Cherry And White Nation

Heisman Tracker: Robinson Leads Way

2010-10-03T11:12:00.000-04:00

Michigan's Denard Robinson has achieved success that many others have never done in a CAREER.

Robinson has thrown for over 200 yards and ran for over 200 yards in the same game. Only nine players have ever done that before; Robinson did it twice.

He nearly had 300 passing yards and 200 running yards in the same game yesterday against Indiana (17 yards shy). That has only been done once before.

The Wolverines are undefeated, and Robinson is the clear cut Heisman favorite at this moment.

Besides Robinson, there are a few more quarterbacks to keep an eye on.

Terrelle Pryor remains a Heisman hopeful, but didn't put up any impressive stats against Illinois this past weekend, and missed nine plays because of an injury.

Auburn's Cam Newton and Arkansas' Ryan Mallett are also in the running for the Heisman, but both will need to knock off a higher ranked opponent AND put up impressive numbers as well.

1. QB Denard Robinson, Michigan
2. QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
3. QB Kellen Moore, Boise State
4. QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
5. QB Jake Locker, Washington
6. RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
7. RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
8. RB LaMichael James, Oregon
9. QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
10. RB DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma

Animated Drive Chart: Temple - Army

2010-10-03T10:55:00.002-04:00

FULL SCREEN VERSION

Matt Brown Steals the Show

2010-10-02T17:15:00.000-04:00

No Bernard Pierce; no problem.

With Pierce sidelined following an injury to his ankle from last weekend's contest against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Matt Brown became the go-to-guy against Army.

He did not disappoint.

On 28 carries, Brown compiled 226 yards and four touchdowns. With the game tied at 28-28, Brown scored on a 11 yard run to put Temple up by a score, and then followed that up with a 20 yard touchdown run, which ended up becoming the game-winning score, to put the Owls up by two possessions.

Aside from Brown, the Temple offense was a bit of a disappointment.

Chester Stewart didn't put up impressive numbers, going 7-for-16 with 127 yards. He did connect with Michael Campbell on an eight yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter, but other then that, the passing attack was held in check.

Defensively, the Owls didn't do as good as they would have liked, but they ended up holding Army to just 14 points in the second half, compared to Temple's 29 total points in the half.

All four of Army's touchdown belonged to quarterback Trent Steelman.

He scored on a a two yard run in the first quarter, a seven yard run in the second and a five yard run with 1:13 left in the game. He also threw a 31 yard touchdown to Austin Barr.

Temple now sits at 4-1 on the season, with their lone loss to #22 Penn State, and are set to take on Northern Illinois next weekend. Hopefully running back Bernard Pierce will be back in action to go along with Matt Brown in Temple's powerful running attack.

Last Look at the Temple-PSU Game

2010-09-30T20:05:00.000-04:00

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?

Pierce Listed as Game-Time Decision

2010-09-27T19:27:00.000-04:00

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.

Pierce's Injury Remains a Mystery

2010-09-26T01:23:00.001-04:00

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.

Temple's Heroic Effort not Enough to Defeat PSU

2010-09-25T19:07:00.001-04:00

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.

Knowing the Enemy: Penn State

2010-09-23T21:37:00.000-04:00

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.

Temple, Penn State Extend Series

2010-09-20T21:47:00.000-04:00

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.

Temple's quest for national recognition

2010-09-19T11:56:00.000-04:00

'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

2010-09-19T11:32:00.000-04:00

FULL SCREEN VERSION

Pierce, Defense Guides Temple to 30-16 Victory

2010-09-18T16:17:00.000-04:00

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.

Animated Drive Chart: CMU-Temple

2010-09-12T21:29:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-12T14:51:00.003-04:00

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

2010-09-12T14:42:00.001-04:00

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

2010-09-12T12:10:00.000-04:00

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.

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

The Effect of UCONN's Onslaught of Texas Southern

2010-09-11T17:49:00.001-04:00

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

2010-09-11T10:57:00.000-04:00

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.

McManus Leads Charge Over CMU

2010-09-10T16:59:00.000-04:00

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.

Knowing the Enemy: Central Michigan

2010-09-09T14:13:00.003-04:00

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.

Analyzing Temple's Basketball Schedule

2010-09-08T21:46:00.002-04:00

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

2010-09-08T14:10:00.002-04:00

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.

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

2010-09-07T18:51:00.001-04:00

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.

Heisman Tracker: New #1, Quarterbacks Rise

2010-09-06T21:27:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-06T18:11:00.000-04:00

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

2010-09-06T16:04:00.000-04:00

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

NFL Cut Day Strikes Temple Alums

2010-09-05T18:33:00.002-04:00

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

2010-09-05T10:26:00.000-04:00

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.

Around the MAC: Week One

2010-09-04T23:58:00.000-04:00

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"

2010-09-04T18:05:00.003-04:00

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

2010-09-04T16:06:00.000-04:00

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!!!!!

--

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.

The Play Within the Play

2010-09-04T11:59:00.000-04:00

(via Youtube)

After an eventful night that almost resembled a roller coaster, Temple can now take a sigh of relief that they are now 1-0, and remain on track for a double-digit win season. But let's not forget the one play that gave them their first victory of the season, and no, I am not talking about the actual kick by sophomore Brandon McManus. Right before McManus was able to get his foot on the ball, quarterback-turned-tight end Vaughn Charleton made a spectacular individual play.

Looking at the video, beginning at :35 seconds and ending at :37 seconds, you will notice just how spectacular the play really was. In that two second frame, Charleton was able to use all of his 6-foot-4 body to reach up and somehow snag the ball in the air with ease, AND without even hesitating, he perfectly (and I mean perfectly placed with the laces out) spotted the ball right where it needed to go.

The play as a whole has been seen by every Temple fan, but that two second moment involving Vaughn Charleton was overlooked by many. Sure, you can argue that a place holder is supposed to be able to catch the ball off a bad snap and place it down, but this is still college football, and with just :08 seconds on the clock in the Mayor's Cup in the season opener, the play by Charleton could go down as one of the best "forgotten in time" plays of the season.

If that play didn't impress you, how about you just ask Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo about place holding.

(Starting at :52 seconds)

Revenge at it's Finest: Owls Top 'Nova

2010-09-03T22:27:00.000-04:00

Ahh, sweet revenge. The ring of it just sounds good by itself, but when you finally come out on top and shatter your rival's hopes of reigning victorious over you once again, the feeling is beyond satisfying. When Temple took the field against Villanova, they had one thing on their minds, and that was to avenge their 27-24 defeat in 2009 by the hands of the Wildcats, and to every Temple fan's delight, the victory in the 2nd annual Mayor's Cup will give Temple bragging rights over 'Nova for another season.

Don't get me wrong, coming out with the victory at the end is a perfect ending, but it appeared that Villanova was the better team for almost the whole game. Temple's defense didn't match up well early on against 'Nova's option-style offense, but at the same time, the Owls didn't allow them to break off a big play. As mentioned before, junior Matt Szczur was held in check for the most part, only compiling 15 yards on five attempts, and 16 receiving yards on five catches.

The one big play for 'Nova came in the fourth quarter when Chris Witney found Norman White in the corner of the endzone on a fade route 21 yards out. The touchdown gave the Wildcats a 21-13 lead, and took the breath out of every Temple fan at Lincoln Financial Field.

But as we all know from the college football atmosphere, the swing of emotions, going from an eruption of cheers from the Villanova student sections to the bickering of every single Temple fan in attendance, the momentum for each side seemed to bounce back-and-forth throughout the fourth quarter.

Going into the game, all eyes were on sophomore running back Bernard Pierce. Unfortunately, he didn't live up to his expectations, running for 75 yards on 20 attempts. But Temple did score on the ground despite Pierce's inability to find the endzone. Matt Brown scored on a 17 yard run in the first quarter to give Temple it's first points of the new season.

But let's not kid ourselves, the biggest star of the game wasn't a member of the offense, or even the defense, it was kicker Brandon McManus. Sure, he nailed a 53 yard field to close out the first half with ease, and he did convert on a 44 yard field goal in the third quarter and a 40 yard field goal to close the gap to five points int the fourth quarter, but that's not what earned him player of the game. With :08 seconds on the clock, McManus did the improbable, and capped off a late Temple drive on a 43 yard field goal to give Temple the W.

To make things even better, Temple followed that field goal up with a 26 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown following Villanova's last ditch effort to score on the final play of the game. The 31-24 victory, though not a perfect win, is a great way to start the season off for the Cherry & White.

While I was in attendance at the game, I did happen to notice a few things regarding Temple:

Quarterback Chester Stewart, who went 16-for-27 with 200 yards, including a 62 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, seemed to favor his right side when throwing the ball. Villanova appeared to have noticed this, and began to press on Temple's receivers to the right. The odd tendency, however, was overcome when Stewart connected with Michael Campbell on his left side for the late touchdown. I will continue to watch Stewart's vision, and see if he continues to favor his right side.
Heisman hopeful Bernard Pierce definitely didn't seem up to speed in the opener. He wasn't hitting the holes (though, he didn't have much run blocking), and seemed to lack any break away speed. He did have a couple nice runs, including a late fourth quarter run in which he barreled over a 'Nova defender. Luckily, Matt Brown was able to help out Pierce in the run game, and continued to prove himself as a legitimate runner in the college game. Consider Pierce option 1A and Brown 1B.
Reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Adrian Robinson, had a great game. He made some key stops late in the game, and forced Chris Witney outside of the pocket on a handful of occasions. Temple's defensive line did a great job of not allowing Whitney to sit in the pocket and find the open man, and the one time they allowed him to do so, he connected with his wideout for a 21 yard touchdown.

Temple (1-0) will now get ready to take on Central Michigan (1-0) at the Linc next Saturday.

Knowing the Enemy: Villanova

2010-09-03T21:52:00.001-04:00

Sorry about this delay, but it's never to late to take a look at what a fellow blogger for Villanova thinks about the upcoming game.

1. Temple is heading into Friday's game with vengence following Villanova's 27-24 victory over the Owls in 2009. What kind of emotions will the Wildcats have entering Friday's game?

I can really only speak for the fans and their emotions and I know that most of 'Nova Nation is fired up to get this football season underway. There's been a ton of action on the social networking mediums about tickets and tailgate plans and I'd expect a strong turnout for the game.

As for the team, I think they're coming into this season full of confidence, but they're completely aware that Temple will be gunning for them on Friday night. While it wouldn't be bad at all to go down to an FCS team, this is a local rivalry and everyone wants the feeling of lifting that trophy again and knowing you were good enough to be an FBS team.

2. Last time these two teams met, senior Brendyn Harvey played a major role in defeating the Owls. Who do you think will step up for Nova on Friday, and how do you see Nova utilizing junior Matt Szcuzur against Temple this time around?

Chris Whitney and Matt Szczur are going to have to step up for the 'Cats if their offense is going to get to the level they are capable of. Szczur is going to touch the ball in a multitude of ways, whether it be splitting out, taking handoffs, or taking a direct snap. Temple will undoubtedly game-plan around him so Whitney is going to need other targets to step up (Mikey Reynolds, Dorian Wells & Norman White, and the other cogs of the vaunted rushing attack (Aaron Ball & Angelo Babbaro) will need to raise their game as well

3. Villanova will be without their two starting defensive ends last season, Tim Kukucka and Phil Matusz. Should Temple expect to see a lot of pressure from the Cats' defense, specificallly from the outside?

Pre-season FCS Defensive Player of the Year Terence Thomas is still patrolling the field and he'll have an impact on this game in some way. The defensive line is a bit green and we know Temple likes to run the ball, so I think you'll see a lot of run blitzes lead by the aforementioned Thomas to try and clog the gaps and force Temple's inexperienced QB to make some plays. Bringing pressure is the way we're going to turn this game on it's head.

4. Temple was able to hold Villanova's ground game in check last meeting, and held Matt Szcuzur to five yards on just three attempts. What will Villanova look to do differently this time around, and do you think they will be able to estabilish the run on Friday?

Szczur is going to have more than 3 touches, so that's the main thing that is going to be different. I think he'll have at least 1-2 big plays, but if Temple can hold him to less, things are probably going to go well for them. If Villanova can't get Szczur going early, it probably means a long day and without Harvey here this season, it becomes a question of whether to pound the ball with our stable of backs or try to air it out to talented, but unproven wideouts.

If things get desperate I'd bank on the latter because of the experience of Whitney.

5. Give us a couple of players from Villanova that Temple fans should keep an eye on, and explain how they could have an impact on this game.

Aaron Ball is a severely underrated running back and the workhorse of the team. If he gets some space I think Temple fans will be impressed. OL Ben Ijalana is being touted as an early-round draft choice. And yes, he is that good. I mentioned Terence Thomas before and I would watch him captain the defense. He's a phenomenal play-making LB.

And of course, keep an eye on Matt Szczur, he truly is a remarkable athlete.

--
Q&A conducted with Christopher Lane of The Nova Blog.

12 Positions 12 Days: Secondary

2010-09-02T21:26:00.001-04:00

The last line of defense lies in the hands of the secondary . The corners are young and inexperienced, but have a lot of potential. James Nixon is another one of those "position switch" players, moving from wide receiver to corner. Behind him is senior Marquise Liverpool, who just like Nixon (and a handful of other Temple players) switched positions. He's been a member of a few different areas on the field, moving from receiver to halfback to long snapper, and now corner. The two "ironmen", if you so choose to call them, are both very talented athletes who will most likely share the position, unless one of these two outperforms the other.

Behind Nixon and Liverpool is Kwame Johnson. The senior defensive back played in nine games last season, and did well against Villanova, recording three tackles. He will continue to be utilized on the special teams unit, just as he did in 2009.

On the other side is Maurice Jones, or possibly Key-ayre Griffen. Jones played very well in his freshman year, starting four games and appearing in 12. He finished the year with 24 tackles, but is competing for a starting spot with Griffen. He finished the year with three rushing touchdowns before switching to defensive back. He took back an interception against Ohio, which further displays his ability to makes play once the ball is in his hands. These two guys will split time, so no true starter will be named...yet.

The third corner is Zamel Johnson, a red shirt freshman. With Jones and Griffen dueling it out for the starting gig, and playing time, Johnson won't see the field much from a defensive stand point. But he will see time on the special teams unit.

Jarrett is arguably the best defensive back on the team with the experience he possesses. He has been named to the 2010 Jim Thorpe award watch list, which is handed to the top defensive back at the end of the season. He has played in every single game of his career, something very impressive in today's game. He had a terrific game against UCLA in Temple's bowl game, recording six tackles and a pass break-up. Once again, Jarrett will prove to be one of Temple's top defensive players along with defensive end Adrian Robinson.

Behind Jarrett is sophomore Justin Gildea. The possible starting free safety next season once Jarrett graduates, Gildea played in 12 games last season, and will continue to make appearances behind Jarrett to prepare him for the future.

Starting at strong safety is Keven Kroboth. He was a 2009 fourth team All-MAC honoree following his 45 tackles and one interception season. His game will continue to develop this season, and by the time he's a senior, he will be one of the better safeties in the MAC. He will be backed up by sophomore Vaughn Carraway. He moved from receiver to safety this offseason, and was mainly seen on the punt return unit in 2009. He could see some action in relieving Kroboth occasionally, or if an injury hits the secondary.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Special Teams!

JT Noone plays 2nd half against Chivas Guadalajara

2010-09-01T22:54:00.005-04:00

Former Temple soccer star, J.T Noone, played the entire 2nd half in a friendly vs. Chivas Guadalajara. The Union won the game 1-0 and Noone earned some much needed experience. This was only Noone's fourth appearance with the Union this season.

Although Noone didn't do anything to set himself apart from the rest, he did an extremely good job of finding space and creating passing options for his teammates. His ball skills were not up to par, however, that only comes with more experience. The more Noone plays the more he will be able to adapt to the speed at the pro level and will learn to pass the ball quicker.

Along with his ability to create and exploit open space he also showed his versatility. He was brought in as a right midfielder but with about 10 minutes left, he was moved back to right fullback. He played both positions well and worked hard.

We here at Cherry and White believe that Noone will become a great player once he gets time regularly. Noone has a lot of potential and versatility. If he works on passing quicker and continues to work hard the minutes will come for him in the future.

12 Positions 12 Days: Linebackers

2010-09-01T20:29:00.001-04:00

Moving to the second-line of defense, the linebacking corps, overall, is inexperienced. Starting at middle linebacker is Stephen Johnson, who was a member of the scout team for most of last season. Do I expect him to be the biggest contributor out of the three middle linebackers? No, but he will see some time.

Senior Elijah Joseph is the hands down top middle linebacker on the team. Why he's stuck behind Johnson is unknown, but similar to Bernard Pierce's case, it's most likely a motivational ploy and to reward Johnson for his hard work during the offseason. Joseph was named a first-team All-MAC honoree in 2009, and finished fourth on the team in tackles with 63. However, his 11 starts came from the outside linebacker position, but hopefully he can carry that success into the middle.

Backing up Johnson and Joseph is sophomore Marcus Green. He played in 10 games last season, averaging around one tackle per showing, including two tackles against Miami (OH). He won't see too much time in the middle (unless an injury strikes), but he will continue to be used on the special teams unit, just as he did last season as a member of the punt return unit.

The Owls will be without Alex Joseph and John Haley, both due to graduation, which will open up two spots for the taking. Junior Tahir Whitehead is the expected starter at one side, and deservingly so. He finished the 2009 season with 30 tackles in 13 games, and was just one of six freshman to start in every single game in 2008. The experience and talent is there for Whitehead, now he will just have to bring it all together in his new starting gig.

Behind Whitehead is Quinten White. The junior linebacker played in 10 games in 2009, with no starts, but had a good showing against Akron, finishing with three tackles. He will be competing for time with red-shirt freshman Blaze Caponegro. Now if an individuals name could earn them a starting spot, then Blaze would automatically be starting, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. He was an All-State linebacker coming out of high school, and will most likely see most of his playing time from the special teams side.

Starting opposite Whitehead is Amara Kamara, who formerly was a defensive linemen. He was a third team All-MAC honoree in 2009, with nine starts on the season (two starts as a outside linebacker, and seven as a defensive end). He record 44 tackles and two sacks, and now that he is expected to be a starter as an outside linebacker, his numbers should improve with more opportunities.

Behind Kamara are two freshman, Alaniyi Adewole and Wyatt Benson. Both enjoyed success during their senior seasons, but playing time will come sparingly for them... or at least for one of them. Adewole has a bigger frame, which could give him an edge in Temple's defense, but I'm sure these two will find a spot on the special teams.

Next up in 12 Positions in 12 Days: Secondary!

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

2010-08-31T21:11:00.000-04:00

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

RB Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech
QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
RB DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma
QB Kellen Moore, Boise State
RB John Clay, Wisconsin
QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
QB Ryan Mallet, Arkansas
QB Case Keenum, Houston
RB Evan Royster, Penn State

12 Positions 12 Days: Defensive Line

2010-08-31T16:56:00.002-04:00

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!

No Harvey Could Give Temple Advantage

2010-08-30T19:06:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-30T15:17:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-30T13:00:00.000-04:00

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!

12 Positions in 12 Days: Offensive Tackle

2010-08-28T23:18:00.001-04:00

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

12 Positions in 12 Days: Wide Receiver

2010-08-27T20:39:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-27T17:37:00.000-04:00

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.

Bernard Pierce Award Watch List; Daily News Live Video

2010-08-26T23:02:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-26T17:51:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-26T00:02:00.000-04:00

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.
--

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.

12 Positions in 12 Days: Runningback

2010-08-25T20:08:00.000-04:00

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!

12 Positions in 12 Days: Quarterback

2010-08-24T21:47:00.001-04:00

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?

2010-08-24T17:58:00.000-04:00

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.

(Quote gathered by Bernard Fernandez at Philly.com)

Temple signs 6-10 forward Jimmy Mcdonnell

2010-08-22T16:53:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-22T13:47:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-22T12:52:00.001-04:00

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)

Temple joining Conference USA

2010-08-20T16:37:00.000-04:00

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

Houston

Rice

Tulane

Tulsa

UTEP

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

Gadson surprises many with arrival

2010-08-17T20:18:00.000-04:00

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.

Brock signs with Tennessee

2010-08-14T02:14:00.000-04:00

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.

Charleton's progression

2010-08-13T17:50:00.000-04:00

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)

Temple-Penn State to be on ESPN?

2010-08-08T12:16:00.000-04:00

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.

Q&A with The Owl's Nest

2010-08-07T22:40:00.001-04:00

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

2010-08-07T20:30:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-07T19:38:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-07T00:17:00.000-04:00

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

2010-08-07T00:10:00.000-04:00

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!

Preparing for the NBA: Lavoy Allen

2010-08-05T20:07:00.000-04:00

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)

#19 Temple to take on top ranked Kansas

2010-01-02T02:01:00.001-05:00

The Temple Owls will take on the Kansas Jayhawks at 5:30 Saturday. The Owls cracked the top 25 this week for the first time in over 8 years. Temple also finished a perfect 7-0 December. Temple hasn't been perfect in a December since 1987. Kansas is typically ranked in the top 10 and have maintained the #1 rank all year. The game is going to be televised on espn 2 and is sold out as this is the first #1 ranked team to play the Owls in the liacouras center. This game should be anticipated by many college basketball fans as 2 top 20 teams are facing off before the conference schedule begins.

Temple continues to play tenacious defense and keep opponents to below average scores. Temple ranks 3rd in the nation in scoring defense with 54.2 ppg. They also rank 4th in 3 point percentage at .240. Temple also plays very clean games by only turning the ball over 10.5 times per game which ranks 4th nationally. Temple will look to slow down another fast, high scoring offense by slowing down the tempo and limiting 2nd chance opportunities for Kansas. Temple has been up to the task of stopping high scoring offenses, most notably Villanova and Seton Hall. Lavoy Allen will be an X factor for the Owls as he leads the team with 10.6 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks per game. He will have to be tough inside and stop Kansas from getting offensive boards and getting easy layups. Juan Fernandez will have continue making baskets if Temple wants to keep up with the Kansas offense. Ryan Brooks who leads the team with 15.8 points per game will also need to get open and make baskets to give Temple a chance.

Kansas ranks in the top 5 nationally with a +29.2 scoring margin. They will look to push the tempo and get a lot of fast break opportunities. Kansas is lead by freshman sensation Xavier Henry who scores 16.4 points per game and senior Sherron Collins who was a preseason second team all american and averages 13.8 points per game. Cole Aldrich will be a tough match up for Lavoy Allen down low as Cole Aldrich was a preseason 1st team all american and averages 11.2 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game. Kansas is littered with talented players and some of Temples less known players will have to step up to keep with the talent of Kansas.

Prediction

This is Kansas first ranked opponent this year. Kansas has only played one true road game all year. This bodes well for Temple as they are already battle tested. Temple has played 2 ranked opponents (Georgetown ad Villanova). They beat Villanova by 10 and lost by 1 to Georgtown on final shot by Georgetown. This game is important for both teams as Kansas wants to prove they are legit as #1. Temple also wants to prove that they are ranked for a reason and that Villanova wasn't just a fluke. The Owls beat #1 ranked Kansas in 1995 in the Jimmy V classic 74-66 in OT.

Final Score

Kansas 76

Temple 69

Happy Holidays From Cherry And White Nation!

2009-12-25T23:41:00.000-05:00

From the staff of Cherry & White Nation, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays. Just because Christmas is over doesn't mean that you all need to put your heads down and sit in a trance until next Christmas.

We still have a Temple bowl game...that's right, a TEMPLE BOWL GAME! Don't forget, the Men's basketball team is RANKED! Can anything get any better then this? Go OWLS!

Once again, we all wish you a safe and happy holiday season!

The Temple Owls are finally ranked!

2009-12-21T19:32:00.001-05:00

The Temple Men's basketball program is ranked in the top 25 for the first time since November 2001. The Owls were finally able to get in the top 25 after defeating two unbeaten teams, Villanova and Seton Hall back to back. The Owls are 9-2 on the year and have multiple impressive wins including Siena, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Villanova and Seton Hall. To further their resume they lost a one point heart breaker to #15 Georgetown.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the Owls great success is their stingy defense. They are ranked third in scoring defense by only allowing 55.1 ppg which is very impressive when you look at all the high scoring offenses they held way below their averages. They are also 4th in 3 point percentage with the opponent only making 23.9% of their 3 pointers. The Owls defense is one of the most impressive defenses I have seen in a few years.

Temple has a week off before they play Bowling Green at the McGonigle Hall - the Owls old home court. It will be a retro night and the team will be wearing a jersey from the 80's. Temple will look to keep their win streak alive the next few games before they take on Kansas Jan 2. As always... Go Owls!

Temple to Take on Undefeated Seton Hall

2009-12-19T00:41:00.000-05:00

Temple basketball will take on Seton Hall Saturday at 7pm. Seton Hall is the 4th undefeated Big East opponent Temple will face this year. So Temple won't be afraid of Seton Hall since they have already played a lot of good teams out of the Big East. However, Temple is 1-2 in games vs undefeated Big East opponents, the most recent being a comeback win vs #3 Villanova. Hopefully Temple can use that big win vs Nova to get them pumped for the next few tough games games before the conference schedule starts. Temple will face yet another high scoring team. Seton Hall averages over 90 ppg which is more than nova averaged. However, Temple proved vs. Nova their defense is legit and can stop a high powered offense. It wont be easy as Seton Hall has 4 players that average over 10 ppg. They also have 2 more players that average over 9 ppg. Temple will have to slow down the tempo of the game to try and mess up Seton Hall's rhythm and have it be a low scoring affair which plays in their favor. Temple will hope that Juan Fernandez can have a repeat performance from the Nova game where he scored 33 points and was 11-15 from the field and 7-9 from behind the arc. Temple will also hope that Brooks can continue gaining confidence and become the scorer they thought he could be at the beginning of the season.

Seton Hall is lead by Jeremy Hazell, who averages 21.5 ppg. Seton Hall also has a very talented forward named Herb Pope who averages 14.6 ppg and 12.8 rpg. Seton Hall will look to make it a high scoring affair and make Temple make a lot shots to win the game. Seton Hall also gets two transfer players eligible for the game Saturday. Keon Lawrence and Jeff Robinson will look to make an immediate impact in the Seton Hall lineup. It will be interesting to see how both teams match up against each other defensively and who marks who.

This will be a great game that should come down to the wire. Temple will need to stay fired up from their Nova win and do work, while Seton Hall will need to be prepared for their first real contest of the year.

Prediction

Temple 71

Seton Hall 66

Temple comes back to stop Nova from sweeping the Big 5

2009-12-13T19:06:00.000-05:00

The picture says it all. As Temple fans stormed the court you could tell how much this win meant to the Temple Owls. Villanova had owned them the past few years and came in today thinking they would easily win again. Temple thought otherwise. Temple hadn't beat a top five team since 2000 vs Cincinnati who was ranked #1. Villanova wasn't quite ranked that high but the win is just as impressive. Villanova came into the game averaging 84 ppg. Temple held them to 65 which is the lowest score Villanova has had all year. It just proves how tough Temple's defense is. Villanova was up at one point 33-19. Temple just kept fighting back though. Temple has a never quit attitude that some teams lack. They fought all the way to take a 42-37 lead early in the 2nd half. Temple never gave that lead up.

Temple was lead by their Argentinian hero Juan Fernandez who has become one of Temples better shooters this season. Fernandez drained 7 3 pointers en route to a 33 point performance. Brooks added 20 points to lead the temple attack. "I've been thinking about this game all week," Fernandez said. "I know Temple didn't beat Villanova for a long time. I think we needed this win. I think we need to prove ourselves." well Fernandez certainly proved himself tonight leading the owls to a huge comeback win vs rival Villanova. Temple fans may be thinking "who needs Christmas when you have Fernandez?" Lavoy Allen added 10 points and 17 rebounds. Allen dominated the glass by having 10 more rebounds then any other player from either team. Guzman lead the team with 7 assists. Every Temple player helped in their own way to lead the team to victory.

Villanova was led by Scottie Reynolds who scored 23 points. Antonio Pena had 16 points and Corey Fisher had 14 points as the only other double digit scorers for the Wildcats. 5 Villanova players average double figure point totals but only 3 scored in double figures. Temple's defense had Villanova struggling to find a rhythm all game. Villanova also wanted to push the tempo but Temple kept slowing the pace of the game down preventing Villanova from getting any fastbreak points.

This is the greatest moment for any temple fan. Beating a rival at home who is ranked in the top 5 and in come from behind fashion. Temple beat a ranked Tennesse team last year. That win is nothing compared to the win tonight vs the #3 ranked Villanova Wildcats. This win should give temple a boost. Temple has a few more tough games before the out of conference schedule is over. Their next game is against Seton Hall. They also play Kansas to finish their out of conference schedule. A game that nobody gives Temple a chance in seems like a much better game now that Temple proved they could hang with any team in the nation. Kansas may want to pay attention because if they overlook the owls like Villanova may have, they might get their wings clipped. Temple is now 8-2 on the year and looks to keep their winning streak going against an undefeated Seton Hall team Saturday. Go Owls!

Temple Opens Big 5 competition with Nova

2009-12-13T12:46:00.000-05:00

Temple takes on Villanova at the Liacouras center at 3pm on Saturday. This is Temple's first Big 5 game of the year. The Big 5 is a tournament involving all five Philly teams: Temple, Villanova, St. Joe's, Penn and La Salle. Villanova already beat every other team and looks to beat Temple for its fourth sweep of the Big 5 in 5 years. Temple however proves to be a formidable opponent. Temple is 7-2 on the year and both losses were by single digits to Georgetown and St. Johns. 7-2 is Temple's best start since 1994. Villanova is 9-0 and looks to go 10-0 for the first time since 2005.

Temple proves to continue being a tough defensive team. Temple ranks in the top ten in three point defense and opponents PPG defense. They also rank 24th in field goal percentage. Temple holds teams to 53 ppg. They will look to keep that statistic going vs Villanova. Temple will have to shoot better as Villanova is very good at scoring on a constant basis.

Villanova is top ten in the nation in scoring. They will look to push the tempo of the game and get a lot of fast break opportunities on Temple. Villanova will look for their scoring leader Scottie Reynolds to make clutch shots and set up other players for easy points. Scottie Reynolds is the key to Villanova's success on offense.

Prediction

It will be a much closer game then many people may think. It is a rivalry game and rivalry games are always closer than a normal game. Temple is also home so they should get a boost from the home crowd. This game will come down to whether Temple's defense can stop Villanova's offense. If not Villanova will look for an easy win.

Final Score

Villanova 79

Temple 73

Showdown in the Liacouras Center Temple vs Penn State

2009-12-04T21:38:00.001-05:00

The A 10 champion Temple Owls will take on the NIT champion Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday. Temple is 5-2 this season and they are lead by senior guard Ryan Brooks who averages 13.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Temple is also lead by 1st team all A 10 selection Lavoy Allen who averages 12.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Temple however seems to be priding themselves on defense this year averaging 56 points against per game. This could be due to the fact that they no longer have Dionte Christmas, who was one of the most legendary scorers in A 10 history, to rely on to score 20 points a night. The defensive scheme seems to be working for Temple who is 5-2 this season, both losses being by single digits, one a last second heart breaker to 20th ranked Georgetown. However holding Penn State to a low score could be a challenge for Temple.

Penn State is lead by their very talented junior guard Talor Battle who averages 20.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Battle is a very creative player who doesn't just produce for himself, but also produces for his teammates. Penn State is a quick team who plays at a quick tempo and likes to get fast break opportunities. They also like to shoot a lot of 3s. 37% of Penn State's shots are from behind the arc. Penn Sate is very dangerous offensively. They are the opposite of Temple. They are better at offense and aren't a tough defensive team.

These are possibly the two most under rated teams in college basketball. Both teams are very talented but neither are picked by the experts to make the NCAA tournament. Both teams have a lot of talented players and can be dark horses in their conferences. This game is very important for both teams. Both teams are 5-2 and have tough games in the future. Both teams will be playing very hard trying to get a win. It will be a very entertaining game and should produce some exciting plays.

Prediction

Both Teams will be playing with a lot of intensity. The game will come down to who can make a shot under pressure. Both teams have proven to be good in big games so it should be a very close game.
Final Score
Temple 67
Penn State 64

Temple Receives Awards; Pierce Named Freshman Of The Year

2009-12-02T22:46:00.000-05:00

The Temple Owls had a terrific season, and are set to appear in their first bowl game in this century. With their great season, it was expected that many Owls would receive postseason honors. These honors have been handed out, with eight players being named to the First Team All-Mac.

The following players all were named to the First Team All-Mac:

Jaiquawn Jarret, DB

Elijah Joseph, LB

Colin Madison, OL

Darius Morris, OL

Andre Neblett, NT

Bernard Pierce, RB

Adrian Robinson, DE

Muhammed Wilkerson, DT

The following players all were named to the Second Team All-Mac:

Devin Tyler, OL

James Nixon, KR

The following players were all named to the Third Team All-Mac

Dominique Harris, CB

Alex Joseph, LB

Amara Kamara, LB

Steve Maneri, TE

John Palumbo, OL

Temple led all the MAC teams in "All-Mac" selections with 15, which is the most nominees since joining the MAC back in 2007. Ohio was the next closest team with 12 nominees, followed by Central Michigan with 11. The Owls also had 8 First Team All-Mac selections, ranking them #1 in the MAC, followed by Central Michigan with 6.

In addition to the First Team All-Mac awards, there were other honors handed out to a few Temple athletes. Running Back Bernard Pierce was named the 2009 Freshman Of The Year by the MAC Conference for his superb play in leading Temple to a postseason bowl game. Defensive End Adrian Robinson was named the 2009 Defensive Player Of The Year, and even Coach Al Golden received an award for being the Coach Of The Year in the MAC.

Cherry & White Nation congratulates all of the players who received these awards, and we cannot wait to see Temple's bowl game appearance.

Williams 4 three pointers pace Temple in win over Western Michigan

2009-12-01T20:55:00.000-05:00

Temple rode a big run at the start of the 2nd half in a win over Western Michigan 76-70. Temple had four double figure scorers in the game. Temple was lead by Brooks with 17 points. Williams and Fernandez both had 14 points and Allen had 13 points. Brooks also had 10 rebounds which combines to be Brooks first double double this year. Temple was strong on the glass tonight out rebounding Western Michigan by 3. Temple had 39 rebounds total in the game and the Owls also had one of its cleanest games all year with only 6 turnovers. Temple had a much more productive game offensively shooting 41% from the field and 39% from behind the arc. This is much improved for Temple from last game. The 76 points tonight ties Temple's highest points mark of the season. Craig Williams had the hot hand from behind the arc making 4 of 7 shots.

Western Michigan fought the whole game and kept it close. However they came up on the short end at the end of the game. Western Michigan was lead by their very talented senior guard David Kool who had 30 points on 10 of 19 from the field. He was perfect from the free throw line making all 7 shots. He was also 3 of 9 from behind the arc. His quick release shots had temple defenders late trying to defend all game. 30 points is the 2nd most points scored by one guy against Temple behind Malcolm Delaney who scored 32 points for Virginia Tech. Still a very impressive amount to put up vs any team let alone temple who seems to pride themselves on defense this year. Donald Lawson and Flenard Whitfield also scored in double figures. Lawson had 14 points on 5 of 9 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. Whitfield had 13 points on 5 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free throw line. As a team Western Michigan was 13 of 15 from the free throw line which is 87%.

Overall it was a very impressive game offensively for both sides. Temple however got more 2nd chance opportunities which lead to extra points for them, which may have cost Western Michigan the game. At the end of the game, Temple had 16 offensive rebounds. But it was a see saw game that brought many lead changes. However, Temple had the led at the end of the game which is the only lead that matters.

Temple goes to 5-2 on the year. Their next opponent is Penn State, who has a possible All America candidate Talor Battle, who can light up the scoreboard. Temple will have to buckle down defensively for the upcoming game. The game will take place at 4pm on Saturday at the Liacouras center. Go Owls!

Temple vs. Western Michigan Preview

2009-11-30T18:30:00.001-05:00

Well, if this was football, this would be a conference matchup, but with Temple being in the A-10 for basketball and the MAC for football, this is just another out of conference game for both teams. Both teams come into this game with 2 losses a piece, but Temple has the advantage in wins with 4, while Western Michigan sits at .500 with a 2-2 record. The Owls are coming off a disappointing loss last Saturday against St. John's, a game in which they should have won, but too many mistakes ended up backfiring on them. On the other hand, Western Michigan is coming into this game with an impressive win over Holy Cross. So what team will come out victorious in this one? That's what I'm for, to help break down the game to give you all a better understanding of what may occur when these two teams step on the court.

What To Expect From Western Michigan

The Broncos tend to spread the ball around to set up their scoring chances. Guard David Kool leads the team with 18.8 points per game, but he will look for his teammate Martelle McLemore to take the pressure off of him. McLemore puts up around 14 points per game, while bringing in 7 rebounds per game. The Broncos are filled with young, talented players, and have already shown glimpses of a bright future to come.

The Broncos are not a three point shooting team, instead they rely on passing the ball around in hope of getting the open look. This could cause problems for the aggressive Temple defense. Western Michigan also has a very talented defender, Donald Lawson, who leads the team in steals (7) and blocks (7). Expect to see a lot of Lawson defensively when Temple has the rock.

The Final Projection

Temple should be able to get good looks offensively, and as long as they can play their style of defense, they definitely can take this game with ease.

Temple 78 - Western Michigan 60

Bernard Pierce For Heisman?

2009-11-29T12:46:00.000-05:00

Okay, maybe that's a little too much. But you can not disagree that Pierce isn't the main reason for Temple's sudden success in college
football. Of course, the Heisman won't be going to Bernard Pierce...at least this year.

The Freshman Running Back, or as Temple fans prefer, "The Freshman Phenom", has emerged as one of the top Half Backs in all of college football. Who would have guessed that Temple would land such a top talent? Well, whatever the case, Pierce is making a mark in Temple's football program, and since he's only a Freshman, he is just beginning his glorious career as an Owl.

On the season, Pierce has compiled 1,308 yards, which ranks him among the top in the nation. The young back has carried the rock 224 times, and has scored on 15 of these touches. These are some amazing numbers for a Freshman, let alone a Freshman who wasn't even expected to get anywhere near the numbers he has so far. But these numbers aren't even the best he could have done. The 6'0", 212 pound back missed the last two games for Temple, one of which was a loss. Had Pierce suited up for last week's game against Ohio, things may have turned out differently.

The season is still not over for Temple, for the first time since 1979, Temple will be participating in a postseason bowl game. The most likely destination for Temple is in the International Bowl, and their opponent is still to be determined. Pierce still has time to build upon his phenomenal numbers thus far, and hopefully gain more confidence for the future.

Bernard Pierce's Key Stats

Attempts: 224
Rushing Yards: 1,308
Receptions: 5
Receiving Yards: 6
TD's: 15
Fumbles: 0

Temple Loses Final Game of Philly Hoop Group Classic to St. Johns 55-48

2009-11-28T23:16:00.000-05:00

In the final game of the Philly hoop group classic the Temple Owls were ice cold in a losing effort to St. Johns. Temple shot 28% from the floor and 21% from behind the arc. Temples leading scorer was Ramone Moore who had 10 points on 3-13 shooting. Lavoy Allen and Rahlir Jefferson added 9 points each. Perhaps the defining moment offensively for temple was when Ramone Moore had a fast break opportunity and got intentionally fouled under the basket. He got two shots and temple got the ball back. However Moore missed both free throws and Temple missed their shot on the possession following the free throws.

St Johns however had slightly better luck shooting 33% from the floor and 27% from behind the arc. They also out rebounded Temple by 1. The St. Johns offense was led by DJ Kennedy who scored 15 points and converted all 9 attempts from the free throw line. Dwight Hardy also scored double digits adding 11. He was 3-6 from the field and 2-5 from behind the arc. He also converted all 3 attempts from the free throw line.

Temples biggest problem was fouls. Temple committed 23 fouls between 7 people. 23 fouls is the most committed by Temple since December 22 of last year vs Long Beach State. St. Johns shot 30 free throws making 20 of them. That turned out to be 36% of St. Johns offense. Many of the fouls committed by Temple were little bumps or fouls away from the basket. They led to easy points for St. Johns. Three temple players had 4 fouls and 3 more Owls had 3 fouls each. The Temple defense was much sloppier in the game which led to St. Johns scoring easy points on Temple. This could have been due to the fact that their 6'11" forward Michael Eric missed his 2nd consecutive game with a right knee sprain. The Owls lacked a good rebounder to help Lavoy and Craig Williams,and both couldn't make up for Eric's rebounding or shot blocking ability.

Sloppy passing was another factor in the game. Temple committed 14 turnovers and St. Johns committed 17 turnovers. This led to easy lay ups for their opponent at the other end.

All in all it was a very sloppy game where the winner came down to who could make the most of the opportunities they got. That turned out to be St. Johns who shot better and made 20 free throws.

Temple now falls to 4-2 on the year. Their next opponent is at Western Michigan on Tuesday December 1st. Temple needs to regroup and forget about this game as fast as possible. Go Owls!