Temple University Athletics
Owls Travel To Hokie Country
10.3.00 | Football
The Temple Owls (3-2, 0-1) enter Saturday's game against Virginia Tech (4-0, 2-0)in Blacksburg, Va. after a tough BIG EAST Conference loss to West Virginia, 29-24. Virginia Tech (4-0, 2-0) is coming off of a solid win over Boston College, 48-34. Although Tech has won seven of the last nine meetings with the Owls, Temple travels south with the thoughts of
pulling off another upset as it did the last time the teams met on the Tech campus in 1998.
Temple's offense is spearheaded by the legs of sophomore running back
Tanardo Sharps, the BIG EAST's leading rusher, and a lightning quick
defense. Tech on the other hand may not have the defense that was one of
the country's elite in 1999, but the Hokies do return the country's most
exciting and gifted performer, quarterback Michael Vick. Sharps has
accounted for 30 percent of the Owls' total offense while Vick has
accounted for 48 percent of the Hokies total offense.
The Owls currently rank 18th in the country in total defense and 21st
against the run while Tech is ranked 68th in total defense and 47th
against the run. Temple is led by linebacker LeVar Talley and his
Conference leading 11.4 tackles per game. The Hokies look to fellow
linebacker Ben Taylor to combat the Owls' much-improved offensive
attack.
The Owls returned 43 lettermen including 13 starters and are off to
their best start since the 1984 season. Tech is again in the hunt for
the National Championship after returning 37 lettermen and 11 starters.
The Hokies are currently ranked third in both polls.
