May 27, 2008
Ryan reeling in offers
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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If Temple wants to get a commitment from class of 2009 cornerback Logan Ryan, it will have to duke it out with some of college football's heavy hitters.
Owls head coach Al Golden has made a scholarship offer to the 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back from nearby Eastern High School in Voorhees, NJ, and Ryan said he has also received offers from Boston College, Maryland, Northwestern, Rutgers, Virginia, and West Virginia. Iowa, Penn State and Wake Forest have also shown interest.
"I'm just looking to go to the place that puts me in the best position to do well," Ryan told OwlScoop.com. "I view Temple as a team improving a lot. Look at what they've done under Coach Golden. They improved so much last season, especially on defense. They are really young and still did a lot of good things last year."
Ryan attended Temple's Junior Day last weekend and came away impressed.
"I think it was great meeting the coaches and seeing the area," Ryan said. "I definitely left their thinking 'Wow.' It was more than I expected."
Temple's facilities, both athletic and academic, caught Ryan's eye.
"I was blown away with the school," Ryan said. "The technology center was the best I've seen, possibly the best in the country. The locker room and everything for the team was very nice. The whole school was very impressive."
Golden and his coaching staff made an impression on Ryan as well.
"I think Golden has done a great job here," Ryan said. "Growing up in Camden County, everyone always thought Temple football was a joke. It's not a joke anymore. They won four games last year with a young team and should win more this season."
The 2007 season was Ryan's first as a full-time defender. He had 50 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries. He also had 625 rushing yards and 13 offensive touchdowns to lead Eastern to a 9-2 record and a NJSIAA state playoff berth, where they lost to Mainland Regional.
Ryan, who has been clocked at 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said distance will not be a factor in his decision.
"Distance doesn't matter," Ryan said. "If Temple is the best place for me, then so be it. But if a place farther away from home puts me in the best situation, then I'll go there."
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Looking to get comfortable in LA
May 2, 2008
Looking to get comfortable in LA
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
If things fall into place, Temple's Lady Comfort could join former teammates Candice Dupree and Kamesha Hairston in the WNBA this season.
Comfort, who completed her senior campaign back in March, recently signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Sparks. She flew to California with the hopes of impressing her coach, Michael Cooper, and a team that features former MVP Lisa Leslie and No. 1 overall pick Candace Parker.
"I'm excited to get the chance to play with them," Comfort told OwlScoop.com. "I played against Parker a little when I was a sophomore. It's going to be different to play with her."
So far, Comfort is sticking around, but the non-guaranteed contract means she's not exactly a lock to make the team. With that in mind, Comfort knows she must improve to make an impact at the next level.
"I have to work on finishing better around the basket," Comfort said. "When playing at a higher level, I have to show my strengths and try to hide my weaknesses."
Comfort is coming off an NCAA tournament berth, Atlantic 10 regular season title and a senior season that saw her average 9.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. As senior point guard Ashley Morris shouldered more of the offensive load, Comfort actually saw her scoring average go down from 12.7 points per game as a junior, when she was named the A-10 and Big 5's Most Improved Player.
Cooper, who's entering his fifth season as the Sparks' coach, won five championships in the 1980s with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Comfort is anxious to play for a former member of the "Showtime" Lakers teams, and she knows she can call upon another former pro, Temple coach Dawn Staley, for advice when she needs it.
"Having her by my side should really help me," Comfort said.
If Comfort sticks with the Sparks, she'll become the third Owl in three years to make the league. Two years ago, Dupree was drafted sixth overall by the Chicago Sky. She has averaged 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds through her first two seasons. She also plays professionally in Poland when the WNBA is not in session. Hairston was drafted 12th overall by the Connecticut Sun in 2007 but struggled in her first season in the league, averaging just 1.9 points on 24 percent shooting from the floor.
Comfort still remains in close contact with Hairston.
"I talk to Kamesha still," Comfort said. "It's hard to talk to Candice because she is in Europe, but I've talked to Kamesha about what I should do first when I get out to LA."
Comfort is in Los Angeles now, and because she left with just over two weeks of classes remaining in the semester, she still wanted to make arrangements to finish her work accordingly.
"I worked it out with all my teachers that I will finish all my work online," Comfort said. "So I'm done actually going to class, but I am still going to finish everything up on time."
Comfort's success at the next level is going to depend upon how well she finishes around the hoop. With Leslie's ability to face up in the post and Parker's versatility, Comfort hopes she will be able to pick up easy baskets.
Looking to get comfortable in LA
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
If things fall into place, Temple's Lady Comfort could join former teammates Candice Dupree and Kamesha Hairston in the WNBA this season.
Comfort, who completed her senior campaign back in March, recently signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Sparks. She flew to California with the hopes of impressing her coach, Michael Cooper, and a team that features former MVP Lisa Leslie and No. 1 overall pick Candace Parker.
"I'm excited to get the chance to play with them," Comfort told OwlScoop.com. "I played against Parker a little when I was a sophomore. It's going to be different to play with her."
So far, Comfort is sticking around, but the non-guaranteed contract means she's not exactly a lock to make the team. With that in mind, Comfort knows she must improve to make an impact at the next level.
"I have to work on finishing better around the basket," Comfort said. "When playing at a higher level, I have to show my strengths and try to hide my weaknesses."
Comfort is coming off an NCAA tournament berth, Atlantic 10 regular season title and a senior season that saw her average 9.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. As senior point guard Ashley Morris shouldered more of the offensive load, Comfort actually saw her scoring average go down from 12.7 points per game as a junior, when she was named the A-10 and Big 5's Most Improved Player.
Cooper, who's entering his fifth season as the Sparks' coach, won five championships in the 1980s with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Comfort is anxious to play for a former member of the "Showtime" Lakers teams, and she knows she can call upon another former pro, Temple coach Dawn Staley, for advice when she needs it.
"Having her by my side should really help me," Comfort said.
If Comfort sticks with the Sparks, she'll become the third Owl in three years to make the league. Two years ago, Dupree was drafted sixth overall by the Chicago Sky. She has averaged 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds through her first two seasons. She also plays professionally in Poland when the WNBA is not in session. Hairston was drafted 12th overall by the Connecticut Sun in 2007 but struggled in her first season in the league, averaging just 1.9 points on 24 percent shooting from the floor.
Comfort still remains in close contact with Hairston.
"I talk to Kamesha still," Comfort said. "It's hard to talk to Candice because she is in Europe, but I've talked to Kamesha about what I should do first when I get out to LA."
Comfort is in Los Angeles now, and because she left with just over two weeks of classes remaining in the semester, she still wanted to make arrangements to finish her work accordingly.
"I worked it out with all my teachers that I will finish all my work online," Comfort said. "So I'm done actually going to class, but I am still going to finish everything up on time."
Comfort's success at the next level is going to depend upon how well she finishes around the hoop. With Leslie's ability to face up in the post and Parker's versatility, Comfort hopes she will be able to pick up easy baskets.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Stewart takes a step in spring ball
April 26, 2008
Stewart takes a step in spring ball
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
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By now, most people in and around the Temple football program know what quarterbacks Adam DiMichele and Vaughn Charlton can do.
Saturday's annual Cherry and White intrasquad scrimmage at Ambler was a chance for redshirt freshman quarterback Chester Stewart to show what he could do.
Unfortunately for the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Stewart, his day did not get off to the best start. A bad snap on the first play of the day had Stewart scrambling for the loose ball and ultimately banging his thumb against a teammate's helmet. He immediately came out of the game and sat on a trainer's table with ice on his thumb for the rest of the half.
Stewart came back into the game in the second half, but not because the pain subdued.
"The pain never went down," Stewart said after the game. "It actually got worse as the game went on. I felt like I was good enough to go back in. The hardest part is getting the snap from the center, but when I'm in there the adrenaline from the game helps me forget about my thumb."
Stewart shared snaps in the second half with junior Colin Clancy for the White team. Stewart looked good at times as he drove his squad down the field. Running a 2-minute offense late in the fourth quarter, he connected on 5 of 8 passes for 71 yards.
Taking over at the White 17-yard line with 1:52 remaining, Stewart hit wide receiver Nyles Bynum for a 30-yard completion before getting 26 more yards on the next play on a sharp throw to wideout Michael Campbell. After completing short throws of five and four yards, respectively, to fullback Lamar McPherson and tight end Matt Balasavage, Stewart threw his first incompletion of the drive when he couldn't connect with Bynum on third-and-1 from the Cherry 18.
Stewart's 7-yard run on fourth-and-1 kept the drive alive, but the game ended four plays later when Cherry defensive back Geore Coleman picked off Stewart's pass in the end zone. The pick sealed a 21-6 Cherry victory, and Stewart finished the afternoon 7 of 15 for 123 yards.
"I didn't play well," Stewart said. "The thumb did bother me out there, but I made some mental mistakes that I shouldn't make."
Stewart is still very much a developing talent. He did not see time at quarterback until his senior season at Dematha Catholic High School just outside Washington, D.C., playing for the same program that produced Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westrbrook.
Saturday's scrimmage concluded Stewart's first season of spring football. Parallels can be made between Stewart's final drive and how he has performed all spring.
"I've had some really good days," Stewart said. "I've also had some bad days."
With DiMichele unable to participate in the Cherry and White game as he continues to recover from the fractured left tibia injury that ended his 2007 season, he has taken on the role of coaching the other quarterbacks, particularly Stewart. He even spent Saturday sending in plays to Clancy and Stewart.
"Having Adam around really helps everyone out," Stewart said. "He is such a great player and a great leader."
Stewart takes a step in spring ball
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
Talk about it in the Message Boards
By now, most people in and around the Temple football program know what quarterbacks Adam DiMichele and Vaughn Charlton can do.
Saturday's annual Cherry and White intrasquad scrimmage at Ambler was a chance for redshirt freshman quarterback Chester Stewart to show what he could do.
Unfortunately for the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Stewart, his day did not get off to the best start. A bad snap on the first play of the day had Stewart scrambling for the loose ball and ultimately banging his thumb against a teammate's helmet. He immediately came out of the game and sat on a trainer's table with ice on his thumb for the rest of the half.
Stewart came back into the game in the second half, but not because the pain subdued.
"The pain never went down," Stewart said after the game. "It actually got worse as the game went on. I felt like I was good enough to go back in. The hardest part is getting the snap from the center, but when I'm in there the adrenaline from the game helps me forget about my thumb."
Stewart shared snaps in the second half with junior Colin Clancy for the White team. Stewart looked good at times as he drove his squad down the field. Running a 2-minute offense late in the fourth quarter, he connected on 5 of 8 passes for 71 yards.
Taking over at the White 17-yard line with 1:52 remaining, Stewart hit wide receiver Nyles Bynum for a 30-yard completion before getting 26 more yards on the next play on a sharp throw to wideout Michael Campbell. After completing short throws of five and four yards, respectively, to fullback Lamar McPherson and tight end Matt Balasavage, Stewart threw his first incompletion of the drive when he couldn't connect with Bynum on third-and-1 from the Cherry 18.
Stewart's 7-yard run on fourth-and-1 kept the drive alive, but the game ended four plays later when Cherry defensive back Geore Coleman picked off Stewart's pass in the end zone. The pick sealed a 21-6 Cherry victory, and Stewart finished the afternoon 7 of 15 for 123 yards.
"I didn't play well," Stewart said. "The thumb did bother me out there, but I made some mental mistakes that I shouldn't make."
Stewart is still very much a developing talent. He did not see time at quarterback until his senior season at Dematha Catholic High School just outside Washington, D.C., playing for the same program that produced Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westrbrook.
Saturday's scrimmage concluded Stewart's first season of spring football. Parallels can be made between Stewart's final drive and how he has performed all spring.
"I've had some really good days," Stewart said. "I've also had some bad days."
With DiMichele unable to participate in the Cherry and White game as he continues to recover from the fractured left tibia injury that ended his 2007 season, he has taken on the role of coaching the other quarterbacks, particularly Stewart. He even spent Saturday sending in plays to Clancy and Stewart.
"Having Adam around really helps everyone out," Stewart said. "He is such a great player and a great leader."
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tribue Takes in Cherry and White Day
April 23, 2008
Tribue takes in Cherry and White Day
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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With the sun beating down on Temple's Ambler Sports Complex Saturday, Central York High School offensive lineman and Temple recruit Wayne Tribue took a seat on the grass to catch a glimpse of his future teammates. The 6-foot-3, 276-pound guard was one of a handful of recruits on hand for Temple's annual Cherry and White Day intrasquad football scrimmage.
Tribue has been mentioned by Owls coach Al Golden as one of the freshman that could contribute as a true freshman in 2008.
"Coaches have made sure that I know that I need to come into camp in my best physical shape, conditioning-wise and strength-wise," Tribue told OwlScoop.com Saturday. "I just need to give everything my best effort."
Tribue has been selected to play in June's prestigious Big 33 game, an all-star showcase that matches up the top players from Pennsylvania against the best from Ohio. He received offers from Army, Duke and Central Florida but said he felt good about his decision to sign with Temple.
"I just like the whole coaching staff and the team itself," Tribue said. "I like the way they handle football and academics."
At the Cherry and White game, Tribue had a chance to talk to Pat Boyle and Sean Boyle, twin brothers and offensive linemen from Maryland's Calvert Hall High School who also signed with Temple as part of the 2008 class. And although the game itself, won 21-6 by the Cherry squad, got off to a slow, sloppy start, Tribue still enjoyed himself.
"It's a nice day out," Tribue said. "It's good after all the off-season workouts and practices to get a gauge on where they're at and what they still need to work on."
Tribue has made several trips from York to the Edberg-Olson Hall Complex and Chodoff Field to take in some of the Owls' spring practices. He's joining an offensive line that includes senior center Alex Derenthal, the veteran leader of the line, sophomore left guard Colin Madison and senior right guard Andre Douglas, who's been moved to that position after playing at right tackle in 2007. And if Tribue wants to vie for playing time at guard, he'll also have to contend with redshirt freshman John Palumbo and sophomore Lloyd Codada, who are currently listed as the backup guards on the post-spring depth chart.
Golden has repeatedly said that "competition is king," and Tribue will be glad to join the fray once he arrives on North Broad Street. He's also encouraged by the overall progress of Temple's program, one that went from winning one game in 2006 to four in 2007.
"We're definitely getting better," Tribue said. "And with more time, I guess we will keep getting better."
Tribue takes in Cherry and White Day
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
With the sun beating down on Temple's Ambler Sports Complex Saturday, Central York High School offensive lineman and Temple recruit Wayne Tribue took a seat on the grass to catch a glimpse of his future teammates. The 6-foot-3, 276-pound guard was one of a handful of recruits on hand for Temple's annual Cherry and White Day intrasquad football scrimmage.
Tribue has been mentioned by Owls coach Al Golden as one of the freshman that could contribute as a true freshman in 2008.
"Coaches have made sure that I know that I need to come into camp in my best physical shape, conditioning-wise and strength-wise," Tribue told OwlScoop.com Saturday. "I just need to give everything my best effort."
Tribue has been selected to play in June's prestigious Big 33 game, an all-star showcase that matches up the top players from Pennsylvania against the best from Ohio. He received offers from Army, Duke and Central Florida but said he felt good about his decision to sign with Temple.
"I just like the whole coaching staff and the team itself," Tribue said. "I like the way they handle football and academics."
At the Cherry and White game, Tribue had a chance to talk to Pat Boyle and Sean Boyle, twin brothers and offensive linemen from Maryland's Calvert Hall High School who also signed with Temple as part of the 2008 class. And although the game itself, won 21-6 by the Cherry squad, got off to a slow, sloppy start, Tribue still enjoyed himself.
"It's a nice day out," Tribue said. "It's good after all the off-season workouts and practices to get a gauge on where they're at and what they still need to work on."
Tribue has made several trips from York to the Edberg-Olson Hall Complex and Chodoff Field to take in some of the Owls' spring practices. He's joining an offensive line that includes senior center Alex Derenthal, the veteran leader of the line, sophomore left guard Colin Madison and senior right guard Andre Douglas, who's been moved to that position after playing at right tackle in 2007. And if Tribue wants to vie for playing time at guard, he'll also have to contend with redshirt freshman John Palumbo and sophomore Lloyd Codada, who are currently listed as the backup guards on the post-spring depth chart.
Golden has repeatedly said that "competition is king," and Tribue will be glad to join the fray once he arrives on North Broad Street. He's also encouraged by the overall progress of Temple's program, one that went from winning one game in 2006 to four in 2007.
"We're definitely getting better," Tribue said. "And with more time, I guess we will keep getting better."
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Owls whiff on home opener, lose to Wagner
Owls whiff on home opener, lose to Wagner
Posted on 08 March 2008 by Kenny Walter
The baseball team had no answer for Wagner University’s balanced attack in their home opener, losing 11-3, at Skip Wilson Field on Temple University’s Ambler campus.
The second game of the scheduled double-header was cancelled due to rain.
Against Wagner, the Owls (3-5 overall) managed nine hits, but were unable get any offense until the later innings.
After two scoreless innings, Temple gave up a run in the third and then imploded in the fourth. The Owls defense, which committed a season-high five errors, could be blamed for most of the Seahawks (2-3) offensive production.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Temple’s senior lefty Tom Dolan surrendered an RBI single to Brian Martutartus. That was followed by three unearned runs contributed to by an error by the third basemen Matt Heltz.
A pair of errors in the fifth by junior right fielder Sean Barksdale and junior shortstop Matt Ortega helped Wagner score two more runs to take a 7-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Wagner’s ace southpaw, senior Joe Testa, continued to baffle the Owls hitters.
Testa gave up just five hits and one run in seven innings of work. He surrendered his only run in the seventh but may have earned with a shutout if he got a break from the umpire. With one out and junior Lenny DelGrippo on first, senior Stan Orzechowski hit a screaming ground ball right at Wagner second basemen, Seth Boyd. The expected double play ball struck the umpire in the leg and caromed out of play. Two batters later, Barksdale hit a grounder to third, and beat out the double play to score DelGrippo.
At that point, it was too little, too late.
Also, by striking out junior Carmen Del Mastro in the seventh, Testa became Wagner’s all-time strikeout king, passing Oakland A’s farmhand Andrew Bailey. He had three strikeouts for the game and now has 238 career strikeouts, besting the program’s previous high of 237.
An early 11 a.m. start, cold weather and a steady flow of rain may have caused a few of Temple’s pitchers to lose their control late in the game.
Temple sophomore pitcher Mike Click recorded the first out of the eighth inning, but followed that by plunking Tom DiPietro. He was relieved by sophomore Rob Chamra, who subsequently gave up four walks and recorded just one out. Sophomore Kyle Monohan relieved Chamra and stopped the bleeding by recording the final out of the inning.
With the loss, Dolan drops to 0-3 on the season, while Testa improves to 1-1. Thirteen Owls reached base, but the squad left 12 men on.
The loss also drops Temple’s all-time home opener record to 39-9. With Saturday’s scheduled game versus Cornell cancelled, the Owls will look to bounce back against Hartford Sunday at noon.
Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Posted on 08 March 2008 by Kenny Walter
The baseball team had no answer for Wagner University’s balanced attack in their home opener, losing 11-3, at Skip Wilson Field on Temple University’s Ambler campus.
The second game of the scheduled double-header was cancelled due to rain.
Against Wagner, the Owls (3-5 overall) managed nine hits, but were unable get any offense until the later innings.
After two scoreless innings, Temple gave up a run in the third and then imploded in the fourth. The Owls defense, which committed a season-high five errors, could be blamed for most of the Seahawks (2-3) offensive production.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Temple’s senior lefty Tom Dolan surrendered an RBI single to Brian Martutartus. That was followed by three unearned runs contributed to by an error by the third basemen Matt Heltz.
A pair of errors in the fifth by junior right fielder Sean Barksdale and junior shortstop Matt Ortega helped Wagner score two more runs to take a 7-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Wagner’s ace southpaw, senior Joe Testa, continued to baffle the Owls hitters.
Testa gave up just five hits and one run in seven innings of work. He surrendered his only run in the seventh but may have earned with a shutout if he got a break from the umpire. With one out and junior Lenny DelGrippo on first, senior Stan Orzechowski hit a screaming ground ball right at Wagner second basemen, Seth Boyd. The expected double play ball struck the umpire in the leg and caromed out of play. Two batters later, Barksdale hit a grounder to third, and beat out the double play to score DelGrippo.
At that point, it was too little, too late.
Also, by striking out junior Carmen Del Mastro in the seventh, Testa became Wagner’s all-time strikeout king, passing Oakland A’s farmhand Andrew Bailey. He had three strikeouts for the game and now has 238 career strikeouts, besting the program’s previous high of 237.
An early 11 a.m. start, cold weather and a steady flow of rain may have caused a few of Temple’s pitchers to lose their control late in the game.
Temple sophomore pitcher Mike Click recorded the first out of the eighth inning, but followed that by plunking Tom DiPietro. He was relieved by sophomore Rob Chamra, who subsequently gave up four walks and recorded just one out. Sophomore Kyle Monohan relieved Chamra and stopped the bleeding by recording the final out of the inning.
With the loss, Dolan drops to 0-3 on the season, while Testa improves to 1-1. Thirteen Owls reached base, but the squad left 12 men on.
The loss also drops Temple’s all-time home opener record to 39-9. With Saturday’s scheduled game versus Cornell cancelled, the Owls will look to bounce back against Hartford Sunday at noon.
Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Plenty to play for
March 8, 2008
Plenty to play for
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
Talk about it in the Message Boards
For Temple women's basketball players Lady Comfort and Ashley Morris, their senior season has been special.
Picked to finish fourth in a preseason vote by the media, the Owls responded by winning the regular season Atlantic 10 Conference championship. A 12-2 league mark landed Temple a first-round bye in the A-10 tournament, and the Owls (19-11) will play Richmond this afternoon in the tournament's quarterfinal round.
The game, originally scheduled to start at noon at Saint Joseph's Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, has been pushed back to what tournament officials hope will be a 1:40 p.m. tip-off as they attempt to control leaks in the gym's roof brought on by rain.
Weather aside, it's been a nice ride so far for Comfort and Morris. Just don't expect them to be satisfied yet.
"I'm going to remember the team the most, the fight we gave," Comfort said. "But it's not over yet. … We still have many games to play."
Through much of their first three seasons at Temple, Morris and Comfort played in the shadow of players like Candace Dupree and Kamesha Hairston, both of whom are now in the WNBA.
Morris, a 5-foot-5 guard out of Philadelphia's Central High School, averaged just 3.2 points per game in her first three seasons. Her numbers jumped up this year, as she led the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game and assists with 4.3 per contest.
"I think Ashley played a minimal role her first three years," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "She is leading our team. We don't get to where we are without her play on a nightly basis."
Ron Davis
Lady Comfort is averaging 9.5 points and leading the team by rebounding at a 8.4 boards-per-game clip.
Comfort, a 6-2 center from Pensacola, Fla., came into the season averaging 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds. This season, she is averaging 9.5 points and leading the team by rebounding at a 8.4 boards-per-game clip.
"Lady has been an integral part of our success the past four years," Staley said.
What Comfort adds to the team is a physical presence on the glass and in the post.
"I just try to go in every game to make sure they don't get second or third opportunities," Comfort said, "to try and go in there and rebound."
Comfort was named the most improved player in the conference last season, and Morris, fittingly enough, won the award this year.
Hairston was named A-10 Player of the Year last season, and Staley had been campaigning for Morris to win it this year. The honor instead went to George Washington's Kimberly Beck.
Awards are nice, but Morris knows they don't win basketball games.
"We didn't have an All-American on our team," Morris said. "We just had a group of girls that wanted to win."
Plenty to play for
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
Talk about it in the Message Boards
For Temple women's basketball players Lady Comfort and Ashley Morris, their senior season has been special.
Picked to finish fourth in a preseason vote by the media, the Owls responded by winning the regular season Atlantic 10 Conference championship. A 12-2 league mark landed Temple a first-round bye in the A-10 tournament, and the Owls (19-11) will play Richmond this afternoon in the tournament's quarterfinal round.
The game, originally scheduled to start at noon at Saint Joseph's Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, has been pushed back to what tournament officials hope will be a 1:40 p.m. tip-off as they attempt to control leaks in the gym's roof brought on by rain.
Weather aside, it's been a nice ride so far for Comfort and Morris. Just don't expect them to be satisfied yet.
"I'm going to remember the team the most, the fight we gave," Comfort said. "But it's not over yet. … We still have many games to play."
Through much of their first three seasons at Temple, Morris and Comfort played in the shadow of players like Candace Dupree and Kamesha Hairston, both of whom are now in the WNBA.
Morris, a 5-foot-5 guard out of Philadelphia's Central High School, averaged just 3.2 points per game in her first three seasons. Her numbers jumped up this year, as she led the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game and assists with 4.3 per contest.
"I think Ashley played a minimal role her first three years," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "She is leading our team. We don't get to where we are without her play on a nightly basis."
Ron Davis
Lady Comfort is averaging 9.5 points and leading the team by rebounding at a 8.4 boards-per-game clip.
Comfort, a 6-2 center from Pensacola, Fla., came into the season averaging 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds. This season, she is averaging 9.5 points and leading the team by rebounding at a 8.4 boards-per-game clip.
"Lady has been an integral part of our success the past four years," Staley said.
What Comfort adds to the team is a physical presence on the glass and in the post.
"I just try to go in every game to make sure they don't get second or third opportunities," Comfort said, "to try and go in there and rebound."
Comfort was named the most improved player in the conference last season, and Morris, fittingly enough, won the award this year.
Hairston was named A-10 Player of the Year last season, and Staley had been campaigning for Morris to win it this year. The honor instead went to George Washington's Kimberly Beck.
Awards are nice, but Morris knows they don't win basketball games.
"We didn't have an All-American on our team," Morris said. "We just had a group of girls that wanted to win."
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Staley's Owls are A-10 regular season champs
March 2, 2008
Staley's Owls are A-10 regular season champs
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Sometimes, even the coaches and media can be wrong.
Such was the case when it came to the preseason voting for women's basketball teams in the Atlantic 10 conference. Temple was predicted to finish in fourth place, but the Owls instead clinched the A-10 regular season title Saturday at the Liacouras Center with a 64-46 win over Massachusetts.
Temple, now 19-11 overall and 12-2 in the conference, finished in a first-place tie with George Washington, but the Owls own the tiebreaker, thanks to a 68-66 win over the Colonials back in January.
Temple will enjoy the top seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming A-10 tournament, which begins March 7 at Saint Joseph's Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. The Owls will play Saturday at noon against the winner of Friday's game between No. 8 seed Richmond and No.9 seed Duquesne.
Getting the top seed in the conference tournament has its privileges, as second-seeded GW and third-seeded Xavier, which also received first-round byes, are on the other side of the bracket. That means the Owls will not have to face them until the tournament's championship game.
If Temple gets that far, it will most likely have done enough to earn a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament, even if the Owls should fall in the title game. Winning the regular season championship certainly did not hurt them in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee.
"It feels great," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "It feels great because no one in the A-10 or anybody else gave us a shot at where we are today. I'm proud of my basketball team for playing through a tough season."
The Owls also celebrated their four seniors prior to the game with tributes to guard Candice Borrows, center Lady Comfort, guard Ashley Morris and forward Nicole Pittman.
All four started the game.
[The pre-game tribute] was good," Comfort said. "It will be memorable to us once everything is all over."
The Owls thrived with physical play that frustrated UMass all game. Comfort grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with her 12 points. Junior forwards Shenita Landry and Shanea Cotton collected eight boards apiece, and Temple out-rebounded UMass, 42-29.
"I think our whole team played physical," Staley said, "probably more physical then I would have liked. The game that we had on Wednesday night just overflowed into this game. It's hard to turn it on and off.
"Our team was just physical. I thought UMass was physical. It was just that type of game."
A big key was Temple's ability to corral 16 offensive rebounds. Comfort grabbed seven of her own, and Landry had four.
The Owls were a bit stagnant at times in the first half but shot a respectable 41.9 percent from the field. Freshman guard Shaqwedia Wallace chipped in nine points toward the end of the half on 4-for-4 shooting to help Temple build a 31-26 halftime lead.
"She came ready to play," Comfort said of Wallace's performance. "It was her opportunity to play. She had to come out and play her role, and she did a good job."
The second half belonged to sophomore guard Lakeisha Eaddy. She had 12 of her game-high 16 points in the game's final 20 minutes, including two straight triples that brought Temple's lead to 10 points.
The Owls end the regular season on a five-game winning streak to ensure that they would finish three spots ahead of where they were predicted to be.
"What's today?" Morris asked. "It's March 1st. We are number one in the conference, so whatever happened in October didn't make any difference. We had a lot of fight in us, and we're number one now."
Staley's Owls are A-10 regular season champs
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Sometimes, even the coaches and media can be wrong.
Such was the case when it came to the preseason voting for women's basketball teams in the Atlantic 10 conference. Temple was predicted to finish in fourth place, but the Owls instead clinched the A-10 regular season title Saturday at the Liacouras Center with a 64-46 win over Massachusetts.
Temple, now 19-11 overall and 12-2 in the conference, finished in a first-place tie with George Washington, but the Owls own the tiebreaker, thanks to a 68-66 win over the Colonials back in January.
Temple will enjoy the top seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming A-10 tournament, which begins March 7 at Saint Joseph's Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. The Owls will play Saturday at noon against the winner of Friday's game between No. 8 seed Richmond and No.9 seed Duquesne.
Getting the top seed in the conference tournament has its privileges, as second-seeded GW and third-seeded Xavier, which also received first-round byes, are on the other side of the bracket. That means the Owls will not have to face them until the tournament's championship game.
If Temple gets that far, it will most likely have done enough to earn a fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament, even if the Owls should fall in the title game. Winning the regular season championship certainly did not hurt them in the eyes of the NCAA selection committee.
"It feels great," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "It feels great because no one in the A-10 or anybody else gave us a shot at where we are today. I'm proud of my basketball team for playing through a tough season."
The Owls also celebrated their four seniors prior to the game with tributes to guard Candice Borrows, center Lady Comfort, guard Ashley Morris and forward Nicole Pittman.
All four started the game.
[The pre-game tribute] was good," Comfort said. "It will be memorable to us once everything is all over."
The Owls thrived with physical play that frustrated UMass all game. Comfort grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with her 12 points. Junior forwards Shenita Landry and Shanea Cotton collected eight boards apiece, and Temple out-rebounded UMass, 42-29.
"I think our whole team played physical," Staley said, "probably more physical then I would have liked. The game that we had on Wednesday night just overflowed into this game. It's hard to turn it on and off.
"Our team was just physical. I thought UMass was physical. It was just that type of game."
A big key was Temple's ability to corral 16 offensive rebounds. Comfort grabbed seven of her own, and Landry had four.
The Owls were a bit stagnant at times in the first half but shot a respectable 41.9 percent from the field. Freshman guard Shaqwedia Wallace chipped in nine points toward the end of the half on 4-for-4 shooting to help Temple build a 31-26 halftime lead.
"She came ready to play," Comfort said of Wallace's performance. "It was her opportunity to play. She had to come out and play her role, and she did a good job."
The second half belonged to sophomore guard Lakeisha Eaddy. She had 12 of her game-high 16 points in the game's final 20 minutes, including two straight triples that brought Temple's lead to 10 points.
The Owls end the regular season on a five-game winning streak to ensure that they would finish three spots ahead of where they were predicted to be.
"What's today?" Morris asked. "It's March 1st. We are number one in the conference, so whatever happened in October didn't make any difference. We had a lot of fight in us, and we're number one now."
Friday, December 5, 2008
Baker the playmaker
February 5, 2008
Baker the playmaker
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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In his final high school game, Bound Brook High School wide receiver Deven Baker caught six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
It was a fitting performance for the central New Jersey prospect, considering he ended the season in the same fashion in which he kicked it off.
Baker, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound receiver who made a verbal commitment to Temple back in August, scored three times in the season opener. One came on an 85-yard kickoff return, another came on a 95-yard run, and one was good for 65 yards.
In a recent interview with OwlScoop.com, Baker initially found it difficult to pinpoint exactly what he did well during his senior season. There are, however, worse things than being known as a big-play guy.
Baker averaged 18.7 yards per catch.
"It is hard to say what I did well this season," Baker said. "I think I got a good release on corners this season. I was a deep threat for my team. I think I still need to work on my route running and my recognizing coverage. I need to work on everything. I always want to improve."
Baker helped Bound Brook to a 7-3 record his senior season, leading the team with 39 receptions on 730 yards. He also had eight receiving touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.
During the recruiting process, Baker talked to Rutgers and Connecticut. In the end, it came down to Temple making an early offer, along with the visible improvement in the two years that Owls coach Al Golden has been at the helm on North Broad Street.
"It's real good what they are doing," Baker said. "They look like they are on the way up."
Baker will join a veteran-laden wide receiver group that includes 2007 starters Bruce Francis and Dy'Onne Crudup. Beyond them, Michael Campbell, Delano Green, Marquise Liverpool and Travis Shelton will also return to fight for playing time at that position. Factor in fellow 2008 commitments Vaughn Carraway, Cedric Hammond and Anthony Rapley, and things could get pretty crowded at wideout.
Baker, however, said he won't let that get to him.
"I look at the depth at my position as a challenge to me," Baker said. "It makes me work even harder. I will do whatever I need to do to get on the field, whether I'm a receiver or a kick returner."
Baker the playmaker
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
In his final high school game, Bound Brook High School wide receiver Deven Baker caught six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
It was a fitting performance for the central New Jersey prospect, considering he ended the season in the same fashion in which he kicked it off.
Baker, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound receiver who made a verbal commitment to Temple back in August, scored three times in the season opener. One came on an 85-yard kickoff return, another came on a 95-yard run, and one was good for 65 yards.
In a recent interview with OwlScoop.com, Baker initially found it difficult to pinpoint exactly what he did well during his senior season. There are, however, worse things than being known as a big-play guy.
Baker averaged 18.7 yards per catch.
"It is hard to say what I did well this season," Baker said. "I think I got a good release on corners this season. I was a deep threat for my team. I think I still need to work on my route running and my recognizing coverage. I need to work on everything. I always want to improve."
Baker helped Bound Brook to a 7-3 record his senior season, leading the team with 39 receptions on 730 yards. He also had eight receiving touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.
During the recruiting process, Baker talked to Rutgers and Connecticut. In the end, it came down to Temple making an early offer, along with the visible improvement in the two years that Owls coach Al Golden has been at the helm on North Broad Street.
"It's real good what they are doing," Baker said. "They look like they are on the way up."
Baker will join a veteran-laden wide receiver group that includes 2007 starters Bruce Francis and Dy'Onne Crudup. Beyond them, Michael Campbell, Delano Green, Marquise Liverpool and Travis Shelton will also return to fight for playing time at that position. Factor in fellow 2008 commitments Vaughn Carraway, Cedric Hammond and Anthony Rapley, and things could get pretty crowded at wideout.
Baker, however, said he won't let that get to him.
"I look at the depth at my position as a challenge to me," Baker said. "It makes me work even harder. I will do whatever I need to do to get on the field, whether I'm a receiver or a kick returner."
Monday, December 1, 2008
Recruiting spotlight: Tony Cornelius
February 1, 2008
Recruiting spotlight: Tony Cornelius
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Temple's 4-8 2007 season was a three-win improvement over the previous year, and the turnaround is certainly cause for optimism on North Broad Street.
Still, Owls coach Al Golden moves forward knowing he needs more depth at the running back position, and that area has been a priority with the 2008 recruiting class.
After landing a commitment from one of the top backs in Pennsylvania two days ago, Temple got one of Florida's better prospects when Boca Raton High School's Tony Cornelius verbally accepted a scholarship offer from Golden this week.
Cornelius' announcement was the second in three days for the Owls from a running back after Ahkeem Smith from Bethlehem's Liberty High School said he intended to play at Temple next season. Cornelius and Smith join fellow verbals James Nixon and Reading High School's Malcolm Williams as players who could possibly vie for time in the Owls' backfield this fall.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Cornelius originally committed to Iowa before deciding to keep his options open. He and Smith were among the several recruits who visited Temple last weekend, and Cornelius liked what he saw.
"Temple is a good fit for me," Cornelius said in a phone interview with OwlScoop.com Friday. "Academically, it's a good school. Temple has a great business program. Football-wise, I could play earlier in my career, which is important for me."
Daryl Robinson and Jason Harper are the incumbents at tailback, but the possibility remains that Robinson could be moved to defensive back if Golden sees enough of what he likes from the incoming freshman class and redshirt freshman Joe Jones, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in preseason camp last August.
Cornelius helped Boca Raton to a 7-3 record in 2007, rushing for 737 yards and nine touchdowns on 103 carries. This was after an ankle injury limited him to 357 yards and three touchdowns as a junior.
"I think I got my speed back this season," Cornelius said. "I did a good job at running the ball. I think I just have to get bigger and stronger before I get to Temple next season."
In addition to the Iowa offer, Cornelius said he also had one from MAC rival Akron. And while he said he'll miss the comfortable temperatures of the Sunshine State, it wasn't enough to deter him from coming to Philadelphia.
"It's going to be an adjustment at first," Cornelius said, "but I'll get used to it."
Recruiting spotlight: Tony Cornelius
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Temple's 4-8 2007 season was a three-win improvement over the previous year, and the turnaround is certainly cause for optimism on North Broad Street.
Still, Owls coach Al Golden moves forward knowing he needs more depth at the running back position, and that area has been a priority with the 2008 recruiting class.
After landing a commitment from one of the top backs in Pennsylvania two days ago, Temple got one of Florida's better prospects when Boca Raton High School's Tony Cornelius verbally accepted a scholarship offer from Golden this week.
Cornelius' announcement was the second in three days for the Owls from a running back after Ahkeem Smith from Bethlehem's Liberty High School said he intended to play at Temple next season. Cornelius and Smith join fellow verbals James Nixon and Reading High School's Malcolm Williams as players who could possibly vie for time in the Owls' backfield this fall.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Cornelius originally committed to Iowa before deciding to keep his options open. He and Smith were among the several recruits who visited Temple last weekend, and Cornelius liked what he saw.
"Temple is a good fit for me," Cornelius said in a phone interview with OwlScoop.com Friday. "Academically, it's a good school. Temple has a great business program. Football-wise, I could play earlier in my career, which is important for me."
Daryl Robinson and Jason Harper are the incumbents at tailback, but the possibility remains that Robinson could be moved to defensive back if Golden sees enough of what he likes from the incoming freshman class and redshirt freshman Joe Jones, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in preseason camp last August.
Cornelius helped Boca Raton to a 7-3 record in 2007, rushing for 737 yards and nine touchdowns on 103 carries. This was after an ankle injury limited him to 357 yards and three touchdowns as a junior.
"I think I got my speed back this season," Cornelius said. "I did a good job at running the ball. I think I just have to get bigger and stronger before I get to Temple next season."
In addition to the Iowa offer, Cornelius said he also had one from MAC rival Akron. And while he said he'll miss the comfortable temperatures of the Sunshine State, it wasn't enough to deter him from coming to Philadelphia.
"It's going to be an adjustment at first," Cornelius said, "but I'll get used to it."
Recruiting spotlight: Vaughn Carraway
January 31, 2008
Recruiting spotlight: Vaughn Carraway
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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Michigan. West Virginia. Tennessee. Pittsburgh. Syracuse. Connecticut.
Temple?
What do all those programs have in common? They all, at one point in time, made scholarship offers to Vaughn Carraway, one of the top high school football prospects in the state of Pennsylvania.
Temple?
Yes, the Owls beat out those programs to land the talented wide receiver from Muhlenberg High School. As first reported on OwlScoop.com, the 6-foot-2, 168-pound Carraway verbally accepted a scholarship offer from Owls head coach Al Golden Wednesday.
Carraway is ranked by Rivals as the 19th-best prospect in Pennsylvania and No. 66 overall in the nation among receivers. His 49 receptions, 818 yards and 13 touchdowns led Muhlenberg to a 9-3 record. Carraway was a jack-of-all-trades for Muhlenberg, running the ball, catching it, fielding kickoffs and punts.
Oh, and he was also a second-team Class AAAA all-state selection as a safety. He'll play in the prestigious Big 33 game this June in Hershey.
Why Temple? In the end, Carraway just felt it was the right fit.
"I just felt it was the right place for me," Carraway told OwlScoop.com in an interview Wednesday night. "I really like the campus. I like the city. Other schools didn't have that aspect for me. I like being in the middle of everything, and I hope to contribute to an improving team."
"The perception of the program is that they really are improving," Carraway added. "I am excited just to be part of that improvement."
Carraway is the latest, and probably the most impressive, addition to Temple's 2008 recruiting class. The three-star prospect will make it official when he signs his national letter-of-intent next Wednesday on National Signing Day.
Carraway, who visited Temple's campus for the first time on Dec. 14, has already struck up a relationship with his future teammates.
"I hung out with (Temple wide receiver) Bruce (Francis) when I came," Carraway said. "He's a cool guy who is going to help me get adjusted. I also talked with (quarterback) Adam (DiMichele) and (quarterback) Vaughn (Charlton). I already feel comfortable with those guys."
While the highly-touted Carraway comes in with an impressive resume, he also understands how much he really will have to work to make an impression on what is now a crowded group of receivers at Temple.
"I have to work on my route running and getting bigger if I want to contribute next season," Caraway said. "I think I did a good job this season catching the ball. I also did a good job making a move after I got the ball last season. I still need to be stronger and improve on everything before I get to Temple."
Recruiting spotlight: Vaughn Carraway
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Michigan. West Virginia. Tennessee. Pittsburgh. Syracuse. Connecticut.
Temple?
What do all those programs have in common? They all, at one point in time, made scholarship offers to Vaughn Carraway, one of the top high school football prospects in the state of Pennsylvania.
Temple?
Yes, the Owls beat out those programs to land the talented wide receiver from Muhlenberg High School. As first reported on OwlScoop.com, the 6-foot-2, 168-pound Carraway verbally accepted a scholarship offer from Owls head coach Al Golden Wednesday.
Carraway is ranked by Rivals as the 19th-best prospect in Pennsylvania and No. 66 overall in the nation among receivers. His 49 receptions, 818 yards and 13 touchdowns led Muhlenberg to a 9-3 record. Carraway was a jack-of-all-trades for Muhlenberg, running the ball, catching it, fielding kickoffs and punts.
Oh, and he was also a second-team Class AAAA all-state selection as a safety. He'll play in the prestigious Big 33 game this June in Hershey.
Why Temple? In the end, Carraway just felt it was the right fit.
"I just felt it was the right place for me," Carraway told OwlScoop.com in an interview Wednesday night. "I really like the campus. I like the city. Other schools didn't have that aspect for me. I like being in the middle of everything, and I hope to contribute to an improving team."
"The perception of the program is that they really are improving," Carraway added. "I am excited just to be part of that improvement."
Carraway is the latest, and probably the most impressive, addition to Temple's 2008 recruiting class. The three-star prospect will make it official when he signs his national letter-of-intent next Wednesday on National Signing Day.
Carraway, who visited Temple's campus for the first time on Dec. 14, has already struck up a relationship with his future teammates.
"I hung out with (Temple wide receiver) Bruce (Francis) when I came," Carraway said. "He's a cool guy who is going to help me get adjusted. I also talked with (quarterback) Adam (DiMichele) and (quarterback) Vaughn (Charlton). I already feel comfortable with those guys."
While the highly-touted Carraway comes in with an impressive resume, he also understands how much he really will have to work to make an impression on what is now a crowded group of receivers at Temple.
"I have to work on my route running and getting bigger if I want to contribute next season," Caraway said. "I think I did a good job this season catching the ball. I also did a good job making a move after I got the ball last season. I still need to be stronger and improve on everything before I get to Temple."
Staley's Owls win fourth in a row
January 27, 2008
Staley's Owls win fourth in a row
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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It was only eight days ago that the Temple women's basketball team scored 68 points in an upset win over then-No. 13 George Washington at the Liacouras Center.
Since then, Dawn Staley's Owls have taken to winning ugly.
After a slow couple of minutes in the second half of Sunday's game at Rhode Island, the Owls used a big run to close out a 48-34 win over the Rams. Temple improved to 11-10 overall and 4-1 in the Atlantic 10. It was the team's fourth win in a row.
A 17-0 run snapped the Owls out of a cold spell to get the win, but the final numbers still were not pretty. Temple shot 34.6 percent from the floor, thanks in large part to an 8-for-29 performance in the second half. The Owls also shot an abysmal 8-of-21 the foul line.
Temple's one saving grace was senior center Lady Comfort, who attacked the glass to a tune of a career-high 14 rebounds to go with her seven points. The Owls out-rebounded the Rams, 44-26, and 24 of those boards came on the offensive end.
Ashley Morris led Temple with nine points, but she shot 3-for-12 and had five assists and five turnovers. Staley did get a solid effort out of Shenita Landry off the bench. The 6-foot-2 junior forward contributed eight points and six rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes of action.
The Owls will host Saint Joseph's Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off as they look to remain undefeated in the city. Temple, which has already posted Big 5 wins over Villanova and Penn, is currently in a four-way tie for first place in the A-10, while the Hawks are 10-9 overall and 2-2 in the A-10.
Staley's Owls win fourth in a row
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
It was only eight days ago that the Temple women's basketball team scored 68 points in an upset win over then-No. 13 George Washington at the Liacouras Center.
Since then, Dawn Staley's Owls have taken to winning ugly.
After a slow couple of minutes in the second half of Sunday's game at Rhode Island, the Owls used a big run to close out a 48-34 win over the Rams. Temple improved to 11-10 overall and 4-1 in the Atlantic 10. It was the team's fourth win in a row.
A 17-0 run snapped the Owls out of a cold spell to get the win, but the final numbers still were not pretty. Temple shot 34.6 percent from the floor, thanks in large part to an 8-for-29 performance in the second half. The Owls also shot an abysmal 8-of-21 the foul line.
Temple's one saving grace was senior center Lady Comfort, who attacked the glass to a tune of a career-high 14 rebounds to go with her seven points. The Owls out-rebounded the Rams, 44-26, and 24 of those boards came on the offensive end.
Ashley Morris led Temple with nine points, but she shot 3-for-12 and had five assists and five turnovers. Staley did get a solid effort out of Shenita Landry off the bench. The 6-foot-2 junior forward contributed eight points and six rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes of action.
The Owls will host Saint Joseph's Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off as they look to remain undefeated in the city. Temple, which has already posted Big 5 wins over Villanova and Penn, is currently in a four-way tie for first place in the A-10, while the Hawks are 10-9 overall and 2-2 in the A-10.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Boyle brothers lining up to play for Owls
January 24, 2008
Boyle brothers lining up to play for Owls
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Temple offensive coordinator George DeLeone appears to be building a cohesive unit along the line of scrimmage. Establishing some depth there is the next step for DeLeone, who also serves as the Owls' offensive line coach, and the fiery teacher and mentor is hoping the addition of a set of twin brothers from Maryland's Calvert Hall High School will provide some help in that area.
The Owls landed verbal commitments from left tackle Pat Boyle and left guard Sean Boyle when the pair accepted scholarship offers from Temple head coach Al Golden in October.
The Boyle twins, who check in at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, said they made their college decisions individually. And while they're certainly excited about playing together at the next level, that was not the only factor in their decision.
"It's nice to be going to school with him," Pat Boyle said, "but we made our decisions separately. We did not have to be going to the same school. William & Mary was pushing for us hard as well. Towson had some interest in the beginning of the summer. In the end, we both felt that Temple was the right place."
"Playing together is not extremely important to us," Sean Boyle said, echoing his brother's sentiments.
Temple is in a unique situation in that the Owls expect to return 10 of 11 starters on offense, including all five on the offensive line, so the Boyles know it will take a lot of work to make an impact as freshmen.
In fact, they were quite honest in breaking down their own individual games when speaking with OwlScoop.com.
"I need to work on my speed," Pat Boyle said. "I had a lot of trouble with faster defensive ends. At the next level, they are all going to be pretty fast."
"I like going against bigger lineman that I can get under and push off," Sean Boyle said. "I still need to work on my speed. We didn't pass the ball a lot, but when we did, I felt I did a good job pass blocking."
The Boyles were part of a Calvert Hall team that went 5-6 in 2007. Throughout the year, they kept close tabs on the obvious improvement of their future program in North Philadelphia.
"They made some great strides," Pat Boyle said. "I never really knew anything about Temple football, but I followed them this year and I was impressed with what they did. They were competitive every game I saw. We went to the Kent State game (a 24-14 Temple win), and it is real exciting to get a chance to play at [Lincoln Financial Field]. Every player wants to play in a stadium that size."
While the Boyles are excited to be joining an improving program, they kept a close eye on the coaching situation this off-season when Golden interviewed for the head coaching job at UCLA. Golden ultimately withdrew his name from consideration just after Christmas.
"I felt like it was a good thing," Pat Boyle said. "For him to be interviewing for a job like that means he must be doing something good at Temple. It really just gives more exposure to Temple."
"When I heard he was interviewing with UCLA, I thought about leaving," Sean Boyle admitted. "In the end, Temple was where I wanted to be. I'm glad he came back, and I am excited to play for him next season."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Boyle brothers lining up to play for Owls
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Temple offensive coordinator George DeLeone appears to be building a cohesive unit along the line of scrimmage. Establishing some depth there is the next step for DeLeone, who also serves as the Owls' offensive line coach, and the fiery teacher and mentor is hoping the addition of a set of twin brothers from Maryland's Calvert Hall High School will provide some help in that area.
The Owls landed verbal commitments from left tackle Pat Boyle and left guard Sean Boyle when the pair accepted scholarship offers from Temple head coach Al Golden in October.
The Boyle twins, who check in at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, said they made their college decisions individually. And while they're certainly excited about playing together at the next level, that was not the only factor in their decision.
"It's nice to be going to school with him," Pat Boyle said, "but we made our decisions separately. We did not have to be going to the same school. William & Mary was pushing for us hard as well. Towson had some interest in the beginning of the summer. In the end, we both felt that Temple was the right place."
"Playing together is not extremely important to us," Sean Boyle said, echoing his brother's sentiments.
Temple is in a unique situation in that the Owls expect to return 10 of 11 starters on offense, including all five on the offensive line, so the Boyles know it will take a lot of work to make an impact as freshmen.
In fact, they were quite honest in breaking down their own individual games when speaking with OwlScoop.com.
"I need to work on my speed," Pat Boyle said. "I had a lot of trouble with faster defensive ends. At the next level, they are all going to be pretty fast."
"I like going against bigger lineman that I can get under and push off," Sean Boyle said. "I still need to work on my speed. We didn't pass the ball a lot, but when we did, I felt I did a good job pass blocking."
The Boyles were part of a Calvert Hall team that went 5-6 in 2007. Throughout the year, they kept close tabs on the obvious improvement of their future program in North Philadelphia.
"They made some great strides," Pat Boyle said. "I never really knew anything about Temple football, but I followed them this year and I was impressed with what they did. They were competitive every game I saw. We went to the Kent State game (a 24-14 Temple win), and it is real exciting to get a chance to play at [Lincoln Financial Field]. Every player wants to play in a stadium that size."
While the Boyles are excited to be joining an improving program, they kept a close eye on the coaching situation this off-season when Golden interviewed for the head coaching job at UCLA. Golden ultimately withdrew his name from consideration just after Christmas.
"I felt like it was a good thing," Pat Boyle said. "For him to be interviewing for a job like that means he must be doing something good at Temple. It really just gives more exposure to Temple."
"When I heard he was interviewing with UCLA, I thought about leaving," Sean Boyle admitted. "In the end, Temple was where I wanted to be. I'm glad he came back, and I am excited to play for him next season."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Hammond eager to catch on with Owls
January 20, 2008
Hammond eager to catch on with Owls
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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Every coach knows play-making receivers that can stretch the field are a rare and valuable commodity.
Temple head coach Al Golden hopes that 6-foot-2, 175-pound wide receiver Cedric Hammond will grow into that type of player. Hammond, a senior from Washington, D.C.'s St. John's College High who gave the Owls a verbal commitment back in early July, scored four times in 2007 but amassed an impressive 27.1 yards-per-catch average. His 15 catches for 407 yards helped lead his team to and 8-2 overall record and a three-way tie for first place in his conference.
Hammond's team, like many high school programs, utilized a heavy run-oriented offense. It forced Hammond to take an active role in run-blocking, something many young receivers are reluctant to do.
"I really improved my blocking this season," Hammond told OwlScoop.com. "I think my blocking will help me stand out next season."
While his desire to be a solid run-blocker could help Hammond stand out, cracking Temple's receiving rotation in 2008 will be tough, as the Owls have more depth at wide receiver than any other position. Bruce Francis, the team's leading receiver, and Travis Shelton will be seniors, and Dy'Onne Crudup will return after a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him catch 39 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns.
And don't forget sophomores-to-be Michael Campbell, Marquise Liverpool and Delano Green, all of whom began to pick up some steam at the end of 2007. Realistically, those are the players Hammond will have to contend with if he hopes to land some playing time, but he won't let Temple's depth at that position deter him.
"I am not worried about playing time," Hammond said. "I am going to get out of it what I put into it. If I continue to work hard in the offseason, I see myself making an impact right away for this team."
Hammond, who was also recruited heavily by James Madison, was surprised when he heard that Golden was interviewing with UCLA before Christmas.
"I was shocked when I heard that," Hammond said. "I decided to wait it out and see what would happen next. In the end, I'm happy that he stayed."
Temple's 4-8 2007 season, a three-win upgrade from 2006, has Hammond encouraged.
"Their improvement was amazing," Hammond said. "I watched the Penn State game and thought they played well. They moved the ball, they just couldn't finish. I am excited to join a team that can be really competitive."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Hammond eager to catch on with Owls
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Every coach knows play-making receivers that can stretch the field are a rare and valuable commodity.
Temple head coach Al Golden hopes that 6-foot-2, 175-pound wide receiver Cedric Hammond will grow into that type of player. Hammond, a senior from Washington, D.C.'s St. John's College High who gave the Owls a verbal commitment back in early July, scored four times in 2007 but amassed an impressive 27.1 yards-per-catch average. His 15 catches for 407 yards helped lead his team to and 8-2 overall record and a three-way tie for first place in his conference.
Hammond's team, like many high school programs, utilized a heavy run-oriented offense. It forced Hammond to take an active role in run-blocking, something many young receivers are reluctant to do.
"I really improved my blocking this season," Hammond told OwlScoop.com. "I think my blocking will help me stand out next season."
While his desire to be a solid run-blocker could help Hammond stand out, cracking Temple's receiving rotation in 2008 will be tough, as the Owls have more depth at wide receiver than any other position. Bruce Francis, the team's leading receiver, and Travis Shelton will be seniors, and Dy'Onne Crudup will return after a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him catch 39 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns.
And don't forget sophomores-to-be Michael Campbell, Marquise Liverpool and Delano Green, all of whom began to pick up some steam at the end of 2007. Realistically, those are the players Hammond will have to contend with if he hopes to land some playing time, but he won't let Temple's depth at that position deter him.
"I am not worried about playing time," Hammond said. "I am going to get out of it what I put into it. If I continue to work hard in the offseason, I see myself making an impact right away for this team."
Hammond, who was also recruited heavily by James Madison, was surprised when he heard that Golden was interviewing with UCLA before Christmas.
"I was shocked when I heard that," Hammond said. "I decided to wait it out and see what would happen next. In the end, I'm happy that he stayed."
Temple's 4-8 2007 season, a three-win upgrade from 2006, has Hammond encouraged.
"Their improvement was amazing," Hammond said. "I watched the Penn State game and thought they played well. They moved the ball, they just couldn't finish. I am excited to join a team that can be really competitive."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Golden's persistence helped Owls land Caputo
Golden's persistence helped Owls land Caputo
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Al Golden is making a name for himself as an aggressive recruiter. Temple's head coach once again sought out a local player and was able to gain a verbal commitment.
This time, Golden landed 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive guard Steve Caputo from Unionville High School. Caputo also had offers from Buffalo, Delaware and Syracuse.
"[Temple] recruited me harder than anyone else," Caputo told OwlScoop.com. "It was like every day I would come home and have letters from Al Golden. They showed me they really wanted me. And in the end, that helped with my decision."
Caputo, who originally was being looked at by programs like West Virginia, Penn State and Pittsburgh, may have scared some of the bigger names away with his history of knee injuries.
Caputo first tore his anterior cruciate ligament playing junior varsity basketball in 10th grade. After rehabilitating the injury, he was cleared to play his junior football season. But later that year, Caputo tore his ACL again.
"I may have rushed it," Caputo said. "During the rehab I really didn't lift legs. I didn't strengthen the knee. That, and I gained a lot of weight after my first surgery. I didn't realize the pressure I was putting on the knee with the weight I gained."
Caputo approached the second rehab with a completely different attitude.
"I lift legs a lot now," Caputo said. "I squat, dead-lift, clean and eat better. I shed some weight, which allows me to be more explosive. My knee definitely feels stronger then it has ever been."
Caputo has an unusual amount of explosion and quickness for an interior lineman. His combination of speed and strength make him a viable prospect for the Owls.
"I feel that I am real explosive," Caputo said. "My feet are quick, which makes it hard for defensive lineman to get past me. I still need to work on getting lower position before I get to Temple. I am not always low enough. I need to make it so I don't have to think about getting low all the time. I need to get to the point where I am just naturally low."
Caputo is coming off a 10-1 campaign at Unionville and will look to bring the same winning attitude to a Temple offense that will return 10 starters from its 4-8 2007 season.
Caputo, who watched the Owls play against Buffalo and Penn State this past season, has seen the improvement of the team and is looking forward to being a part of it.
"Al Golden and the rest of the coaches remind me of my high school coaches," Caputo said. "I really like what they are doing there. When my coach took over, we were 0-10. My freshman year we were 5-5, and we have won three straight (division) titles since then."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Al Golden is making a name for himself as an aggressive recruiter. Temple's head coach once again sought out a local player and was able to gain a verbal commitment.
This time, Golden landed 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive guard Steve Caputo from Unionville High School. Caputo also had offers from Buffalo, Delaware and Syracuse.
"[Temple] recruited me harder than anyone else," Caputo told OwlScoop.com. "It was like every day I would come home and have letters from Al Golden. They showed me they really wanted me. And in the end, that helped with my decision."
Caputo, who originally was being looked at by programs like West Virginia, Penn State and Pittsburgh, may have scared some of the bigger names away with his history of knee injuries.
Caputo first tore his anterior cruciate ligament playing junior varsity basketball in 10th grade. After rehabilitating the injury, he was cleared to play his junior football season. But later that year, Caputo tore his ACL again.
"I may have rushed it," Caputo said. "During the rehab I really didn't lift legs. I didn't strengthen the knee. That, and I gained a lot of weight after my first surgery. I didn't realize the pressure I was putting on the knee with the weight I gained."
Caputo approached the second rehab with a completely different attitude.
"I lift legs a lot now," Caputo said. "I squat, dead-lift, clean and eat better. I shed some weight, which allows me to be more explosive. My knee definitely feels stronger then it has ever been."
Caputo has an unusual amount of explosion and quickness for an interior lineman. His combination of speed and strength make him a viable prospect for the Owls.
"I feel that I am real explosive," Caputo said. "My feet are quick, which makes it hard for defensive lineman to get past me. I still need to work on getting lower position before I get to Temple. I am not always low enough. I need to make it so I don't have to think about getting low all the time. I need to get to the point where I am just naturally low."
Caputo is coming off a 10-1 campaign at Unionville and will look to bring the same winning attitude to a Temple offense that will return 10 starters from its 4-8 2007 season.
Caputo, who watched the Owls play against Buffalo and Penn State this past season, has seen the improvement of the team and is looking forward to being a part of it.
"Al Golden and the rest of the coaches remind me of my high school coaches," Caputo said. "I really like what they are doing there. When my coach took over, we were 0-10. My freshman year we were 5-5, and we have won three straight (division) titles since then."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Dennis coming into his own at guard
November 22, 2007
Dennis coming into his own at guard
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Through the early parts of the season, Al Golden craved continuity along his offensive line.
But judging by Temple's first five games, it looked as if the second-year head coach would never get his wish when the Owls went winless during that stretch.
The line, however, did improve as the season advanced, especially during the Owls' three-game win streak, and a lot of the success can be attributed to the development of Derek Dennis, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound freshman guard out of New York's Trinity-Pawling High School.
Dennis has started Temple's last nine games and has become a fixture at right guard alongside junior right tackle Andre Douglas. He played arguably his best game of the season last Saturday in the Owls' 24-14 win over Kent State.
Against the Mid-American Conference's top rushing defense, Temple collected 184 yards on the ground. And on one particular drive, the Owls dominated the Golden Flashes at the line of scrimmage, and tailbacks Daryl Robinson and Jason Harper had Dennis and Douglas to thank for it.
Trailing 14-6 in the third quarter, Temple took over at its own 24-yard line and went to work. Harper put together carries of 18 and 22 yards, and Robinson uncorked a 27-yard scamper that sent the Owls down to the Kent State 9. On the next play, Harper scored to close the gap to 14-12.
Four plays. Seventy-six yards. One minute, 15 seconds off the game clock. All four of those runs went through the right side of the line, with Dennis and Douglas leading the way and controlling the point of attack.
"We just put it all together," Dennis said. "In the beginning of the year, we didn't play well. We started to play a little better in the UConn game. It was more of a team effort. As the year went on we started to get that team unity coach wanted."
With the exception of left tackles Devin Tyler and Jabari Ferguson, junior center Alex Derenthal has been playing with brand new teammates along the offensive lien this season in Dennis, Douglas and left guard Colin Madison, another freshman.
"They are doing a very good job this season," Derenthal said. "When they came in, I didn't know what to expect from them, but they are definitely proving that they can play at this level. They're going to be great players."
The beginning of the season was a difficult time for Temple's offensive line, and the unit still has plenty of work to do. The Owls have allowed 39 sacks this season, the most in the MAC.
But Golden has seen enough growth with the group to feel optimistic about their future.
"As I told the guys, this is like a Texas Hold 'Em game, and you guys showed your hand," Golden said. "That's good news and bad news. The good news is we know you can play at that level. The bad news is that now you have to be held to that level and practice at that level."
As the line adjusts to higher expectations, Dennis and his teammates still have one more game left at Western Michigan Saturday with a change to finish 5-7 overall and 5-3 in the conference. The entire until will be returning next season, which will give Dennis and his line mates another off-season program together.
"We are all friends," Dennis said. "We bonded this season as a group. Colin and I dorm together and hang out all the time. We all just get along great, which helps us on the football field."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Dennis coming into his own at guard
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Through the early parts of the season, Al Golden craved continuity along his offensive line.
But judging by Temple's first five games, it looked as if the second-year head coach would never get his wish when the Owls went winless during that stretch.
The line, however, did improve as the season advanced, especially during the Owls' three-game win streak, and a lot of the success can be attributed to the development of Derek Dennis, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound freshman guard out of New York's Trinity-Pawling High School.
Dennis has started Temple's last nine games and has become a fixture at right guard alongside junior right tackle Andre Douglas. He played arguably his best game of the season last Saturday in the Owls' 24-14 win over Kent State.
Against the Mid-American Conference's top rushing defense, Temple collected 184 yards on the ground. And on one particular drive, the Owls dominated the Golden Flashes at the line of scrimmage, and tailbacks Daryl Robinson and Jason Harper had Dennis and Douglas to thank for it.
Trailing 14-6 in the third quarter, Temple took over at its own 24-yard line and went to work. Harper put together carries of 18 and 22 yards, and Robinson uncorked a 27-yard scamper that sent the Owls down to the Kent State 9. On the next play, Harper scored to close the gap to 14-12.
Four plays. Seventy-six yards. One minute, 15 seconds off the game clock. All four of those runs went through the right side of the line, with Dennis and Douglas leading the way and controlling the point of attack.
"We just put it all together," Dennis said. "In the beginning of the year, we didn't play well. We started to play a little better in the UConn game. It was more of a team effort. As the year went on we started to get that team unity coach wanted."
With the exception of left tackles Devin Tyler and Jabari Ferguson, junior center Alex Derenthal has been playing with brand new teammates along the offensive lien this season in Dennis, Douglas and left guard Colin Madison, another freshman.
"They are doing a very good job this season," Derenthal said. "When they came in, I didn't know what to expect from them, but they are definitely proving that they can play at this level. They're going to be great players."
The beginning of the season was a difficult time for Temple's offensive line, and the unit still has plenty of work to do. The Owls have allowed 39 sacks this season, the most in the MAC.
But Golden has seen enough growth with the group to feel optimistic about their future.
"As I told the guys, this is like a Texas Hold 'Em game, and you guys showed your hand," Golden said. "That's good news and bad news. The good news is we know you can play at that level. The bad news is that now you have to be held to that level and practice at that level."
As the line adjusts to higher expectations, Dennis and his teammates still have one more game left at Western Michigan Saturday with a change to finish 5-7 overall and 5-3 in the conference. The entire until will be returning next season, which will give Dennis and his line mates another off-season program together.
"We are all friends," Dennis said. "We bonded this season as a group. Colin and I dorm together and hang out all the time. We all just get along great, which helps us on the football field."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Cotton Catching On
November 21, 2007
Cotton catching on
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
When Kamesha Hairston graduated to the WNBA, Temple women's basketball coach Dawn Staley lost a little more than eight rebounds and almost 19 points per game.
Replacing that kind of production wasn't going to be easy, but junior college transfer Shanea Cotton has done her best through three games to fill the void.
The 6-foot-4 post player isn't necessarily looking to be the scorer Hairston was, but she has been more than willing to establish a presence on the glass. In Temple's first three games, Cotton is averaging 4.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.
"It's going to be a hard adjustment [without Hairston]," Cotton said, "but with our incoming freshmen, and with our team being a tight-knit family, it's going to be a good transition."
Cotton is no stranger to accolades. At Mississippi's Harrison Central High School, she was the state's 5A Championship MVP, leading her team to a 26-4 record en rote to garnering all-conference and all-state honors. She was also named as one of the state's top 12 basketball players, which Mississippi called its "Dandy Dozen."
At Gulf Coast Community College, Cotton led her team to the FCCAA State Championship game, averaging 13.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She was named a Kodak/WBCA All-American and elected to sign with Temple, where she knew she would have the opportunity to play for a former Olympian and WNBA all-star.
"Dawn Staley is one of the main reasons why I came to Temple," Cotton said. "It's a thrill to play for somebody with such experience and such a background."
Cotton also doesn't appear to be afraid to admit her shortcomings.
"One thing I want to improve on is my listening skills," Cotton said. "My teammates say I have a hard time listening. Coach Staley puts me in my place if I'm not listening."
She appears to be getting the message so far. Cotton's Temple debut saw her score nine points and grab 12 rebounds in a win over Central Michigan. She collected 12 more rebounds at No. 8 Georgia last week and four boards at Georgia Tech.
Playing alongside forward Lady Comfort, Cotton could make Temple a very good team in the frontcourt.
"Shanea is going to help us," Staley said. "She's long. She can run the floor like a gazelle. She's just bringing an experienced post player to the team. She is coming in ready to play.
"The reason I got on her so much is that I think she can help us right away. I feel she can play a lot of minutes for us, but I have to put them through the ringers to prove it."
The games at Georgia and Georgia Tech were challenging enough, and now Cotton and the Owls will travel to play the likes of Duke and Purdue in the Paradise Jam this weekend. Temple (1-2) will face the No. 9 Blue Devils Friday at 6 p.m. and the No. 22 Boilermakers. After that, they could face either No. 2 Connecticut, No. 4 Stanford or an undefeated Old Dominion team.
Competing with the nation's elite is a goal of Staley's and her players, but Cotton wants to keep one goal in mind.
"I just want to be a threat, and I want to be a go-to person," Cotton said. "And as a team, we want to win the A-10, and we'll go from there."
Cotton was mindful of team chemistry when she arrived at Temple. Like so many other players, she was the leader of every team she had been on since high school.
Now, she's content to find her role and continue in her growth as a frontcourt presence.
"I'm a very humble person," Cotton said. "I can just follow a leader."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Cotton catching on
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
When Kamesha Hairston graduated to the WNBA, Temple women's basketball coach Dawn Staley lost a little more than eight rebounds and almost 19 points per game.
Replacing that kind of production wasn't going to be easy, but junior college transfer Shanea Cotton has done her best through three games to fill the void.
The 6-foot-4 post player isn't necessarily looking to be the scorer Hairston was, but she has been more than willing to establish a presence on the glass. In Temple's first three games, Cotton is averaging 4.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.
"It's going to be a hard adjustment [without Hairston]," Cotton said, "but with our incoming freshmen, and with our team being a tight-knit family, it's going to be a good transition."
Cotton is no stranger to accolades. At Mississippi's Harrison Central High School, she was the state's 5A Championship MVP, leading her team to a 26-4 record en rote to garnering all-conference and all-state honors. She was also named as one of the state's top 12 basketball players, which Mississippi called its "Dandy Dozen."
At Gulf Coast Community College, Cotton led her team to the FCCAA State Championship game, averaging 13.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She was named a Kodak/WBCA All-American and elected to sign with Temple, where she knew she would have the opportunity to play for a former Olympian and WNBA all-star.
"Dawn Staley is one of the main reasons why I came to Temple," Cotton said. "It's a thrill to play for somebody with such experience and such a background."
Cotton also doesn't appear to be afraid to admit her shortcomings.
"One thing I want to improve on is my listening skills," Cotton said. "My teammates say I have a hard time listening. Coach Staley puts me in my place if I'm not listening."
She appears to be getting the message so far. Cotton's Temple debut saw her score nine points and grab 12 rebounds in a win over Central Michigan. She collected 12 more rebounds at No. 8 Georgia last week and four boards at Georgia Tech.
Playing alongside forward Lady Comfort, Cotton could make Temple a very good team in the frontcourt.
"Shanea is going to help us," Staley said. "She's long. She can run the floor like a gazelle. She's just bringing an experienced post player to the team. She is coming in ready to play.
"The reason I got on her so much is that I think she can help us right away. I feel she can play a lot of minutes for us, but I have to put them through the ringers to prove it."
The games at Georgia and Georgia Tech were challenging enough, and now Cotton and the Owls will travel to play the likes of Duke and Purdue in the Paradise Jam this weekend. Temple (1-2) will face the No. 9 Blue Devils Friday at 6 p.m. and the No. 22 Boilermakers. After that, they could face either No. 2 Connecticut, No. 4 Stanford or an undefeated Old Dominion team.
Competing with the nation's elite is a goal of Staley's and her players, but Cotton wants to keep one goal in mind.
"I just want to be a threat, and I want to be a go-to person," Cotton said. "And as a team, we want to win the A-10, and we'll go from there."
Cotton was mindful of team chemistry when she arrived at Temple. Like so many other players, she was the leader of every team she had been on since high school.
Now, she's content to find her role and continue in her growth as a frontcourt presence.
"I'm a very humble person," Cotton said. "I can just follow a leader."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Recruiting spotlight: Maurice Jones
November 19, 2007
Recruiting spotlight: Maurice Jones
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
It's been a busy and productive month on the recruiting front for Temple's football program.
To get their 21st verbal commitment from the class of 2008, Owls head coach Al Goldn and his staff tapped into North Jersey once again, where they've had some success in the past, to land Maurice Jones, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound cornerback from Belleville High School.
In an interview with OwlScoop.com, Jones said he is hoping to come in and contribute right away.
"I think I could bring a lot to this defense," Jones said. "I'm a hard worker. I'm also a smart player and I like to study defense. I want to know a lot about what's going on."
The Owls showed some early interest in Jones, as Temple was the first school he visited. Jones took a trip to North Broad Street in June and received an offer from Golden.
Jones was being recruited by some of the East Coast's heavy hitters in college football. He had pending offers from Boston College, Wake Forest and Mid-American Conference rival Akron. Maryland and Syracuse also showed interest in Jones, but Temple was able to stand out.
"It wasn't really who I wanted the most," Jones said. "It was more of who wanted me the most. Temple showed the most interest in me. I really liked the coaches there. They remind me of my high school coaches."
Jones is confident, but it may be difficult for him to crack the defensive backfield rotation as a freshman. Starting corners Anthony Ferla, a sophomore, and Jamal Schulters, a freshman, are returning. Their backups, Evan Cooper and Wilbert Brinson, are also coming back next season.
But this is part of what Golden was talking about when he spoke of building a program. The addition of Jones is further proof that Temple is getting commitments from highly-recruited athletes, and it also means the Owls will be able to build depth, create competition and prepare for the future in key areas like the secondary.
While Jones is enjoying his senior season, he knows what he must do to improve his game for college.
"I need to get stronger and faster," Jones said. "I just have to become better. I am never finished. I can always improve on everything in my game."
And at least one of those faces in Temple's secondary will look familiar to Jones.
"I went up against Anthony Ferla in high school," Jones said. "We ran against each other in track and football. He went to St. Joe's, so we went up against each other."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Recruiting spotlight: Maurice Jones
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
It's been a busy and productive month on the recruiting front for Temple's football program.
To get their 21st verbal commitment from the class of 2008, Owls head coach Al Goldn and his staff tapped into North Jersey once again, where they've had some success in the past, to land Maurice Jones, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound cornerback from Belleville High School.
In an interview with OwlScoop.com, Jones said he is hoping to come in and contribute right away.
"I think I could bring a lot to this defense," Jones said. "I'm a hard worker. I'm also a smart player and I like to study defense. I want to know a lot about what's going on."
The Owls showed some early interest in Jones, as Temple was the first school he visited. Jones took a trip to North Broad Street in June and received an offer from Golden.
Jones was being recruited by some of the East Coast's heavy hitters in college football. He had pending offers from Boston College, Wake Forest and Mid-American Conference rival Akron. Maryland and Syracuse also showed interest in Jones, but Temple was able to stand out.
"It wasn't really who I wanted the most," Jones said. "It was more of who wanted me the most. Temple showed the most interest in me. I really liked the coaches there. They remind me of my high school coaches."
Jones is confident, but it may be difficult for him to crack the defensive backfield rotation as a freshman. Starting corners Anthony Ferla, a sophomore, and Jamal Schulters, a freshman, are returning. Their backups, Evan Cooper and Wilbert Brinson, are also coming back next season.
But this is part of what Golden was talking about when he spoke of building a program. The addition of Jones is further proof that Temple is getting commitments from highly-recruited athletes, and it also means the Owls will be able to build depth, create competition and prepare for the future in key areas like the secondary.
While Jones is enjoying his senior season, he knows what he must do to improve his game for college.
"I need to get stronger and faster," Jones said. "I just have to become better. I am never finished. I can always improve on everything in my game."
And at least one of those faces in Temple's secondary will look familiar to Jones.
"I went up against Anthony Ferla in high school," Jones said. "We ran against each other in track and football. He went to St. Joe's, so we went up against each other."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Grounded in success
November 18, 2007
Grounded in success
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
One of the biggest problems this season for Temple's football team has been running the ball.
The Owls came into Saturday's game against Kent State ranked dead last in the Mid-American Conference in rushing offense, averaging just over 88 yards per game. The Golden Flashes came to Philadelphia ranked first in the MAC in rushing defense, allowing 165 yards per game.
The stage wasn't set for Temple to have a big day on the ground, but trends were broken Saturday. The Owls rushed for 184 yards en route to a 24-14 victory over the Golden Flashes.
Freshman tailback Daryl Robinson rushed for a career-high 105 yards on 17 carries for the Owls.
"Basically, I was real excited running against the top defense in the MAC," Robinson said. "I'm just getting a feel for the game. In the beginning, I wasn't really focused and wasn't patient."
The first half seemed like the same old story. Temple picked up just 44 yards on 22 carries. But the second half, especially a touchdown drive in the third quarter, was where the ground game took off.
A blocked Temple punt resulted in a touchdown for Kent State, and the Golden Flashes held a 14-6 lead at that point. But Temple responded the very next drive in a big way.
With just under five minutes left in the third quarter, the Owls took over at their 13-yard line. After two Jason Harper runs that totaled 40 yards, Robinson took one for 27 yards to the Kent State 9. Harper scored on the very next play to get the Owls within two points. He finished the game with 79 yards on the ground.
"I think [the improvement in the running game] all came in the third quarter, and I thought that the offensive staff and (offensive coordinator) George (Deleone) just did a brilliant job," Temple head coach Al Golden said. "Not just early in the quarter, but they really changed the tempo of the game. The kids just ran a little bit harder."
Robinson, who notched his first career 100-yard rushing game, finally looked like a runner who was content to let some things develop before hitting the hole.
"There was a couple times early, like the Northern Illinois game, that he cut it all the way back," Golden said of Robinson. "Quite often, young backs stop their feet because they are looking for the big run, instead of four or five (yards). Today he was taking the four or five and then turning it into nine or 10. Those guys run the ball hard. I think that's great. We almost had two 100 yard rushers."
Kent State was the team going into the game with the stud running back. Golden Flashes tailback Eugene Jarvis was the MAC's leading rusher with 1,429 yards, but he had just 66 on 13 carries on Saturday.
Temple's ability to run the ball enabled it to keep Jarvis off the field. The Owls controlled the clock for over 38 minutes, and most of the second half. They limited Kent State to just one offensive touchdown.
Temple totaled six scoring drives, as kick Jake Brownell banged through four field goals to go with the two touchdowns.
"We had the ball for almost 39 minutes; you should win the game if you have it for that long," Golden said.
Robinson, Harper and the rest of the Owls will look to close the season on a high note when they play at Western Michigan next Saturday. A win would give the Owls a 5-3 conference record in their first season in the MAC.
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Grounded in success
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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One of the biggest problems this season for Temple's football team has been running the ball.
The Owls came into Saturday's game against Kent State ranked dead last in the Mid-American Conference in rushing offense, averaging just over 88 yards per game. The Golden Flashes came to Philadelphia ranked first in the MAC in rushing defense, allowing 165 yards per game.
The stage wasn't set for Temple to have a big day on the ground, but trends were broken Saturday. The Owls rushed for 184 yards en route to a 24-14 victory over the Golden Flashes.
Freshman tailback Daryl Robinson rushed for a career-high 105 yards on 17 carries for the Owls.
"Basically, I was real excited running against the top defense in the MAC," Robinson said. "I'm just getting a feel for the game. In the beginning, I wasn't really focused and wasn't patient."
The first half seemed like the same old story. Temple picked up just 44 yards on 22 carries. But the second half, especially a touchdown drive in the third quarter, was where the ground game took off.
A blocked Temple punt resulted in a touchdown for Kent State, and the Golden Flashes held a 14-6 lead at that point. But Temple responded the very next drive in a big way.
With just under five minutes left in the third quarter, the Owls took over at their 13-yard line. After two Jason Harper runs that totaled 40 yards, Robinson took one for 27 yards to the Kent State 9. Harper scored on the very next play to get the Owls within two points. He finished the game with 79 yards on the ground.
"I think [the improvement in the running game] all came in the third quarter, and I thought that the offensive staff and (offensive coordinator) George (Deleone) just did a brilliant job," Temple head coach Al Golden said. "Not just early in the quarter, but they really changed the tempo of the game. The kids just ran a little bit harder."
Robinson, who notched his first career 100-yard rushing game, finally looked like a runner who was content to let some things develop before hitting the hole.
"There was a couple times early, like the Northern Illinois game, that he cut it all the way back," Golden said of Robinson. "Quite often, young backs stop their feet because they are looking for the big run, instead of four or five (yards). Today he was taking the four or five and then turning it into nine or 10. Those guys run the ball hard. I think that's great. We almost had two 100 yard rushers."
Kent State was the team going into the game with the stud running back. Golden Flashes tailback Eugene Jarvis was the MAC's leading rusher with 1,429 yards, but he had just 66 on 13 carries on Saturday.
Temple's ability to run the ball enabled it to keep Jarvis off the field. The Owls controlled the clock for over 38 minutes, and most of the second half. They limited Kent State to just one offensive touchdown.
Temple totaled six scoring drives, as kick Jake Brownell banged through four field goals to go with the two touchdowns.
"We had the ball for almost 39 minutes; you should win the game if you have it for that long," Golden said.
Robinson, Harper and the rest of the Owls will look to close the season on a high note when they play at Western Michigan next Saturday. A win would give the Owls a 5-3 conference record in their first season in the MAC.
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Shelton gets involved
November 11, 2007
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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Through the first nine games of the season, wide receiver Travis Shelton was a forgotten man in Temple's offense.
Against Penn State Saturday, the Owls used Shelton more. The junior caught five passes for 50 yards in Saturday's 31-0 defeat at the hands of Penn State.
Coming into the game, Shelton had just 12 receptions for 66 yards.
"It felt great today being part of the offense," Shelton said. "I felt good. I felt like we were clicking. We just need to finish it up in the red zone."
The Owls were able to move the ball on Penn State, getting inside the Nittany Lions' 20-yard line on two of their first three possessions. But once they got there, they couldn't convert. They were 0-for-4 on red zone attempts.
Temple amassed 242 total yards of offense, with 194 of that coming in the first half when the game was still within reach.
"We lost our focus a little bit when we got into the red zone," Shelton said. "(Temple) Coach (Al Golden) is always telling us to finish and not everybody was finishing, which is why our success was low."
Temple was facing a Penn State defense ranked No. 12 overall in the nation, and the Lions were averaging four sacks a game. To combat that, the Owls focused heavily on quick passes, and Shelton was a beneficiary of those quick hits.
"I think he played alright, one of his better games of the year," Golden said of Shelton. "Hopefully he'll keep building and finish the season strong."
Shelton was told to be ready.
"The coaches early in the week said they were going to try to get me the ball," Shelton said. "They wanted me to start making plays."
Temple quarterback Vaughn Charlton knew he wouldn't have much time to spend in the pocket, so the dump-offs to Shelton were perfect for him.
"Our game plan going into the game was to get rid of the ball fast," Charlton said. "Travis Shelton is a heck of an athlete. Any time you get him the ball, he makes something happen."
Another point of emphasis for Shelton has been special teams. The cousin of Chicago Bears Pro Bowl return man Devin Hester, Shelton was a standout in the return game last season, averaging 28.8 yards per return with one touchdown in just six games.
But coming into the Penn State game, Shelton was averaging just 21.4 yards per kickoff. He returned four kickoffs Saturday for 76 yards, including a 27-yarder that got the offense to midfield.
"They tried to sky kick it," Shelton said. "My team set up the wedge pretty nicely, so I was able to get a good return."
A 31-0 loss, of course, is not what Shelton and the rest of his teammates hoped for, but Temple's performance was a vast improvement from last season's 47-0 drubbing up at State College. The Owls mustered just two first downs and didn't cross midfield that rainy afternoon.
Leaving the Linc Saturday, Shelton was left with a different feeling.
"Last year it felt like a whole different ball game," Shelton said. "This year it felt like we were supposed to win that game. It didn't feel like a 31-0 game."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Through the first nine games of the season, wide receiver Travis Shelton was a forgotten man in Temple's offense.
Against Penn State Saturday, the Owls used Shelton more. The junior caught five passes for 50 yards in Saturday's 31-0 defeat at the hands of Penn State.
Coming into the game, Shelton had just 12 receptions for 66 yards.
"It felt great today being part of the offense," Shelton said. "I felt good. I felt like we were clicking. We just need to finish it up in the red zone."
The Owls were able to move the ball on Penn State, getting inside the Nittany Lions' 20-yard line on two of their first three possessions. But once they got there, they couldn't convert. They were 0-for-4 on red zone attempts.
Temple amassed 242 total yards of offense, with 194 of that coming in the first half when the game was still within reach.
"We lost our focus a little bit when we got into the red zone," Shelton said. "(Temple) Coach (Al Golden) is always telling us to finish and not everybody was finishing, which is why our success was low."
Temple was facing a Penn State defense ranked No. 12 overall in the nation, and the Lions were averaging four sacks a game. To combat that, the Owls focused heavily on quick passes, and Shelton was a beneficiary of those quick hits.
"I think he played alright, one of his better games of the year," Golden said of Shelton. "Hopefully he'll keep building and finish the season strong."
Shelton was told to be ready.
"The coaches early in the week said they were going to try to get me the ball," Shelton said. "They wanted me to start making plays."
Temple quarterback Vaughn Charlton knew he wouldn't have much time to spend in the pocket, so the dump-offs to Shelton were perfect for him.
"Our game plan going into the game was to get rid of the ball fast," Charlton said. "Travis Shelton is a heck of an athlete. Any time you get him the ball, he makes something happen."
Another point of emphasis for Shelton has been special teams. The cousin of Chicago Bears Pro Bowl return man Devin Hester, Shelton was a standout in the return game last season, averaging 28.8 yards per return with one touchdown in just six games.
But coming into the Penn State game, Shelton was averaging just 21.4 yards per kickoff. He returned four kickoffs Saturday for 76 yards, including a 27-yarder that got the offense to midfield.
"They tried to sky kick it," Shelton said. "My team set up the wedge pretty nicely, so I was able to get a good return."
A 31-0 loss, of course, is not what Shelton and the rest of his teammates hoped for, but Temple's performance was a vast improvement from last season's 47-0 drubbing up at State College. The Owls mustered just two first downs and didn't cross midfield that rainy afternoon.
Leaving the Linc Saturday, Shelton was left with a different feeling.
"Last year it felt like a whole different ball game," Shelton said. "This year it felt like we were supposed to win that game. It didn't feel like a 31-0 game."
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Brooks builds his reputation on defense
November 6, 2007
Brooks builds his reputation on defense
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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Every successful basketball team needs a "glue guy," a player who can come in and play solid defense, hustle and shake things up.
Based upon what he did as a freshman, Ryan Brooks looks like he could be that guy who holds things together for Temple.
Brooks, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, came off the bench in each of the 24 games he played for the Owls last season, averaging just over three points and one rebound per game.
His presence was mainly felt on the defense.
"He's a good basketball player," Temple head coach Fran Dunphy said of Brooks. "He's our best perimeter defender right now."
For an Owls team that needs to improve significantly at that end of the floor, Brooks is happy to oblige.
"I think defense is very important," said Brooks, who became Dunphy's first recruit on North Broad Street when he signed a scholarship letter with Temple out of Lower Merion High School last summer. "I've always said since high school that if I could stop the best player on the other team, then our team is going to win."
Brooks experienced plenty of that at Lower Merion, leading the Aces to the 2006 PIAA Class AAAA state championship in an upset win over Pittsburgh's Schenley High School. It was Lower Merion's first state championship since the Kobe Bryant era, and Brooks garnered MVP honors by scoring a game-high 22 points, two of which came on a pair of clutch free throws with a minute left.
Because he signed late with the Owls and never received much recruiting attention from high major programs, Brooks arrived at Temple with little fanfare. However, he quickly established himself as a gritty catalyst who seemed to get better each week.
And while he earned a reputation as a sound defender, Brooks began to find confidence on offense. He averaged 6.0 points in the last 10 games of the season, saving his best effort for the season finale when he scored a career-high 15 points in a loss to St. Joseph's in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
"I just got in the rhythm early," Brooks said of that game. "Coach relied on me to go in and give him some good minutes. I hit my first shot and felt good from there. I kept playing well."
When Brooks asked Dunphy and his staff what he needed to work on during the summer, they told him they wanted him to become a better ball handler and shooter.
Improved ball-handling skills will allow Brooks to adjust to a new role within the offense as he plays more minutes alongside Mark Tyndale and Dionte Christmas, the top two returning scorers in the A-10.
"In transition, they would like me to push the break more," Brooks said. "Get the rebound and go. They trust me enough to make good decisions in the open court and just go out there and contribute any way I can."
Brooks is really going to have to be comfortable in his role in transition when Temple opens its season Friday at No. 7 Tennessee, the preseason favorite to win the SEC.
The Volunteers are a veteran, guard-laden squad. Tennessee averaged nearly nine 3-pointers a game last season, and preseason all-American guard Chris Lofton will lead the charge there. He shot 41.9 percent from beyond the arc, draining 106 shots from long range.
This, of course, will make Brooks' role as a perimeter defender extremely important.
"We know who Tennessee is as a program, and we know their personnel," Brooks said. "I think we are going to approach the game the same as any other team, knowing it's going to be a tough game."
Depending on what Dunphy wants to do in terms of having a bigger or smaller lineup, Brooks could wind up starting this season. And if he doesn't, Brooks said he was comfortable coming off the bench again.
"I'll be ready to go," Brooks said.
Brooks builds his reputation on defense
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Every successful basketball team needs a "glue guy," a player who can come in and play solid defense, hustle and shake things up.
Based upon what he did as a freshman, Ryan Brooks looks like he could be that guy who holds things together for Temple.
Brooks, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, came off the bench in each of the 24 games he played for the Owls last season, averaging just over three points and one rebound per game.
His presence was mainly felt on the defense.
"He's a good basketball player," Temple head coach Fran Dunphy said of Brooks. "He's our best perimeter defender right now."
For an Owls team that needs to improve significantly at that end of the floor, Brooks is happy to oblige.
"I think defense is very important," said Brooks, who became Dunphy's first recruit on North Broad Street when he signed a scholarship letter with Temple out of Lower Merion High School last summer. "I've always said since high school that if I could stop the best player on the other team, then our team is going to win."
Brooks experienced plenty of that at Lower Merion, leading the Aces to the 2006 PIAA Class AAAA state championship in an upset win over Pittsburgh's Schenley High School. It was Lower Merion's first state championship since the Kobe Bryant era, and Brooks garnered MVP honors by scoring a game-high 22 points, two of which came on a pair of clutch free throws with a minute left.
Because he signed late with the Owls and never received much recruiting attention from high major programs, Brooks arrived at Temple with little fanfare. However, he quickly established himself as a gritty catalyst who seemed to get better each week.
And while he earned a reputation as a sound defender, Brooks began to find confidence on offense. He averaged 6.0 points in the last 10 games of the season, saving his best effort for the season finale when he scored a career-high 15 points in a loss to St. Joseph's in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
"I just got in the rhythm early," Brooks said of that game. "Coach relied on me to go in and give him some good minutes. I hit my first shot and felt good from there. I kept playing well."
When Brooks asked Dunphy and his staff what he needed to work on during the summer, they told him they wanted him to become a better ball handler and shooter.
Improved ball-handling skills will allow Brooks to adjust to a new role within the offense as he plays more minutes alongside Mark Tyndale and Dionte Christmas, the top two returning scorers in the A-10.
"In transition, they would like me to push the break more," Brooks said. "Get the rebound and go. They trust me enough to make good decisions in the open court and just go out there and contribute any way I can."
Brooks is really going to have to be comfortable in his role in transition when Temple opens its season Friday at No. 7 Tennessee, the preseason favorite to win the SEC.
The Volunteers are a veteran, guard-laden squad. Tennessee averaged nearly nine 3-pointers a game last season, and preseason all-American guard Chris Lofton will lead the charge there. He shot 41.9 percent from beyond the arc, draining 106 shots from long range.
This, of course, will make Brooks' role as a perimeter defender extremely important.
"We know who Tennessee is as a program, and we know their personnel," Brooks said. "I think we are going to approach the game the same as any other team, knowing it's going to be a tough game."
Depending on what Dunphy wants to do in terms of having a bigger or smaller lineup, Brooks could wind up starting this season. And if he doesn't, Brooks said he was comfortable coming off the bench again.
"I'll be ready to go," Brooks said.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Owls' defense among best in the MAC
October 25, 2007
Owls' defense among best in the MAC
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
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A defense can often be measured by how it performs in big spots.
If that's the case, then Temple might be onto something good.
Miami(OH) moved the ball on the Owls last Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field to the tune of 370 yards of total offense, but Temple clamped down in the second half for some crucial stops en route to a 24-17 victory.
The numbers don't lie. Defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio's unit is ranked second in the MAC in several categories, including total defense, rushing defense and red-zone defense.
"The defense is playing much better," Owls head coach Al Golden said. "We've got to finish the job a little bit better. Right now they are starting to become tough. It's obvious they have unity. You can see that the off-season program is starting to pay off because we are in good shape. When they get down to the red zone, they get tougher, so that part of it has been good."
The Owls, now 3-5 overall and 3-2 in the Mid-American Conference, had two red-zone stops in the fourth quarter, including a fourth-and-2 from the 4-yard line. With Temple ahead 21-7, Miami had marched down the field and was in position to cut the deficit to seven with a fourth-down conversion. But Miami running back Cory Jones took the handoff to the left side and was immediately planted into the ground by defensive end Leyon Azubuike.
"That's a result of our coach.," junior defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. "In practice, he pushes us and pushes us every day to be tough and to finish every play."
One of the key players on the defensive side of the ball last Saturday was defensive end Junior Galette. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound sophomore came up with three sacks and a forced fumbled from Miami's 20-yard line, which led Temple to its first points of the game.
Throughout the game, Miami slid protection away from Galette on several occasions in order to focus on Knighton and fellow defensive tackle Andre Neblett.
"We just knew how big of a game this was," Galette said. "Coach told me that if you can't beat a running back, then you're not going to beat a tackle. I just tried to beat him with speed rush every time."
Golden liked what he saw from Galette.
"I thought there was a good duel there," the head coach said. "[Jones] was tough. There has to be a day where Junior absolutely has a day when that happens. He fought well, but he has to be dominant when that happens in the future."
Miami was able to move the ball well, especially through the air, but the damage was minimal.
Why?
The RedHawks were a paltry 3-for-19 on third down. Temple held Miami to just 56 yards rushing, sacked RedHawks quarterback Dan Raudabaugh four times, and forced two fumbles. Linebacker John Haley intercepted Raudabaugh with just over seven minutes remaining in the game, and safety Dominique Harris picked off Raudabaugh's Hail Mary attempt with four seconds remaining.
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Owls' defense among best in the MAC
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
Talk about it in the Message Boards
A defense can often be measured by how it performs in big spots.
If that's the case, then Temple might be onto something good.
Miami(OH) moved the ball on the Owls last Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field to the tune of 370 yards of total offense, but Temple clamped down in the second half for some crucial stops en route to a 24-17 victory.
The numbers don't lie. Defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio's unit is ranked second in the MAC in several categories, including total defense, rushing defense and red-zone defense.
"The defense is playing much better," Owls head coach Al Golden said. "We've got to finish the job a little bit better. Right now they are starting to become tough. It's obvious they have unity. You can see that the off-season program is starting to pay off because we are in good shape. When they get down to the red zone, they get tougher, so that part of it has been good."
The Owls, now 3-5 overall and 3-2 in the Mid-American Conference, had two red-zone stops in the fourth quarter, including a fourth-and-2 from the 4-yard line. With Temple ahead 21-7, Miami had marched down the field and was in position to cut the deficit to seven with a fourth-down conversion. But Miami running back Cory Jones took the handoff to the left side and was immediately planted into the ground by defensive end Leyon Azubuike.
"That's a result of our coach.," junior defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said. "In practice, he pushes us and pushes us every day to be tough and to finish every play."
One of the key players on the defensive side of the ball last Saturday was defensive end Junior Galette. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound sophomore came up with three sacks and a forced fumbled from Miami's 20-yard line, which led Temple to its first points of the game.
Throughout the game, Miami slid protection away from Galette on several occasions in order to focus on Knighton and fellow defensive tackle Andre Neblett.
"We just knew how big of a game this was," Galette said. "Coach told me that if you can't beat a running back, then you're not going to beat a tackle. I just tried to beat him with speed rush every time."
Golden liked what he saw from Galette.
"I thought there was a good duel there," the head coach said. "[Jones] was tough. There has to be a day where Junior absolutely has a day when that happens. He fought well, but he has to be dominant when that happens in the future."
Miami was able to move the ball well, especially through the air, but the damage was minimal.
Why?
The RedHawks were a paltry 3-for-19 on third down. Temple held Miami to just 56 yards rushing, sacked RedHawks quarterback Dan Raudabaugh four times, and forced two fumbles. Linebacker John Haley intercepted Raudabaugh with just over seven minutes remaining in the game, and safety Dominique Harris picked off Raudabaugh's Hail Mary attempt with four seconds remaining.
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Roughed up at St. Joe's
Roughed up at St. Joe’s
Posted on 16 October 2007 by Kenny Walter
Whether it was the physical play of Saint Joseph’s or a litany of questionable calls by the refereeing crew, the men’s soccer team could not muster a victory.
The Hawks defeated the Owls, 1-0, at Finnesey Field Saturday night, spoiling the Owls’ Atlantic Ten Conference opener and dropping them to 4-5-1 overall.
Hawks senior forward Patrick Duddy scored the game’s only goal at the 81:22 mark, when he capitalized on an errant Temple pass, swept by two defenders and slid a goal into the net past the outstretched arms of Temple goalie Tony Pratico.
“It was a square ball - they know they aren’t supposed to pass square balls in the back,” coach David MacWilliams said of the Owls’ defense. “Then we do that and we get punished for it. Huge mistake.”
Duddy made the biggest play in a game marked by its physical play. The teams combined for 41 fouls, 23 of those committed by the Owls. Two yellow cards were given out, but that did not satisfy MacWilliams.
“I think there was a lot that wasn’t called today and it really disrupted the whole tempo of the game for us,” MacWilliams said. “We weren’t able to get the ball in our zone all game and we have to do a better job at that.”
From the start, it was clear the game would be a defensive battle. Neither team made any major scoring threat in the first half. Temple’s first real scoring opportunity came when sophomore midfielder Francois Sagna freed himself for a shot, but the shot soared wide right and well over the goal.
“We knew before the game that the game was going to be physical and coach wanted us to react to the physical play,” Sagna said. “We didn’t really respond and that is why they out-battled us today.”
A few other opportunities arose during the rest of the first half, but the period featured more slide tackles and elbow shots than shots on goal.
The second half was a similar story. With just under 20 minutes left, Duddy scored on a pass through traffic by Hawks forward Colin Baker. The goal was called back because of an offside penalty. Minutes later, Duddy took advantage of careless Temple passing and finally put a score on the board.
Temple’s last scoring chance came with just under five minutes remaining, when a header by Mackenson Altidor fell into Hawks goalie Bryan Benedict’s chest. Temple never had another chance.
“Soccer is a very physical game,” freshman midfielder Kenechukwu Nwanah said. “We have to win our individual battles and get more physical. We lost a lot of our individual battles and that’s why we lost the game.”
“I didn’t like anything we did today,” MacWilliams said. “I am very disappointed.”
The Owls look to rebound against Richmond Friday at Ambler Field.
Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Posted on 16 October 2007 by Kenny Walter
Whether it was the physical play of Saint Joseph’s or a litany of questionable calls by the refereeing crew, the men’s soccer team could not muster a victory.
The Hawks defeated the Owls, 1-0, at Finnesey Field Saturday night, spoiling the Owls’ Atlantic Ten Conference opener and dropping them to 4-5-1 overall.
Hawks senior forward Patrick Duddy scored the game’s only goal at the 81:22 mark, when he capitalized on an errant Temple pass, swept by two defenders and slid a goal into the net past the outstretched arms of Temple goalie Tony Pratico.
“It was a square ball - they know they aren’t supposed to pass square balls in the back,” coach David MacWilliams said of the Owls’ defense. “Then we do that and we get punished for it. Huge mistake.”
Duddy made the biggest play in a game marked by its physical play. The teams combined for 41 fouls, 23 of those committed by the Owls. Two yellow cards were given out, but that did not satisfy MacWilliams.
“I think there was a lot that wasn’t called today and it really disrupted the whole tempo of the game for us,” MacWilliams said. “We weren’t able to get the ball in our zone all game and we have to do a better job at that.”
From the start, it was clear the game would be a defensive battle. Neither team made any major scoring threat in the first half. Temple’s first real scoring opportunity came when sophomore midfielder Francois Sagna freed himself for a shot, but the shot soared wide right and well over the goal.
“We knew before the game that the game was going to be physical and coach wanted us to react to the physical play,” Sagna said. “We didn’t really respond and that is why they out-battled us today.”
A few other opportunities arose during the rest of the first half, but the period featured more slide tackles and elbow shots than shots on goal.
The second half was a similar story. With just under 20 minutes left, Duddy scored on a pass through traffic by Hawks forward Colin Baker. The goal was called back because of an offside penalty. Minutes later, Duddy took advantage of careless Temple passing and finally put a score on the board.
Temple’s last scoring chance came with just under five minutes remaining, when a header by Mackenson Altidor fell into Hawks goalie Bryan Benedict’s chest. Temple never had another chance.
“Soccer is a very physical game,” freshman midfielder Kenechukwu Nwanah said. “We have to win our individual battles and get more physical. We lost a lot of our individual battles and that’s why we lost the game.”
“I didn’t like anything we did today,” MacWilliams said. “I am very disappointed.”
The Owls look to rebound against Richmond Friday at Ambler Field.
Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Tyler turns the tables, stops English
October 9, 2007
Tyler turns the tables, stops English
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Oct. 21, 2006 was a day Temple left tackle Devin Tyler and the rest of the offensive line spent the whole offseason trying to forget.
Playing at Northern Illinois, the Owls watched as Huskies defensive end Larry English terrorized Tyler and Temple to the tune of a career-high 4.5 sacks. Northern Illinois' defense held Temple to minus-6 rushing yards en route to a 43-21 victory.
Saturday, Tyler was able to flip the script and get the better of English. This time, English was held to just four tackles and no sacks. The job Tyler and backup left tackle Jabari Ferguson did on English was one of the reasons Temple was able to edge out a 16-15 win on Homecoming weekend at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I have to tell you that Devin Tyler really got beat up bad in this game a year ago," Temple head coach Al Golden admitted after Saturday's win. "And to have the courage to face your demons the way he did today … maybe, and I say maybe, because he's go to do it every day, maybe this will be the kind of the impetus to propel him in his career, because he really battled 51 (English) real well today. I thought this was the first time Devin really responded and looked it in the eye and stared it down and didn't look for any trap doors or any excuses."
Tyler said this was a game he was thinking about as soon as the schedule was released.
"I remember playing him last year and he did a good job," Tyler said. "We just had to focus more and trust our techniques our coaches are teaching us."
Ferguson kept things simple when it came to explaining his technique in dealing with English.
"We kept hitting him and hitting him and hitting him," Ferguson said. "We just tried to slow him down."
English came into the game with seven sacks, good for second in the MAC. He had 12 last season.
Saturday's game was an encouraging one for both Tyler and Ferguson, as both have had their fair share of struggles this season. Golden has been waiting for one of them to step up and claim the starting job, and Tyler may be on the verge of doing so. Although they still split time, Tyler received the majority of Saturday's snaps.
In addition to Tyler and Ferguson at left tackle, the entire offensive line clamped, especially in the second half. The Owls amassed 114 rushing yards in the second half after netting just 36 in the first half. Daryl Robinson led the balanced attack with 71 rushing yards, all of which came in the second half.
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Tyler turns the tables, stops English
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Oct. 21, 2006 was a day Temple left tackle Devin Tyler and the rest of the offensive line spent the whole offseason trying to forget.
Playing at Northern Illinois, the Owls watched as Huskies defensive end Larry English terrorized Tyler and Temple to the tune of a career-high 4.5 sacks. Northern Illinois' defense held Temple to minus-6 rushing yards en route to a 43-21 victory.
Saturday, Tyler was able to flip the script and get the better of English. This time, English was held to just four tackles and no sacks. The job Tyler and backup left tackle Jabari Ferguson did on English was one of the reasons Temple was able to edge out a 16-15 win on Homecoming weekend at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I have to tell you that Devin Tyler really got beat up bad in this game a year ago," Temple head coach Al Golden admitted after Saturday's win. "And to have the courage to face your demons the way he did today … maybe, and I say maybe, because he's go to do it every day, maybe this will be the kind of the impetus to propel him in his career, because he really battled 51 (English) real well today. I thought this was the first time Devin really responded and looked it in the eye and stared it down and didn't look for any trap doors or any excuses."
Tyler said this was a game he was thinking about as soon as the schedule was released.
"I remember playing him last year and he did a good job," Tyler said. "We just had to focus more and trust our techniques our coaches are teaching us."
Ferguson kept things simple when it came to explaining his technique in dealing with English.
"We kept hitting him and hitting him and hitting him," Ferguson said. "We just tried to slow him down."
English came into the game with seven sacks, good for second in the MAC. He had 12 last season.
Saturday's game was an encouraging one for both Tyler and Ferguson, as both have had their fair share of struggles this season. Golden has been waiting for one of them to step up and claim the starting job, and Tyler may be on the verge of doing so. Although they still split time, Tyler received the majority of Saturday's snaps.
In addition to Tyler and Ferguson at left tackle, the entire offensive line clamped, especially in the second half. The Owls amassed 114 rushing yards in the second half after netting just 36 in the first half. Daryl Robinson led the balanced attack with 71 rushing yards, all of which came in the second half.
OwlScoop.com staff writer Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
O-line woes continue
September 9, 2007
O-line woes continue
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Temple's offensive line looked like it had made some progress in last week's season opener against Navy.
But Saturday's 42-7 loss to Buffalo showed the unit still has plenty of work to do.
The Bulls' defense was in the Owls' backfield all game, holding Temple to minus-36 yards rushing and collecting five sacks in the rout. Owls quarterback Adam DiMichele felt pressure bearing down on him all game and suffered through an afternoon that saw him go 13 for 23 for 160 yards and two interceptions.
"We've got to get some continuity in our offensive line," Temple head coach Al Golden said in his postgame press conference. "Honestly, we've got to settle on an offensive line that's going to be around here for a while. We've got to start training some guys who are going to be around and do it the right way and are tough. I don't know who that is, but I'm going to evaluate that (Saturday night)."
Perhaps the lone bright spot of the afternoon was a 10-yard touchdown run by sophomore Jason Harper that saw him break a tackle after cutting back to create some running room. The second quarter score brought Temple to within two touchdowns at 21-7.
The Owls had an opportunity to cut into that deficit right before the half, but the offensive line woes doomed Temple again. DiMichele completed four straight passes, the last of which was a 27-yard strike to freshman wide receiver Marquise Liverpool, to bring the Owls from their own 14-yard line to the Buffalo 23. But after an incompletion on first down, the pocket closed in on DiMichele again, forcing him to scramble and toss an errant pass to the sideline. The play resulted in a 17-yard intentional grounding penalty and pushed the Owls out of field goal range after they failed to convert on a difficult third-and-27 from the Bulls' 40-yard line.
The second half was not much better. Buffalo added three more sacks to its total, and Temple's line was flagged for two holding penalties early in the fourth quarter.
The frequent blitzes and stunts got the better of the Owls all afternoon. Buffalo was bringing pressure from the edges, forcing DiMichele to either take the hit or scramble.
He did a lot of both on Saturday.
"They did nothing today that we didn't see on film," junior center Alex Derenthal said. "They just worked harder then we did."
Buffalo's edge rushers prevented Temple from establishing any offensive flow, forcing the Owls to use some two tight end sets on an afternoon when they were already without Matt Balasavage. Golden said the freshman tight end, who caught his first career touchdown last week against Navy, wasn't able to make the trip to the game but didn't elaborate on any injury.
Buffalo outside linebacker Larry Hutchinson was someone the Owls simply could not stop. He collected eight tackles and three sacks and forced two fumbles. Defensive end Trevor Scott added two sacks and six tackles of his own.
The minus-54 yards from DiMichele's sack totals made Temple's rushing yardage an ugly statistic in the books, and Harper led four Owls' ball carriers with just 25 yards on six carries.
"We never got any run game going," a visibly disappointed Golden said. "That's the understatement of the year, maybe the decade."
Life my not necessarily get easier for the Owls when they travel next week to East Hartford to play Connecticut. The Huskies haven't exactly had the toughest of schedules so far, rolling to easy wins over Duke and Maine, but they've done what they're supposed to do. In a 45-10 drumming of Duke, UConn allowed just 23 rushing yards, and it held Maine to 64 yards on the ground in a 38-0 rout Saturday.
Golden hasn't been afraid to shake things up and try different combinations on the offensive line. Aside from Derenthal, no one's starting job on the line would be considered safe. Neither Devin Tyler nor Jabari Ferguson has done enough to stake a firm claim at left tackle, and freshman Lloyd Codada is still learning at left guard. Brison Manor and Andre Douglas were listed as Saturday's starters at right guard and right tackle, respectively, but perhaps Dwavon Battle and freshman Derek Dennis could see some time there in the future.
A team as young as Temple is bound to go through some growing pains, but Saturday's rout at the hands of Buffalo was a step backward for the Owls, literally and figuratively.
O-line woes continue
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
Temple's offensive line looked like it had made some progress in last week's season opener against Navy.
But Saturday's 42-7 loss to Buffalo showed the unit still has plenty of work to do.
The Bulls' defense was in the Owls' backfield all game, holding Temple to minus-36 yards rushing and collecting five sacks in the rout. Owls quarterback Adam DiMichele felt pressure bearing down on him all game and suffered through an afternoon that saw him go 13 for 23 for 160 yards and two interceptions.
"We've got to get some continuity in our offensive line," Temple head coach Al Golden said in his postgame press conference. "Honestly, we've got to settle on an offensive line that's going to be around here for a while. We've got to start training some guys who are going to be around and do it the right way and are tough. I don't know who that is, but I'm going to evaluate that (Saturday night)."
Perhaps the lone bright spot of the afternoon was a 10-yard touchdown run by sophomore Jason Harper that saw him break a tackle after cutting back to create some running room. The second quarter score brought Temple to within two touchdowns at 21-7.
The Owls had an opportunity to cut into that deficit right before the half, but the offensive line woes doomed Temple again. DiMichele completed four straight passes, the last of which was a 27-yard strike to freshman wide receiver Marquise Liverpool, to bring the Owls from their own 14-yard line to the Buffalo 23. But after an incompletion on first down, the pocket closed in on DiMichele again, forcing him to scramble and toss an errant pass to the sideline. The play resulted in a 17-yard intentional grounding penalty and pushed the Owls out of field goal range after they failed to convert on a difficult third-and-27 from the Bulls' 40-yard line.
The second half was not much better. Buffalo added three more sacks to its total, and Temple's line was flagged for two holding penalties early in the fourth quarter.
The frequent blitzes and stunts got the better of the Owls all afternoon. Buffalo was bringing pressure from the edges, forcing DiMichele to either take the hit or scramble.
He did a lot of both on Saturday.
"They did nothing today that we didn't see on film," junior center Alex Derenthal said. "They just worked harder then we did."
Buffalo's edge rushers prevented Temple from establishing any offensive flow, forcing the Owls to use some two tight end sets on an afternoon when they were already without Matt Balasavage. Golden said the freshman tight end, who caught his first career touchdown last week against Navy, wasn't able to make the trip to the game but didn't elaborate on any injury.
Buffalo outside linebacker Larry Hutchinson was someone the Owls simply could not stop. He collected eight tackles and three sacks and forced two fumbles. Defensive end Trevor Scott added two sacks and six tackles of his own.
The minus-54 yards from DiMichele's sack totals made Temple's rushing yardage an ugly statistic in the books, and Harper led four Owls' ball carriers with just 25 yards on six carries.
"We never got any run game going," a visibly disappointed Golden said. "That's the understatement of the year, maybe the decade."
Life my not necessarily get easier for the Owls when they travel next week to East Hartford to play Connecticut. The Huskies haven't exactly had the toughest of schedules so far, rolling to easy wins over Duke and Maine, but they've done what they're supposed to do. In a 45-10 drumming of Duke, UConn allowed just 23 rushing yards, and it held Maine to 64 yards on the ground in a 38-0 rout Saturday.
Golden hasn't been afraid to shake things up and try different combinations on the offensive line. Aside from Derenthal, no one's starting job on the line would be considered safe. Neither Devin Tyler nor Jabari Ferguson has done enough to stake a firm claim at left tackle, and freshman Lloyd Codada is still learning at left guard. Brison Manor and Andre Douglas were listed as Saturday's starters at right guard and right tackle, respectively, but perhaps Dwavon Battle and freshman Derek Dennis could see some time there in the future.
A team as young as Temple is bound to go through some growing pains, but Saturday's rout at the hands of Buffalo was a step backward for the Owls, literally and figuratively.
Recruiting Spotlight: Ryan Murray
August 28, 2007
Recruiting spotlight: Ryan Murray
Temple football coach Al Golden literally made a big splash on the recruiting scene when he landed a verbal commitment from 6-foot-6, 333-pound offensive tackle Ryan Murray, a local product from Philadelphia's Edward Bok Technical School.But for as imposing as Murray is on the football field, he wants to make just as much of an impact in the classroom.
In other words, he gives equal weight to both parts of his role as a student-athlete.
"I know I've got to stay on top of things," Murray said. "I'm a student before I'm a football player, and that's really important to me."
When Murray visited Temple, the university's academics impressed him, and so did the people involved with a football program that is perceived to be on the rise.
"Temple has a lot to offer me," Murray said. "I really liked the facilities, the coaching staff, and the future that awaits me here. Being close to my family and being able to have them at all of my games was a big factor for me."
Per NCAA rules, Murray cannot sign an official national letter of intent until February. He said he received recruiting interest from Maryland and Pittsburgh, but he chose to conclude his recruitment early and stay close to home.
Murray said he's become a solid trap blocker, but he knows he has one more season of high school football to refine his game before he gets to North Broad Street.
"I'm going to take this season to work on my speed," Murray said. "The next level is a much faster game at a faster pace."
Murray, who said he is leaning toward majoring in engineering or business, should be prepared for the rigors of athletic and academic life in college, at least when it comes to getting up early to start his day. In order to get from his home in Northeast Philadelphia to Bok's campus in South Philadelphia, he has to take four SEPTA buses to make it to school on time.
"I think waking up early and taking the bus to school gives me an advantage for the early morning routines of a college athlete," Murray said.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Seifert readies for life after college, whether on gridiron or under water
Temple News
Posted on 01 May 2007 by admin
Temple honored every student-athlete owning a grade point average of 3.0 or higher last Wednesday at the Fifth Annual Breakfast of Champions Awards Banquet. More than 200 student-athletes were in attendance, but there was one male athlete who rose above his counterparts.
Elliot Seifert was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year, an award given to the student-athlete who best demonstrates excellence in athletics, academics and community involvement.
“I was completely surprised,” Seifert said of the award. “I didn’t expect to win it with so many great student-athletes at Temple.”
Seifert, a four-year letter winner, has a lengthy list of accomplishments. He was a semi-finalist for the Draddy Award, which is annually awarded to the athlete with the best combination of academic and athletic success.
He won the Top Hog Award, given each year to the Owls’ top lineman. Seifert is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Seifert said he is ready for success at the next level, with or without football. Seifert went undrafted this weekend in the NFL’s draft.He plans to receive his master’s degree in biology next spring and he said he would like to become a marine biologist when his college career concludes.
“I hope to finish my degree and get my doctorate and become a marine biologist, possibly in California,” Seifert said. “It’s something I was always interested in.”
Seifert spent a week in Ambergis Caye, Belize, conducting research for a tropical marine biology class.
“No player has given back more to the community,” coach Al Golden said in a statement read aloud at the banquet.Seifert has control of his life off the field, but he is as good as anyone on the field, too.
The offensive tackle fought through injuries early in his career to become a steady and dependable fixture on the offensive line for the Owls. He ended his career by making 34 consecutive starts at left tackle.
Seifert credited his success to an understanding of the balance of life.
“Preparing for my future was more difficult than preparing for a football game against a school like Miami,” Seifert said. “With football, the techniques are always there and we are always prepared. It is not always the case with school work.”
Seifert said he would like to see more student-athletes take such action.
“It is great to give back to the community
and go out and have a good time,” he said. “Everyone should get involved.”
Team will take to field after 4 cancellations
Temple News
Posted on 17 April 2007 by admin
The softball team is hungry to add to its three-game win streak on Wednesday after
its last four games were cancelled. The Owls have not been able to take the field since April 11 because of the recent rash of inclement weather.
The Owls will face Saint Joseph’s at 2 p.m. at the Ambler Sports Complex. The Hawks fought through a tough opening schedule and have turned their season around with a five-game winning streak of their own. With their final four home dates coming up, the Owls hope to send seniors Jessica
Rohn, an outfielder, and Adrienne Repsher,
a first baseman, off with an elongated winning streak.
In the Owls’ most recent game, Repsher
blasted her ninth home run of the season, which put her alone atop the Owls’ all-time home run list. Repsher leads the team with a .456 batting average, 29 RBI and 26 runs. She is the only regular yet to commit an error this season.
Rohn is batting .319 with four homers and 17 RBI, which tie her for second on the team with Krystle Metzler. Rohn’s 20 runs are also second.
Temple, which opened the season with an eight-game losing streak while playing in two respective tournaments, owns a 9-14 overall record. They are 3-3 in the A-10.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Injuries dash team’s expectations
Temple News
Posted on 10 April 2007 by admin
The men’s tennis team cannot seem to shake the injury bug this season. The Owls, who entered the season with high expectations following a successful 2006 season, were seriously hurt by the compounding amount of bumps and bruises that they ultimately suffered.
The team hobbled into last weekend’s Atlantic Ten Conference tournament in Monroeville, Pa., looking to make a splash but came up a little short of its goal. A 4-3 loss Thursday to Saint Louis ended the Owls’ hopes of an A-10 title. The next day, the Owls (9-13) defeated Philadelphia rival La Salle, 6-0, in a consolation match to end the year on a positive note.
“Toward the end of the year, we were really
banged up,” coach Steve Mauro said. “We just never really had a chance to heal once the season started.”
Two top players spent a majority of the season injured. The Owls’ No. 1 player, sophomore Eduardo Saavedra, but was posted a 6-5 individual record, was hampered with both wrist and ankle injuries. Junior Philip Gegenheimer, who went 9-9, sat out most of the year with a shoulder injury. It was a tough ending for a team that was poised to breakout this year, Mauro said.
“We were forced to work a little harder with these guys injured,” Mauro said. “In the end it all caught up to us.”
The season started promisingly, as the Owls had two three-match winning streaks. But the Owls lost six of their last seven matches, with a win against La Salle in their season finale ultimately saving them from ending the year on a seven-game slide.
Though Saavedra was still dealing with his injuries at the A-10 tournament, Mauro credited Saavedra with being a player who had stepped up toward the end. Saavedra won each of his matches at the tournament.
“He really impressed us and played well,” Mauro said.
With the season ending short of an A-10 Championship, that does not mean it is not too early to speculate about next year. The Owls will have to rebound from the departure of their lone senior Daniel Davis, but will be adding at least three top recruits to an already heavy returning class.
“We have two recruits from Atlanta coming
and a top player from Chicago coming for next season,” Mauro said. “We also will have a transfer player coming to us from Lees McRae College in North Carolina.”
Injuries or not, the losing will be all but forgotten and the coaches and players will work hard in the off-season to make sure next season is a memorable one.
Early five-goal deficit too big to overcome
Temple News
Posted on 03 April 2007 by admin
When the lacrosse team entered its game against No. 18 Rutgers Friday, the Owls wanted to stop the bleeding of their young season. The Owls, who as recently as last season were nationally ranked, had started the season slowly - especially on offense.
They brought a 2-5 record into their meeting with Rutgers, and looked to snap their two-game losing streak. But the bleeding continued. The Scarlet Knights scored the first five goals of the game and the Owls failed to make a serious push to even the score, eventually falling, 14-10, at Geasey Field.
Rutgers sophomore Nina Frankoski opened the scoring at the 22:08 mark with a crafty goal just over the left shoulder of Temple goalie Bridget McMullan.
Frankoski scored three of the Knights’ first five goals, and added four more for a game-high seven goals.Allison Frengs finally got Temple (2-6) on the board with 13:33 left in the first half. The senior captain slashed to the middle of the field, was briefly tripped up, but regained her balance long enough to net her first of a team-high four goals.
Moments later, Frengs had another goal attempt to bring the Owls within three, but a terrific save by Rutgers goalie Sandra Abel stopped her cold. Shortly after Abel’s save, Casey Cech beat the goalie, as Abel came away on top of a mad scramble in front of the goal to net another Temple goal. The rest of the first half was played at a pace that better suited Temple, as Rutgers’
speed seemed to throw the Owls off of their game early.
As the Owls regained control of the tempo, they brought themselves back into the game.
With 9:15 left in the first half, Frengs added her second goal of the game to bring Temple within two, at 5-3. The momentum however, swayed back to Rutgers, as Frankoski added two straight goals to pad Rutgers’ lead to 7-3 and boost her first-half goal total to five. Cech added the second of her three goals a few minutes before halftime and the 7-4 scored held until the break.
The second half was a similar story for Temple. The Owls gave up three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes to start the period.
Temple’s Whitney Richards added a goal at the 18:25 mark to answer the Knights (8-2) and Nicole Caniglia notched another a few minutes later to pull Temple’s deficit to 10-6. But Rutgers was able to withhold the Owls’ attack and build its lead back to five with just fewer than five minutes left.
Temple made a frantic comeback attempt
in the final minutes, but it was a case of too little too late. Frengs scored two goals and Cech knocked in another in the span of about a minute, pulling the Owls within 13-10 with 1:36 left. A final goal by Rutgers’ Jamie Farewell ended any last-minute comeback.
Temple will try to bounce back Friday when it hosts Massachusetts in a 3 p.m. tilt at Geasey Field.
Teams expect nothing less than a win at Murphy Cup
Temple News
Posted on 20 March 2007 by admin
The men’s and women’s crew teams are ready to make a splash at their seasons’ first Philadelphia regatta.
The 25th annual Murphy Cup Regatta kicks off Saturday at 11 a.m. on the Schuylkill River.
“I expect to win it,” men’s coach Dr. Gavin White said. “Our goal of every regatta is to win it.”
The coach holds his team to a higher standard, as they’ve won 23 of the first 24 Murphy Cup regattas.But the Murphy Cup - the only regatta hosted by Temple during
the season - is just the beginning of what White calls an “ambitious” spring schedule.
He said the schedule will help the team prepare for what looks to be a competitive season, especially between Temple and city rival Saint Joseph’s. White said the Hawks are “loaded” with a number of new recruits assisting an already mature team.
When all is said and done, the men’s team will hope to have accomplished one goal. That is to win the annual Dad Vail Regatta, held annually in Philadelphia at the conclusion of the season.
“If we lose every regatta and win the Dad Vail, then it’s a good year,” White said, “but if we win every other regatta and lose the Dad Vail, then it is just a mediocre year.”
Led by seniors Chris Bushek and Dante Cammarata, White said the team has grown up and bounced back from what was considered to be a down season two years ago.
The men’s and women’s teams, which share a boathouse on the Schuylkill, recently spent more than 10 hours together on a bus trip to Florida.
Once there, both teams opened their seasons competing in the Keuper Cup. The men’s regatta was held in Felsmere while the women’s regatta took place in Melbourne.
The men’s team started strong, as four of its boats finished among the top two. The Varsity 4, Varsity 4 “B” and the Varsity 8 “B” each topped the competition in their respective races while the Varsity 8 was bested by only Florida Tech.
The women’s team also saw three of its boats finish first - the Varsity 8, Varsity 8 “B” and Varsity 4. The Lightweight 4, Novice 4 and Novice 8 each finished in second place. “I’m always rooting hard for the women and they do the same for us,” White said of the camaraderie of the teams.
The women also feed off of their leader, third-year coach Tim Hagan. “We just want to go out there and contend and try to win the Murphy Cup,” Hagan said.
Winning the Murphy Cup, however, will not be an easy feat. Hagan said other area teams appear to be loaded with talent to try to usurp the Owls.
“Villanova and St. Joe’s look to be really tough this year,” Hagan said.
Hagan said he enjoys the Murphy Cup experience and how big the event has become in the last quarter-century.
“Twenty-five years ago, Temple was one of two schools involved in the Murphy Cup,” Hagan said. “This year there will most likely be over 30 schools from all over the country coming to compete with us.”
Upperclassmen don’t anticipate any slip-ups under new head coach
Temple News
Posted on 20 February 2007 by admin
The lacrosse team, facing a year of adjustments and high expectations, expects big things from its new coach, Bonnie Rosen, who takes over a team that is rich with veteran talent and leadership.
The Owls return six seniors and seven juniors, including Casey Cech and Allison Frengs, who each were named to the All-Atlantic Ten Conference first team last season.
“It is the best situation to come into,” the first-year coach said. “It’s the best situation to come into with all these upperclassmen showing leadership.”
Rosen said she realizes she has walked into a special situation, with many veterans set to lead the way. While Rosen has had to adjust to coaching new faces after spending 10 years at Connecticut, the Owls have had to adjust to their new coach as well.
“Between this year and last year, the coaches have very different styles,” said Cech, a senior midfielder. “We have done some different things this year, such as a zone defense, which we never would have done in the past.”
While the team has adjusted to the style of its coach, several Owls said they will not accept any type of failure this year.
“We expect to win the A-10,” senior defenseman Jessica Chadwin said. “We are on a mission.”
“We want to enjoy the season, have fun and make it a memorable one,” said Frengs, a senior midfielder.
They aren’t the only ones with high expectations. A-10 coaches recently picked the Owls to finish in a second-place tie with Duquesne. One of the Owls’ main strengths will be their ability to adapt in practice and change their game plan to adjust to their opponents, Rosen said.
“We are a very versatile team,” Rosen said. “We can play many different styles of the game and we are very athletic, which will help us change our game plan if needed.”
While their versatility is a huge strength, the team is not flawless.
“We want to get better, not just every game, but every single day we want to get better,” the coach said. “We need to get fundamentally better on defense and refine all of our skills until we get to where we need to be.”
Rosen said the fact that the team is cohesive will make the Owls a special team.
“Everyone brings something to the team,” Rosen said. “The entire team is an asset to have, and in this day and age, that is very rare.”
The Owls’ season opens against Virginia Sunday. The game, set to be played at Geasey Field, begins at 1 p.m.
Players hoping to be rulers of the court
Temple News
Posted on 13 February 2007 by admin
The men’s tennis team wants to make sure they are not labeled as one-year wonders.
The Owls surprised the Atlantic Ten Conference last season by placing
third at the conference
tournament, a year removed from winning just three games.
“We had the attitude
that we could win and compete,” said coach Steve Mauro, who turned around the team in his first year at Temple.
While the team is proud of what they accomplished last year, they are by no means taking last year’s success for granted. They opened the A-10 schedule with a 5-1 loss Sunday at Duquesne.
The Owls are led by a strong group of upperclassmen, including senior Daniel Davis and juniors Kris Celtnieks, Philip Gegenheimer and Zach Tobias. This veteran core is joined by freshman Pavlos Stephanides, who was recently recognized
as A-10 Rookie of the Week for his efforts
against Saint Francis and Swarthmore.
While the coaching staff is excited about the players they have, the A-10 is going to be no cakewalk. Mauro said the conference looks to be very formidable and, if nothing else, very balanced.
“There are a lot of strong teams out there,” Mauro said. “Charlotte appears to be a notch better then everyone else, while the rest of the conference is all about the same strength.”
While the team is geared up for a tough conference schedule, the games leading to conference play have been very positive.
“We have been very enthusiastic and have worked very hard,” Mauro said. “We showed a lot of unity and solid chemistry in our win against Swarthmore.”
Tobias has opened the eyes of the coaching staff.”
Zach didn’t start as a sophomore, but has stepped up and come up big for us so far this year,” Mauro said.
“I, personally, want to keep on winning and doing my part,” Tobias said. “As a team, we want to finish at least as well as we did last year.”
Mauro said there appears to be a change in attitude. In years past, the team did not necessarily believe in their talents, he said.
“Our kids didn’t really believe that they were as good as they were,” Mauro said.
“When we beat Richmond last year, it gave us a confidence that we didn’t previously have.”"As our team gets better and better, we get more and more confident,” sophomore Eduardo Saavedra said. “It is good to get to see our friends within the athletic department have confidence and support for us.”
While the team has its goals for the upcoming A-10 season, their coach realizes that it is a long season and anything can happen. “We hope to be healthy and fresh when tournament time comes along,” Mauro said.
While support for tennis isn’t exactly great among the student body, the coach hopes winning will cure all that ails.
“We hope us being competitive will lead to new fans,” Mauro said. “Our first big home game is Saturday against Richmond.”
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