November 21, 2007
Cotton catching on
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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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.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Recruiting spotlight: Maurice Jones
November 19, 2007
Recruiting spotlight: Maurice Jones
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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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
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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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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