made a couple big plays to create turnovers that ended up being the difference.

2. Defensively, Central Michigan was able to keep Bernard Pierce in check, as well as Matt Brown. What would be your overall grade for the defensie performance last night, and why?

I would give our defense an A- and felt if not for a couple dumb penalties, our defense played a perfect game.

3. Just as CMU was able to do, the Temple defense forced key turnovers, especially the interception in overtime. What impressed you most about the Owls' defense?

Adrian Robinson Jr. was all over the field disrupting plays and making things harder for Radcliff and the CMU offense. This kid is a legit NFL talent.

4. Give us a player on both CMU and Temple that caught your eye with a brief explanation.

Cody Wilson for the CMU continues to impress me. I know he had a costly fumble in the first half but he really seems to be stepping into the hole that Antonio Brown left when he chose to leave early for the NFL.

Since I've already used Adrian Robinson, I will go with Matt Brown on the Temple side. This kid plays much bigger than 5'5", 170. The Owls need to find a way to get him more involved in the passing game to utilize his shiftiness on 3rd downs.

5. This is definitly a tough loss for CMU. Do you think they can bounce back next week, and how do you see the Chippewas finishing out their season?

The offense needs to find ways to turn their TOs into points or it will be a long season. But if the Owls are indeed the class of the MAC, CMU proved they can play with anyone. The Chippewas play EMU next weekend so I'm sure they can get back to their winning ways. The MACW is still wide open and CMU has as good a team as anyone so the sky is the limit...

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We thank FireUpChips for answeing our questions throughout the week, and we suggest that our readers take a look at his site.

Friday, September 10, 2010

McManus Leads Charge Over CMU

Once again, sophomore kicker Brandon McManus continues to live the role of campus legend following his second consecutive game-winning field goal last night against MAC rival, Central Michigan.

"I like pressure," said McManus. "I like the fact that their coach called timeout. I think they think it's going to freeze the kicker. It didn't freeze me. I accepted the role."

But McManus didn't have nearly as good a game as he had in the opener against Villanova. He missed from 44 yards out in the first quarter and 38 yards away in the second quarter. But that never fazed him, and once again, he thrived off the pressure, and the rest is history.

Quarterback Chester Stewart didn't put up eye-popping numbers, but he did avoid the biggest mistake for quarterbacks, interceptions. He continued to be an efficient passer, 16-for-22 on his attempts, finishing with 151 yards.

His big play threat from last week's game, Michael Campbell, was nearly non-existent last night, only grabbing one ball for nine yards. However, Rod Streater caught two passes for 64 yards, including a 56 yard reception.

Temple's defense played the way they needed to, and that was with intensity and aggression. Key-ayre Griffin made the play of the night defensively when he picked of CMU's Ryan Radcliff in overtime, giving Temple with the ball and the chance to settle for a field goal. Radcliff finished the night with two interceptions, and CMU finished with three total turnovers.

However, Temple's one concern lies in the play of Bernard Pierce. Though, he scored the game's first touchdown on a four yard run, Pierce finished with a measly 57 yards on 10 carries. Teammate Matt Brown ended up earning more carries (16) then Pierce, but only averaged 3.0 yards per attempt.

Pierce and Brown both compiled a total of six receptions for 32 yards, with Pierce gaining 12 yards on one reception.

According to Philly.com, this is the first time since 1981 that the Temple football program has started 2-0, and have won seven consecutive home games for the first time since 1940.

Temple will get ready to host Connecticut next week at Lincoln Financial Field as they try to extend their home win streak and move to 3-0 before their trip to Happy Valley to take on the Nittany Lions of Penn State.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Knowing the Enemy: Central Michigan

Insead of sitting here and attempting to provide a good insight on an opponent that I'm not familiar with, I surfed the blogosphere for a Central Michigan blogger to do the honors of previewing Central Michigan and their upcoming game against the Temple Owls. Just as we did last week with Chris Lane of The Nova Blog, the blogger for Fire Up Chips will answer some questions regarding tonight's matchup.



1. Central Michigan is coming off an impressive 33-0 win over Hampton, while Temple is riding high after a come-from-behind win over rival Villanova to open the season. Which team would you say has the "momentum" on their side, and why?

After losing to Villanova in last year's opener, Temple had Villanova circled on their schedule. I don't think anyone familiar with the CMU program takes 1AA programs lightly (remember ND State?) and to beat the best from that division is a great win. Temple is definitely riding high on their win last week and carries all the momentum.

2. After one game, the Chippewas have yet to allow a single point on defense? Care to explain what CMU does so well on defense, and are there any standout players on D that Temple fans should keep an eye on?

CMU is a sure tackling team. When a tackle should be made, it is. They also tend to be a "bend but don't break" style defense against a well run offense. Teams don' t tend to get into the end zone very often even when they are getting into the red zone consistently.

The obvious choices for impact defensive players are Bellore and Berning at LB but that's too easy. The key to the game for our defense is going to be the play of our young DEs, Caesar Rodriguez and Darryll Stinson. When Temple is forced into passing 3rd downs, they need to force Chester Stewart out of his comfort zone as he became a bit inaccurate when under duress against Nova. Also, I'm expecting Jahleel Addae to step up from the Safety position to help snuff out the run game when Temple running backs are able to break through the first line of defense.

3. Quarterback Ryan Radcliff had a good outing to open the season, throwing for just under 250 yards and a touchdown. Temple, just like CMU, has a pretty good defense, including the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year in Adrian Robinson at defensive end. Do you think Radcliff will continue his success into Thursday's game?

Coming into the 2010 season, the strength of this offensive unit on paper was the offensive line. We returned 4 starters upfront and have a stable of capable linemen to keep the group fresh. I expect them to give Radcliff adequate time to make accurate decisions with the football. To get him going early and take the pressure off, expect CMU to call some timing routes, swing passes and get the run game going. One thing Radcliff needs to do a better job of, is knowing when to give up on a play and throw it away. He took unnecessary sacks against Hampton and these sort of plays could really kill drives against a tough Temple defense.

4. As a whole, CMU rushed for 168 yards on the ground. Which runner should Temple fear the most: Paris Cotton or Carl Volny?

Both Cotton and Volny are physical backs that can break a big run. Also, they both did the majority of their training under the Butch Jones spread so expect both of these guys to have above average hands in the passing game. I guess if I had to pick one of these guys to have a big a game, it would be Paris Cotton. Unfortunately for us, Zurlon Tipton may be the most talented of the bunch but he is finishing up a 2 game suspension on Thursday and will be inactive.

5. Temple has a terrific tandem at running back between two sophomores, Bernard Pierce and Matt Brown. Which one are you most concerned about, and why?

Bernard Pierce is a menacing back that is capable of smacking our defense in the mouth while Matt Brown is a quicker shiftier runner--it really does make for a nice tandem. During the offseason all anyone talked about was Bernard Pierce and it allowed Matt Brown to fly under the radar a bit. That being said, I think Temple knows their success lies on the shoulders of Pierce. To beat CMU, they need to sustain long drives and pound our DL to slowly wear them down. When game planning, coaches have to be more concerned with Pierce.

6. Last time Temple met Central Michigan, the Owls lost 24-14, but then again, the Chippewas had a great quarterback in Dan LeFevour at the time. How do you see this game playing out, and give us your prediction.

The Chippewa team is still trying to find their identity after LeFevour's departure but it leaves the offense with something to prove. I really expect the Chippewas to show up in Philly ready to play. It will be a hard to match Temple's intensity but I really like our chances as our run defense seems to be a definite strength that matches up with Temple's offensive strength nicely. This one may come down to a play or 2 on special teams. CMU 24-Temple 16

Regardless of the outcome, this ESPNU matchup is great for each program and the conference. I'm sure it will not disappoint football-hungry America! Fire up Chips!

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We thank Fire Up Chips for giving us an insight into the Chippewas, and we look forward to tonight's game. Stay tuned to Cherry & White Nation for post-game analysis.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Analyzing Temple's Basketball Schedule

Friday, Nov. 12: Seton Hall
Sunday, Nov. 14: Toledo

Nov. 25-28: Old Spice Classic/Orlando
Thursday, Nov. 25: California
Friday, Nov. 26: vs. Georgia/Notre Dame
Sunday, Nov. 28: vs. *TBD (*Boston Coll. Manhattan, Texas A&M, Wisconsin)

Wednesday, Dec. 1: at Central Michigan
Sunday, Dec. 5: Maryland
Thursday, Dec. 9: Georgetown
Sunday, Dec. 12: Akron
Saturday, Dec. 18: Northern Illinois
Wednesday, Dec. 22: at Ohio
Wednesday, Dec. 29: at Villanova
Wednesday, Jan. 5: at Fordham
Sunday, Jan. 9: Saint Louis
Wednesday, Jan. 12: St. Bonaventure
Saturday, Jan. 15: at Duquesne
Wednesday, Jan. 19: Penn
Saturday, Jan. 22: at Xavier
Wednesday, Jan. 26: Charlotte
Saturday, Jan. 29: at Saint Joseph's
Wednesday, Feb. 2: at La Salle
Saturday, Feb. 5: Rhode Island
Wednesday, Feb. 9: Fordham
Saturday, Feb. 12: at Dayton
Thursday, Feb. 17: Richmond
Sunday, Feb. 20: Saint Joseph's
Wednesday, Feb. 23: at Duke
Saturday, Feb. 26: at George Washington
Wednesday, March 2: at Massachusetts
Saturday, March 5: La Salle
Tuesday, March 8: A-10 First Round (campus sites)
March 11-13: Atlantic 10 Tournament (Atlantic City)

The Temple schedule has officially been released and speculations can now begin.

Temple's out-of-conference schedule looks to be more challenging than last year. The out of conference schedule is highlighted by college powerhouses California (24-11), Maryland (24-9), Georgetown (23-11), Big 5 rival Villanova (25-8), and Duke (35-5).

If Temple can make it through their tough out-of-conference schedule and into their conference schedule with a winning record and finish top three in an up and coming A-10 conference, then the voters will be hard pressed to not invite the Owls to their 4th consecutive NCAA tournament.

Temple will play city rivals La Salle (12-18) and St. Joseph's (11-20) along with conference rival Fordham (2-26) twice this season.

(Story written by Chadillac)

Sarah Stoner on the Diamond Gem Dance Team

When it comes to Temple gamedays, there is always a lot of excitement coming from the field besides the actual game itself. We all know about the cheerleaders, but Temple has the luxury of having their very own dance team, the Diamond Gems. Each and every time the Temple football team takes to the field, the Diamond Gem Dance Team is right there with them, cheering on their team from the sidelines in between dance sequences.

To get a better understanding of the Diamond Gems, I brought in junior Sarah Stoner, who has been a member of the dance team for all of her three years at Temple.


1. What made you decide to attend Temple University?

My older brother went to Temple, and I remember visiting him and enjoying the atmosphere here at Temple. I appreciate the diversity. I think its important to be surrounded with people who come from different backgrounds. I also love the location of Temple University. It is right on broad street and it is very easy to get around Philadelphia, whether it be to Center City, South Street, Penns Landing, or to Pattison to go watch a Phillies game. Another thing that attracted me to Temple was the Prestige of the Fox Business School. And last but not least the Diamond Gems.

2. What made you want to become a member of the Diamond Gem Dance team at Temple?

I've been dancing since I was 8 years old. Its something I love to do. My former high school dance team Captain, Alyssa Spangler came to Temple and joined the Diamond Gems Dance Team. When she found out I was coming to Temple she encouraged me to try out. I love Temple sports and getting involved in my school, and Diamond Gems seemed like a great way to represent my university and have fun while doing it.

3. How would you descibe the whole tryout process to become a member of the dance team?

We hold tryouts every Spring, usually around end of April, open to all Full-Time Temple Students, including recently accepted high school seniors. Auditions start with a group warm-up and stretch, then proceed with a technique review which consists of turns, leaps, flexibility, and tricks. This is also a time when the judges look for who shows their personality and confidence, because its not just about how well you dance, but also how well you perform. Auditioners are taught two short routines in both jazz and hip hop and are taught a sideline. On the second day of tryouts we perform the jazz and hip hop routine as well as the sideline. Then the judges pick the team based on your scores.

4. Give us a quick rundown of what the Diamond Gem Dance team does to prepare for each game?

Throughout the year we hold practices three times a week to work on technique and learning new choreography for our routines. We have also have conditioning with the Temple Athletics Strength Coach twice a week. Each game we do two new routines as well as dance on the sidelines and cheer on our Owls. At football we dance at halftime with the band, and we also dance in between the 3rd and 4th quarter. We practice with the Diamond Marching Band the day before each football game to run through the half time show as well.

5. I'm sure you're a Temple football fan. What are your expectations for the team this year, and is there one particular player that you would consider your favorite?

I think Temple Football has come a long way and they really proved themselves last year. With the defeat of a tough 'Nova team last Friday, we set the momentum to keep winning and hopefully have an even better record this year. I sure would like the Owls to give Penn State and JoePa a run for their money on the 25th.

I would consider my favorite player to be Chester Stewart. He's an awesome QB and he has a great arm. Last year, even though he only started about 4 games, he led us to a lot of victories, and I believe he was the reason we got to the bowl game. He also did a wonderful job in the 2010 Mayor's Cup leading us to our victory against Villanova!

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Cherry & White Nation thanks Ms. Stoner for taking some time to better our understanding of the Diamond Gem Dance Team. Be sure to check out Sarah and the rest of the Diamond Gems when Temple hosts Central Michigan this Thursday.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

From the Mind of a Victim: Thoughts on the Temple-Nova Game

Just as we did before on Cherry & White Nation, we spoke with Christopher Lane of The Nova Blog, but this time, we got his thoughts on the game after its conclusion. Let's see what his opinion was of the game, and what he believes led to the fourth quarter onslaught of Temple.

1. Well, where do we start? The game, overall, was as interesting as can be. Villanova appeared to be the better team for most of the game, but then came the fourth quarter. What did you notice differently in Nova's gameplan in the fourth quarter?

I thought we got tight. We stopped trying to move the ball downfield and ran a lot of East-West games. It truly felt like we were trying not to lose instead of going for the kill, which is frankly very surprising to see because all last year we were great at putting the nail in the coffin when we could.

Credit to Temple though, they owned the 4th quarter and made some big, big plays when they had to.

2. When Villanova ended up leading 24-22 with 1:51 left in the game, and knowing that Temple had no timeouts at the time, did you expect the Owls to be able to drive down AND convert on the last second field goal?

I don't think I expected it, but 1:51 is soooooo much time, even with no timeouts. It allows you to dink and dunk down the field 10 yards at a time instead of having to go vertical right away. I was thinking that if we couldn't stop you in the first 4-5 plays, we were in trouble. And we were.

3. How would you rate the performance of Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney and Matt Szczur against Temple?

I thought Whitney was very efficient until late in the game, and then he kind of fell apart, which was shocking to watch. Part (really, most) of the late-game disaster was the coaching, but the players did not execute.

Szczur looked a little rusty to me. Temple was all over him in the running game and did a great job covering him as well in the passing game. Whitney missed him when he was wide open a couple of times, and at least one he was probably taking to the house, so there were some opportunities that were not taken.

4. Was there any particular player from Temple that surprised you during the course of the game?

I think overall Chester Stewart played a lot better than I thought he would. The numbers were mind-boggling but he made plays when he had to, and in situations where I thought he was going to melt. All that inexperience talk from the media before the game may have been overblown a bit.

Bernard Pierce surprised me in a bad way. Matt Brown looked much better than him and Pierce just looked a step slow. I know we make fun of it, but I have no clue how anyone thought he would be in The Heisman discussion at any point this year.

5. In my opinon (and many others). Villanova looks like they could easily be back in the hunt for another championship run this season. What are your thoughts about the team after seeing them in their first live game action of the season?

The defense, which was my main concern before the year, still looks pretty good. I think they'll eat most FCS offenses up week-in and week-out. We need to figure out how to get Szczur the ball in more innovative ways because everyone is going to be keying on him.

And it'd be nice if our coaches made competent decisions down the stretch. Ya know, like just run the clock out when the other team has no timeouts instead of trying to air it out.

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We thank Mr. Lane for his help throughout the week, and we wish Villanova the bets of luck in their effort to defend their championship.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Heisman Tracker: New #1, Quarterbacks Rise

We have made it through the opening week of college football, and to our pleasure, we witnessed many great games and individual performances. Heading into the season, I ranked running back Dion Lewis out of Pittsburgh as the #1 Heisman candidate, but after a very slow start, he fell out of the top ten due to an influx of quarterbacks moving up. In fact, the top seven are all quarterbacks, but deservingly so.

The top running back, and reigning Heisman winner, Mark Ingram, missed the season opener, and is expected to miss Alabama's next game against Penn State. Because of this, Ingram has fallen out of the rankings, seeing that he will need to do a lot once he gets back onto the field. His backup, Trent Richardson, received recognition in the voting, but just missed out on the top ten.

(The voting process is based on two different lists, which are then averaged out into the final ranking)

1. QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State

2. QB Kellen Moore, Boise State

3. QB Jacory Harris, Miami

4. QB Christian Ponder, Florida State

5. QB Jake Locker, Washington

6. QB Matt Barkley, USC

7. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford

8. RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State

9. RB Demarco Murray, Oklahoma

10. QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

On the Fringe:
- RB Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
- RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
- RB Ryan Williams, Virgina Tech

Q&A with Will Cummings


As mentioned before, we here at Cherry & White Nation love bringing our readers as close as possible to the athletes of Temple University. Once again, I have been in contact with a Temple athlete, this time, however, it is an incoming freshman for the 2011 basketball season, Will Cummings.

He's the first player to commit to Temple in the 2011 recruiting class. He will be coming from the state of Florida, where he has spent his time dominating the hardwood with his lockdown defense and rising offensive ability.

Without further ado, let's check out my conversation with the newest Temple recruit, Will Cummings.

1. What factors played a role in your college decision, and what other colleges, besides Temple, did you consider?

The factors that played a role in my college decision were having a chance to make an impact my freshman year, the playing style of the school, the coaching staff, and how the basketball tradition was at the school. The other schools I considered were Murray State, College of Charleston, Tulane, Colgate, Northeastern, Boston College, Stanford, UNC-W, Buffalo, UNF.

2. What are some things you will try to improve on before your career at Temple starts?

I really want to improve my overall game before I step foot on the Temple campus. I will really focus on improving my mid-range to 3-pointer and make sure I can keep making those consistently. My defense is something that I have been known for but I like to make that even better and learn more ways to read the offensive player. I will keep working to get my ball handling and passing better because those are two things that are very important in the jump from high school to college.

3. What are you most looking forward to when you arrive on campus and begin your basketball training at the university?

I am most looking forward to being around around the team and becoming better as a whole. I want to put on weight and getting stronger my freshman year so those are topics that I will be working on from now until I get to Temple. Also, I can't wait to be around the Temple Nation!

4. Have you had any discussions with current, or former, Temple basketball players?

I've had many discussions with Anthony Lee. We are from the same AAU program so I've had many opportunities to have discussions with him. On my visit I had the chance to talk with the team and see what their experience was like. The only former Temple player I was able to talk with was Dion Dacons and he gave me a lot of great insight.

5. Say what you want, give the fans of Cherry & White Nation something to look forward to during your future as a Temple Owl.

I want to keep the streak of A-10 champs alive! We need to hang more banners in the Arena and keep that push towards a National Championship going! Let's Go Owls!

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We thank the young Will Cummings for his time, and we wish him the best of luck on his journey with Temple! We cannot wait to see him wear the cherry & white, and to see him do his thing on the court.

McManus Earns MAC Honor

For the third time in his collegiate career, sophomore kicker Brandon McManus has been named the MAC Specialist of the Week. By now, we already know what he accomplished, but let's take another look at what the young man did.

  • Hit a 53-yard field goal to end the first half.
  • Scored the lone points of the third quarter on a 44-yard field goal.
  • Nailed a 40-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
  • Won the game on a 43-yard field goal with :03 seconds remaining.
  • Also added an extra point following Matt Brown's first quarter touchdown.
  • Averaged 65.0 yards per kickoff.
Now that's a good way to start off the season for McManus, and a good way to build confidence heading into Temple's toughest part of the schedule, including a showdown with Big Ten juggernaut, Penn State.

Other MAC awards were awarded to the following players:
  • Offensive Player of the Week: QB Spencer Keith, Kent State
  • Defensive Player of the Week: DB Keith Morgan, Bowling Green

Sunday, September 5, 2010

NFL Cut Day Strikes Temple Alums


The mandated roster cut down day, from 75 to 53, has come and gone, and for some former Temple players, the day didn't go as planned.

One of the more notable cuts comes in the form of fullback Dan Klecko with the Atlanta Falcons. The former 2003 fourth round draft pick by the New England Patriots will now have to look elsewhere for a job, and if his past suggests anything, the chance of him finding a new team is very likely.

Another former Temple fullback will be looking for a job, Jason McKie. While at Temple, McKie started 26 games, was a two-time team captain, rushed for 700 yards and scored eight times. He's played for a handful of NFL teams since his emergence in the league in 2002 where he began with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Former Indianapolis Colts defensive end, Raheem Brock (who signed with the Tennessee Titans this offseason) ended up being a cut day casualty. Being a former Super Bowl champ, Brock seemed to be a lock for the team after signing with them this offseason, but a youth movement appears to have struck Tennessee, and he was among a handful of veterans who were dismissed from the team.

Other Temple grads who ended up being cut were offensive tackle Devin Tyler, defensive end Brian Sanford, and offensive tackle Steve Maneri. Tyler won't have to search long for another team, as he has already been placed on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad (the team originally cut him). The same goes for Steve Maneri, who is now on the Houston Texans' practice squad. Just like Tyler and Maneri, Brian Sanford ended up joining the Cleveland Browns' practice squad.

Unfortunately, linebacker Alex Joseph did not make the Green Bay Packers 53-man roster, or the team's practice squad. He can still sign with another team and be placed on their practice squad, so let's hope for the best for the young talent.

In a surprise turn of events, cornerback Domonique Harris ended up making the Buffalo Bills 53-man roster, but after the team ended up signing two new players, he fell victim to the new acquisitions, and will now look elsewhere for a job.

But the day wasn't bad for all of Temple's former players.

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton will look to follow up his stellar rookie season in Jacksonville with another solid season, and with the help of former Green Bay Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman, the likelihood of Knighton seeing a bump in his numbers is very likely.

Defensive tackle Andre Neblett made the Carolina Panthers final roster. He wasn't guaranteed a spot by any means, and considering that he went undrafted and was added to be an extra body in camp, the fact that he ended up finding a spot on the team is rather impressive.

Well Temple fans, it seems that just two former Temple alumni will be playing during the NFL regular season (unless one of the practice squad members get called up). I do expect that Raheem Brock will find a new home, so most likely there will be three former Owls representing Temple in the NFL.

Inside the Numbers: Temple vs. Villanova


46 The length of yards it took Temple to get in field goal range for the game-winning field goal.

0 The number of timeouts Temple had on their final drive.

127 The number of receiving yards senior Michael Campbell had in the season opener. He also added  a touchdown on a 62 yard strike.

53 The longest field goal that Brandon McManus has ever made, occured in the final seconds of the first half.

20/10 Number of attempts that Bernard Pierce (20) and Matt Brown (10) had during the game. The duo appears to be prepared to split reps throughout the season.

31 Number of yards that Villanova star, Matt Szczur, compiled on offense. Give Temple credit for being able to contain the dual threat RB/WR throughout the game.

12.5 The average yards per pass by quarterback Chester Stewart. He finished the game with 200 yards, and ended up leading Temple down on the final drive of the game.

21-13 The largest deficit that Temple faced against Villanova. Temple had 14 minutes left in the game to find a way to score eight points to tie the game, but ended up finishing with 18 points in the fourth quarter.

32,193 The number of people in attendance at the Mayor's Cup.

1-0 Temple's current record. The first time they started 1-0 since 2008, and only the third time since 2002 that they won their season opener.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Around the MAC: Week One


Every MAC team has officially started their season, and while some teBams are disappointed in the outcome, others are thrilled to open with a win. So let's make our way around the MAC conference as it stands now.

EAST
1. Buffalo: 1-0
- Kent State: 1-0
- Ohio: 1-0
- Temple: 1-0
5. Akron: 0-1
- Bowling Green: 0-1
- Miami (OH): 0-1

WEST
1. Ball State: 1-0
- Central Michigan: 1-0
3. Easten Michigan: 0-1
- Northen Illinois: 0-1
- Western Michigan: 0-1
- Toledo: 0-1

Most Impressive: Buffalo
A shutout is a shutout, no matter who it is against. They managed to hold Rhode Island to just 207 yards, with 62 of them coming from the ground. The 31-0 victory was led by quarterback Jerry Davis, who threw four touchdowns for 302 yards.

Biggest Disappointment: Northern Illinois
They were outplayed the entire game by Iowa State, and being a favorite in the MAC, they were unable to get off on the foot. But don't get discouraged yet, once they enter MAC conference play, they should have figured out their quarterback situation, and will hopefully live up to their expectations in the West division.

Keep an Eye on: Miami (OH)
As an avid college football fanatic, I tend to watch a lot of Florida Gators games, and I must say that the Redhawks played the Gators tough early on. They held a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, and forced a handful of fumbles during the course of the game. Despite the loss, Miami looks to be a contender in the MAC.

Games to Watch
  • Central Michigan @ Temple: The first conference game, Temple will look to get their running game going against the LeFevour-less Chippewas, who are coming off an impressive win in week one.
  • Buffalo @ Baylor: This will be a good test for a Buffalo team that held Rhode Island to zero offense. Let's see how one of the better MAC teams fares against a rising Big 12 team that is led by athletic quarterback, Robert Griffen.

Temple's version of "The Drive"


Jubilation, Ecstasy, Relief. Just a few words to describe what every Temple fan was feeling after Brandon Mcmanus nailed a 43 yard field goal to give Temple the victory over city rival Villanova, but the drive leading up to the field goal was perhaps one of the best put together drives you will ever see.

With Villanova hitting a field goal to take the lead the Temple offense got the ball at their 28 yard line with 1 minute 43 seconds showing on the game clock. Chester Stewart led his team back on the field, having fumbled in his own half the previous drive that led to the Villanova field goal that put Temple down two. Stewart has very little experience in situations like this seeing as he was never a full time starter until this season. However, instead of focusing on his mistake and giving up Stewart had a case of short term memory loss and led his team all the way down the field into Mcmanus' field goal range. This showed a lot about Stewart's character. He stayed tough and didn't pout after giving Villanova the lead. He was determined to give Temple a chance to win.

The first play of the drive was nearly the only play of the drive. Stewart dropped back and looked to his right and fired an attempt at a screen pass. Out of no where Villanova defensive lineman Mario Johnson jumped up and nearly intercepted it. Instead, however, he just batted it down. This made Temple fans wonder if Stewart was still thinking about the fumble. The very next play Stewart fired a completion near the sideline to Mike Campbell for a first down that stopped the clock.

Everybody will have their own opinions on which play was the most important in Temple's victory. Well my vote is for Evan Rodriguez's catch on 2nd and 10 on the 4th play of the drive. Stewart took a quick drop and saw Rodriguez splitting 2 defenders up the middle. Stewart fired the ball high and Rodriguez leaped and caught it and before he could land he got smacked on both sides by the 2 Villanova defenders. All 3 players hit the ground. Rodriguez somehow held on to the ball for a 9 yard gain. Many players would have understandably dropped the ball after getting hit that hard, but Rodriguez held on to it. Not to celebrate this or anything sinister but 1 of the Villanova players was hurt on the play as well. This gave Temple a breather and time to get a play set while the injured defender was tended to. The last and most important point about the play is that it left temple with a 3rd and 1 which gave them options to run or pass compared to a 3rd and 10 which would add more pressure to Chester Stewart.

The next play on 3rd and 1 Temple's Heisman candidate running back Bernard Pierce ran for a 5 yard gain to give Temple a 1st down and get them into Villanova territory. However the following running play by Chester Stewart topped it. Stewart was flushed out of the pocket on 2nd and 10. He found space right up the middle and followed a blocker a few yards before bouncing outside for an extra few yards. The overall gain was 13 yards. That gave Temple yet another 1st down and got them close to field goal range.

The final few plays of the drive helped make it a shorter kick for Mcmanus. Stewart hit Campbell for a 3 yard gain. Then with time winding down everybody expected Temple to spike it however Temple ran to line and called a play out and ran a play with 16 seconds left. This caught the Villanova defense off guard and Stewart found running back Matt Brown outside for a 5 yard gain and Brown stepped out of bounds to stop the clock with 8 seconds left.

We all know how the drive ends. Mcmanus steps up cool as a cucumber and nails a 43 yard field goal to give Temple the victory.

Perhaps one last important note is that Temple had no timeouts to use during the drive so they drove down the field in a minute and 43 seconds while using clock management. Very impressive display in the 1st game of the year from the Temple offense.

Don't wanna burst any bubbles but we may have already seen Temple's best overall drive of the year. Every play was crucial and helped lead Temple to a victory over their city rivals.

Q&A with Adam DiMichele


We here at Cherry & White Nation strive on delivering our readers with up-to-date news regarding our beloved Temple Owls, and providing plenty of analysis on each and every game like no other site can. One way we hope to do so is by hosting a number of Q&A's throughout the year. As you may have noticed, we have done a few Q&A's with another Temple Owls blog, as well as a recent interview with a blogger of a popular Villanova site. But never before have we hosted a Q&A with a former Temple football player... until now.

May I introduce to you, former quarterback from '06-'08, Adam Dimichele. The team captain for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Dimichele finished fourth on Temple's all-time passing yards list with 5,024 yards, and added 45 touchdowns. His passion for the game was, perhaps, his greatest asset, and he will always be a fan favorite in Philadelphia.

Now, let's take a look at our talk with Adam Dimichele:

1. Coming out of high school, you were a very accomplished athlete in terms of achievements and awards. Following your decision to attend Junior College at Okaloosa-Walton College in Florida, what made you choose Temple, and what other schools did you consider?

I chose Temple for 2 different reasons. My brother Alex was attending the school already as a walk on fullback and i thought it would be pretty special if i played on the same college team as him. Another reason why I chose Temple was because I needed something different in my life. When I met Coach Golden, we hit it off and seemed to have the same goals and were both looking to change the entire culture of the Temple Football program.

2. You were drafted in the 2005 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 38th round. Did you ever consider playing baseball professionally?

Oh yeah, I definitely thought about it. I thought that baseball was it for me. I never thought i would go back to playing football again! My heart was in a different place and football was where it was.

3. How would you sum up your time as a member of the Temple football program, and what was the one moment that stood out to you the most?

I had an amazing three years as a member of the Temple football program. We were at one time, one of the worst programs in the nation and we helped turn the entire program around. Just being a part of one of the most amazing turnarounds in college football history is more than enough for me. To be honest, there's not just one thing that stands out to me. Just seeing where we were when I first came on board to where the team is now, I don't even have words to explain it. The players bought in to what the coaches were preaching. It's as simple as that.

4. After going undrafted in the NFL Draft, you were offered a tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles, and ended up signing with the team for short term. How would you sum up your time with the Eagles, and how the NFL game differs from the collegiate level?

My short stint with the Eagles was just about as exciting as you would think it would be. I got to play in an NFL game and learn from some of the best NFL players out there. It was somewhat surreal at times but I think I held my own and learned a lot from those guys. The NFL is obviously faster than college ball. You have no time to sit back there and process information like you do in college. Those guys see a play, and barely even think before they act. Bigger, faster, and stronger players.

5. Following your brief stint in the NFL, did you continue to play football elsewhere?

I was in Canada and the CFL (Candadian Football League) for a little while and now I'm back home waiting on another opportunity.

6. With your Temple playing days over, do you still get a chance to follow the team? If so, how do you see the 2010 season unfolding for the Owls? Once an Owl-always an Owl.

I follow Temple football more than you can imagine! I would watch the games online all the time and had reminders and score updates sent to my phone after each quarter. I believe the 2010 Temple Owls have the talent to win the MAC Championship and head to a legit bowl game. Just the other day, I had a college football draft and I selected Bernard Pierce as one of my running backs. My younger brother selected Chester Stewart as one of his quarterbacks. Temple Pride right there!!!!!

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We thank Mr. Dimichele for taking some time to answer our questions, and we hope to speak with him again near the end of the season.