Temple University Athletics
OWLS TO HOST WILDCATS IN INAUGURAL GAME AT LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD THIS SATURDAY
9.1.03 | Football
Saturday's game renews a rivalry between the Owls and Wildcats that existed for 72 years, from 1908 to 1980 and featured 28 meetings with Villanova holding a 14-12-2 advantage.
Temple is coming off a hard-fought 23-10 loss at Penn State last Saturday before the largest crowd ever to witness a Cherry & White athletic team play, as 101,553 fans filled Beaver Stadium. Senior Makonnen Fenton, making his first career start at RB, gained 118 yards and scored a TD on 23 carries. He was augmented by senior WR Zamir Cobb, who caught six passes for a career-high 105 yards. Defensively, junior Lawrence Wade, a former RB, had an eight yard sack and an interception with a 29-yard return to help limit PSU to 79 yards passing, all in the first half. Wade was one of nine Owls making their first collegiate starts. Seventeen saw their first Division I-A action, including 11 of TU's 18 first-year JUCO transfers.
Villanova, a member of the Division I-AA Atlantic 10 Conference, is coming off a 41-6 romp over Hampton at home last Thursday night. Sophomore QB Joe Casamento completed 24 of 30 passes for 252 yards and three TDs while Moe Gibson gained 129 yards on 13 rushes for one score. Hampton's offense was held to 132 total net yards while the Wildcats produced 520.
Prior to kickoff at Saturday's game, approximately 20 former Temple Football captains will grace the Lincoln Financial Field gridiron accompanied by their former mentor, Wayne Hardin. The introduction will highlight a reunion weekend in which more than 400 players, and their families, from the Hardin Era return to the nest. Hardin coached the Owls from 1970-82, capturing 80 victories (80-52-3) to become the school's winningest football coach.
