Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE FOOTBALL OPENS 2004 CAMPAIGN AT HOME AGAINST NO. 16/20 VIRGINIA ON ESPN2
8.30.04 | Football
Temple, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Bobby Wallace, and No. 16 (AP)/20 (Coaches) Virginia, under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Al Groh, meet Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 as part of a split national telecast with Dave Ryan calling the action and John Congemi providing the color commentary. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:02 p.m. Despite the fact that Temple has sponsored collegiate football since 1894 and Virginia has fielded a gridiron squad since 1888, Saturday's game will mark the first football game between the Universities. The campuses are separated by a 255-mile, five-hour and four-minute drive from Charlottesville to Philadelphia.
Temple has won its last two season openers at home. The Owls utilize a spread offense and a 4-2-5 defense. Virginia operates a multiple pro-style offense and a multiple seven-man front defense.
Offensively, the Owls return six starters among 17 letterwinners. Junior Walter Washington (6-2, 240), who concluded the 2003 campaign by averaging 315 yards of total offense in the final three games against nationally-ranked opponents, will be under center for the Owls. The Daytona Beach, Fla. native bench-pressed 475-pounds in spring strength & conditioning testing and was named the Best Athlete in the Big East by Street & Smith's. Defensively, Temple returns eight starters among 29 letterwinners. Junior Rian "Goo" Wallace (6-4, 245), the nation's third-leading returning tackler, paces the group on the heels of First Team Preseason All-America accolades from CollegeFootballNews.com and Third Team All-America honors from both Athlon Sports and Street and Smith's.
Virginia returns 38 letterwinners (18 offense, 18 defense, 2 specialists) from a team that posted an 8-3 record and defeated Pittsburgh 23-16 in the Continental Tire Bowl. UVA boasts TE Heath Miller (6-5, 255), arguably the best TE in the nation, who caught 70 passes for 835 yards and six TDs in 2003. TB Wali Lundy (5-10, 214), a Willingboro, N.J. product, carries the ball for the Cavs and gained 929 yards on 227 carries for 10 scores last season. Big East teams are 10-7 against Virginia since 1991.
The Owls are looking to snap a 17-game losing streak against nationally-ranked opponents. Temple's last victory over a ranked club was a 28-24 upset of No. 10/14 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in 1998. It was Wallace's first victory at the Temple helm. A win over the Cavaliers would also give Wallace his 100th career head-coaching victory.
Temple has won its last two season openers at home. The Owls utilize a spread offense and a 4-2-5 defense. Virginia operates a multiple pro-style offense and a multiple seven-man front defense.
Offensively, the Owls return six starters among 17 letterwinners. Junior Walter Washington (6-2, 240), who concluded the 2003 campaign by averaging 315 yards of total offense in the final three games against nationally-ranked opponents, will be under center for the Owls. The Daytona Beach, Fla. native bench-pressed 475-pounds in spring strength & conditioning testing and was named the Best Athlete in the Big East by Street & Smith's. Defensively, Temple returns eight starters among 29 letterwinners. Junior Rian "Goo" Wallace (6-4, 245), the nation's third-leading returning tackler, paces the group on the heels of First Team Preseason All-America accolades from CollegeFootballNews.com and Third Team All-America honors from both Athlon Sports and Street and Smith's.
Virginia returns 38 letterwinners (18 offense, 18 defense, 2 specialists) from a team that posted an 8-3 record and defeated Pittsburgh 23-16 in the Continental Tire Bowl. UVA boasts TE Heath Miller (6-5, 255), arguably the best TE in the nation, who caught 70 passes for 835 yards and six TDs in 2003. TB Wali Lundy (5-10, 214), a Willingboro, N.J. product, carries the ball for the Cavs and gained 929 yards on 227 carries for 10 scores last season. Big East teams are 10-7 against Virginia since 1991.
The Owls are looking to snap a 17-game losing streak against nationally-ranked opponents. Temple's last victory over a ranked club was a 28-24 upset of No. 10/14 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg in 1998. It was Wallace's first victory at the Temple helm. A win over the Cavaliers would also give Wallace his 100th career head-coaching victory.
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