Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE TAKES ITS BIG EAST-LEADING PASSING ATTACK TO THE VOLUNTEER STATE
9.29.03 | Football
Saturday's contest is the first gridiron meeting between Temple and MTSU. The game will also signify TU's first match-up with a Sun Belt affiliate, which began play as a Division I-A football league in 2001.
Temple leads the Big East and ranks 10th nationally with 309.0 passing yards per game as junior QB Mike McGann currently places 23rd individually with 264.3 yards of total offense per contest. Senior WR Zamir Cobb is eighth nationally in receiving, averaging 108.50 yards per game. Cobb is also tied for 12th in the country in receptions per game, averaging 7.25 grabs per contest. Defensively, sophomore LB Rian Wallace ranks ninth nationally in solo tackles (8.25) and tied for 26th nationally in both total tackles (11.50) and TFLs (1.50).
Temple is coming off a 21-12 loss at undefeated Louisville last Saturday. The Cardinals jumped out to a 21-0 first-half lead. The Owls closed the gap behind a successful passing attack, as McGann became just the second TU signal caller (Henry Burris) to throw for 300 yards in back-to-back games as he accumulated 304 yards on 24-of-45 passing. With the effort, McGann surpassed Tim Riordan (3,679, 1981-83), Doug Shobert (3,913, 1970-72), and Devin Scott (3,947, 1998-01) to move into third place in the Temple career annals with 3,976 passing yards. Walter Washington added nine passing attempts to generate 54 overall, tying the school record for passing attempts in a game originally set versus Syracuse in 1994. Senior WR Ikey Chuku, returning from two reconstructions on the same knee, had a career day, grabbing seven passes for 103 yards. It marked the fourth straight game the Owls had a receiver surpass the century mark.
MTSU is coming off a bye week after a 41-40 overtime loss at Missouri on Saturday, Sept. 20, the Blue Raiders third consecutive road defeat after losses at Georgia (10-29, Sept. 6) and Clemson (14-37, Sept. 13). MTSU averages 357.5 yards of total offense per game while its opponents have generated 423.2 yards of total offense per contest.
