Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE VERSUS VIRGINIA TECH GAME NOTES
11.5.01 | Football
Temple is coming off a 38-0 loss to No. 1 Miami at the Orange Bowl last Saturday. The Owls played tough against the nation's top-ranked team and had the 31,128 fans in attendance feeling uneasy after a first half in which the Temple defense halted a fourth-down conversion and displayed an ability to stop a potent Miami offense. In the second quarter the Owls did something that had not been done against the Hurricanes in 854 offensive plays, as junior Jairo Almonte and senior Almonese Boyles combined to sack Ken Dorsey for a loss of 19 yards. Miami had not given up a quarterback sack since October 21, 2000, when Akeiff Staples dropped Dorsey for two yards at Veterans Stadium. Dorsey threw two touchdown passes to become Miami's all-time leader in scoring tosses with 50 to his credit. Clinton Portis rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown to became the fifth Hurricane to surpass the 2,000-yard career rushing mark. Sophomore Makonnen Fenton ran strong for Temple, carrying six times for 61 yards while returning three kickoffs for 87 yards.
Virginia Tech, under the direction of 15th-year head coach Frank Beamer, is coming off a 38-7 loss at Pittsburgh last Saturday. Junior Ronyell Whitaker scored the Hokies only points, returning a Lamar Cobb field goal block 71 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. It was the 87th blocked kick in 170 games for the Hokies under Beamer. It also marked the first time since 1995 that Tech did not score an offensive touchdown. The Panthers defense limited the Hokies to 151 total yards, including just 15 yards rushing. The Hokies offense is led by junior quarterback Grant Noel, who has completed 119 of 201 passes for 1,421 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions. Virginia Tech leads the Big East in both rushing defense (71.4 YPG) and total defense (215.9 YPG).
Temple University will help the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank kick off its annual Holiday Food Drive by collecting cans of foods from fans attending Saturday's game. Director of Athletics Dave O'Brien urged fans to get into the holiday spirit by bringing at least one can of food for the food bank to the game. Receptacles for the food will be positioned at entry gates to the stadium.
"In these troubled times, we need to do all that we can to draw together as a nation," O'Brien said. "Making sure that the less fortunate share in America's bounty is a wonderful way to begin the holiday season."
