Temple University Athletics
Football Team Begins To Turn Heads
1.31.01 | Football
"[Virginia Tech's Lee] Suggs said for the first time all year he is a
little bit banged up. That Temple team wore him out. He said that was
the hardest he was hit all season long...I'm on the Temple
bandwagon...They only have three seniors [this season]. Temple is the
team. Everybody remember Temple for 2001. That's the team next year. The
Owls and Bobby Wallace!"
- Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN College Football Analyst
The 2000 edition of the Temple Owls opened many eyes across the
country. Temple gained considerable national notoriety after beginning
the season with a 3-1 record, a feat the Owls had not accomplished since
1990. With a brand new state-of-the-art practice facility and a Temple
campus that is as diverse and attractive as any in the northeast region,
the Owls are seen by many as an up and coming program. Under the
direction of head coach Bobby Wallace, in his third season as commander
and chief, the Owls had something to play for in the month of November,
a Bowl bid. Although the Owls fell short, much had been achieved and the
groundwork for a Bowl-Run in 2001 had been set.
The season began in Annapolis, Maryland where the Owls traveled to take
on the Naval Academy. Behind the legs of sophomore running back Tanardo
Sharps and the arms of two quarterbacks, junior Devin Scott and junior
transfer Mike Frost, Temple prevailed 17-6. It was the Owls first win on
opening day since 1996. Sharps rushed for 180 yards on 31 carries
including a 64-yard touchdown run. The defense limited the nation's top
rushing team from a year ago to a mere 73 yards. It was the first time
since Army in 1994 that the Mids were held under 100 yards rushing in a
game.
Temple returned to the road the following week and traveled south on
I-95 to take on the University of Maryland Terrapins. Although the team
dropped a 17-10 decision, it looked solid outgaining the Terrapins by
almost 200 total yards of offense. Again the Owls employed a quarterback
rotation. Despite solid play on both sides of the ball, 15 penalties for
a total of 99 yards killed the Owls. With minutes left on the clock
Temple trailed 14-10 with the ball. A last minute drive stalled at
midfield. Sharps again performed well gaining close to 80 yards.
Defensively, senior LeVar Talley and junior Russell Newman led the way.
Temple returned home for the first time to meet Bowling Green at
Franklin Field. The Owls took the home field advantage and ran with it
beating the Falcons 31-14. Scott led the way completing 23 passes for
247 yards and two touchdowns.
The following week the Owls hosted Eastern Michigan, again at Franklin
Field, and handed the Eagles a 49-40 loss. Sharps led the offensive
attack with 203 yards rushing on 18 attempts including two 65-yard
touchdown scampers.
For the third straight week the Owls hosted a team at Franklin Field as
it began the BIG EAST Conference schedule with West Virginia. The Owls
fell behind but rallied to take a 24-23 lead early in the fourth
quarter, sparked by Frost who came off the bench and connected for two
touchdowns. The fourth quarter effort again fell short as the
Mountaineers marched the length of the field and scored the game-winning
touchdown, for a 29-24 win. Earlier in the game Sharps reeled off his
fourth 60-plus yard touchdown run of the season as he raced 66-yards for
a score. The defense held West Virginia's potent ground attack in check
for most of the evening.
The schedule increased in difficulty as the Owls traveled to
Blacksburg, Virginia to battle the then No. 3 team in the nation, the
Hokies of Virginia Tech. Temple held Heisman Trophy candidate Michael
Vick in check for most of the day and held the Hokies to their lowest
point total of the season, but the Owls' offense was unable to complete
drives. The Cherry and White lost 35-13. The Owls had a chance to tie
the game midway through the third quarter as they marched to the Hokie
eight yard line, but an endzone pass got away from Frost into the hands
of a Tech defender. The defensive highlight of the game came in the
waning seconds of the first half when junior safety Chonn Lacey
intercepted a Vick pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.
Again the Owls took to the road traveling to Piscataway, New Jersey to
meet the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. The Owls returned to the form that
brought them wins in three of their first four games and defeated
Rutgers with their second-highest point total of the season, 48-14.
Sharps and the receiving corps evenly assisted the offensive total and
the running back gained 168 yards on 32 carries and three receivers
gained more than 60 yards. The defense was sparked by sophomore
cornerback Terrance Leftwich who made his first career interception and
junior free safety Jamal Wallace returned a Rutgers fumble 48 yards to
set up a three-yard touchdown run, one of Sharps three on the day.
Temple hosted the University of Miami at Veterans Stadium on Homecoming
Day. The Owls did not fare as well on Homecoming losing 45-17. Defeating
the No. 4 team in the country was a tall order. Although the offense
struggled against one of the nation's top defenses, the Owls defense
performed extremely well limiting Miami to season lows in six offensive
categories. Leftwich picked off a pass for the second time in as many
weeks; the interception ended a streak of 193 passes without an
interception for Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey. Dorsey's last
interception came against the Owls in 1999. Senior Raheem Brock scored
his first career touchdown when he hopped on the ball in the endzone as
a result of an errant snap.
The Owls began November on the road at Boston College. Temple struggled
all afternoon, only posting three points on a Cap Poklemba field goal in
the third quarter. The Cherry and White traveled home with a 31-3 loss.
The only standout performance of the day came from junior linebacker
Taylor Suman who made 20 tackles (14 solo), the highest total in the
Conference on the season.
The team returned to The Vet for its final two games of the season. The
first was a matchup with Syracuse. Those in attendance saw Sharps go
over 1,000 yards rushing on the season, becoming the first Owl to do so
since 1987 when Todd McNair reached the mark. The Owls kept it close
with the Orangemen and entered the third quarter within five points,
17-12. The Owls struggled on offense and could not produce another
point. The Owls then gave up two more scores and the game ended in a
31-12 loss.
In the season finale versus the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Owls honored
their three seniors, linebacker LeVar Talley, offensive tackle Mathias
Nkwenti and defensive end Raheem Brock. Brock may return for another
season in 2001 if he graduates later this summer. The Panthers were the
only team to score and the Owls lost 7-0. The Owls held the Panthers to
their lowest point total of the season. Sophomore wide receiver Sean
Dillard hauled in 11 receptions, a Conference-high for the season, for
91 yards. Talley finished his Owl career with 16 tackles and a fumble
recovery.
Although the Owls came away with a loss, the valiant effort will
undoubtedly create a hunger to begin preparing for next season. The Owls
expect to lose only LeVar Talley and Mathias Nkwenti and to return 64
letterwinners in 2001. The senior class next season will be comprised of
26 letterwinners and the junior class will possess 24. Obviously, a team
that was one of the youngest in the country two seasons ago has become
the most experienced team in the land. That maturity and experience
should hope to propel the Cherry and White in the coming year. Next
season, a winning record and an appearance in a post season Bowl seem to
be well within reach.
