TEMPLE SET TO BEGIN SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE

PHILADELPHIA - The Temple University football program, under the direction of eighth-year head coach Bobby Wallace, enters spring drills with 11 returning starters (5 offense, 6 defense) among 49 letterwinners (20 offense, 24 defense, 5 special teams). In total, 27 players with starting experience return to North Broad Street. The Owls begin spring practice on Saturday, March 19 and will conduct 15 sessions over a span of 29 consecutive days, concluding with the annual Cherry & White spring game on Saturday, April 16. As per NCAA regulations, 12 of the practices will involve contact and eight will include tackling.

"Among the goals we intend to accomplish this spring is to improve the overall chemistry of the team and to instill sound fundamentals," said Wallace. "I am very optimistic in looking at the depth chart. We have more experience coming back than any year since I have been coaching here."

The Owls have an ambitious independent schedule in 2005 after completing a 2004 slate that ranked as the ninth toughest in Division I-A according to the NCAA at the conclusion of the regular season, based upon the 57-38 (.600) cumulative record of Temple's opponents. Final NCAA rankings rated the Owls' schedule the 16th toughest in major football (60-43, .583). Six of 11 opponents were nationally-ranked at some point during the season and 10 were at least in the "receiving votes" category. Eight opponents concluded their 2004 campaigns by playing in bowl games.

Wallace, who earned his 100th career head coaching victory last season, had to make numerous adjustments to account for an abundance of student-athletes lost or injured in 2004. Eight players, including five starters, from the team's preseason depth chart in the media guide were unavailable for the entire season due to injury, personal, or academic reasons. In addition, 11 players from the team's spring depth chart were out for the season, while three others were limited to playing time in just one contest. Fifteen players that earned starts during the 2004 campaign also missed playing time due to injury.

"Last season we had to overcome a lot of adversity and I think we are a stronger team because of it," added Wallace. "We are very excited to get started this spring so that we can continue the process of becoming the team we are capable of becoming in 2005."

OFFENSE

The Temple offense will feature a new coordinator and two new position coaches. Willie Slater, the Owls' wide receivers coach last season, was elevated to offensive coordinator. He has 27 season of coaching experience, including 23 years at the collegiate level, 15 of which were spent as an offensive coordinator. Last season, Temple passed for 2,428 yards, the fourth most in program history, largely due to the production of Slater's receiving corps.

"Willie has knowledge of our current system and possesses many years of experience and perspective as an offensive coordinator," said Wallace. "He directed our offense when we won three national championships at North Alabama and I trust in his ability to engineer a successful offense with the elements we have in place here at Temple."

Fifth-year senior Mike McGann will be at quarterback. The Havertown, Pa. native has played in 29 games and made 26 starts in Cherry & White. He ranks third in passing yards (4,498) and fifth in total offense (4,639) in the Temple career record books. McGann, who started as a true freshman in 2001, will offer Temple fans a different look than Walter Washington, the nation's leading scoring quarterback and Second Team All-Big East selection in 2004. Washington decided to forgo his senior season and make himself eligible for the NFL Draft.

"Our offense will not be drastically different, it can't be," said Wallace. "Mike has been here too long. We are too much of an experienced offensive team to uproot and change everything. The terminology needs to stay pretty much the same. There will be some things that we emphasize differently. But we probably would have done that whether we changed coordinators or not just because of the difference in the type of quarterback that we have.

"Mike is an excellent leader and that is going to be a big plus for us. The base offense will be geared around what he does best. Even though Mike was not the starter last year, he put in the time as though he was. I am certain from a mental and maturity standpoint, he is pointed toward a great year. He has all the physical talent in the world. He could see things last season on the sideline that he never really had the experience to witness as a freshman, being that we started him in the fourth game. I think he gained insight last season that should pay off this year."

Slot receiver Mike Holley and punter Jake Hendy will also take snaps under center in the spring. Two February signees arrive in the fall to provide depth.

McGann will be operating behind a large and talented offensive line that boasts four returning starters in seniors John Gross and Stephen Bell and juniors Elliot Seifert and Tariq Sanders. The group will be under the leadership of Paul Lounsberry, a 32-year coaching veteran that most recently was an assistant under Lou Holtz at South Carolina from 2000 to 2004. The only position not returning a starter is center. Redshirt freshman Alex Derenthal and junior Leigh Denman will be given the opportunity to earn the job in the spring. Gross will also take snaps at the position.

The tackle positions will be manned by Gross, a versatile lineman that has played both guard and tackle while starting 23 consecutive games, and Seifert on the left and right side, respectively. Junior Tariq Sanders, who started eight games at tackle in 2004, will likely be sidelined for the spring. Junior Larry Bonczar and redshirt freshman Jabari Ferguson will compete for time at tackle. Inside, Bell returns at right guard after starting all 11 games at the position last season. Second-year junior Sam McNaulty tops the depth chart at left guard, but will be pushed by second-year senior Stan Primus, who lettered at defensive tackle last season. Additional competition on the interior line will be provided by senior Yohance Perry and Joe Johnsonbaugh, who is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility due to past medical hardship.

The Temple backfield features two experienced performers with distinctive styles in seniors Tim Brown and Umar Ferguson. Brown, a shifty runner in the Barry Sanders mold, started 10 games last year, carrying 108 times for 432 yards and two touchdowns. Ferguson, a physical back who employs more of a North-South style, played in all 11 games (one start) in 2004 and rushed 104 times for 493 yards and two scores. Both also proved valuable in the passing game, with Brown making 33 catches for 199 yards (one touchdown) and Ferguson grabbing 15 aerials for 119 yards.

"We want to be more physical up front so we can run the ball better with our running backs," said Wallace. "Last year, we ran the ball well but Walter carried a big load. Timmy and Umar have both been starters and had good yards-per-carry averages, so we'll do some things this spring to increase the production from both of them."

Senior Michael Billops, who rushed for 58 yards on 11 carries last year, will provide depth.

The Temple receiving corps consists of two outside receivers, denoted as "X" and "Z," and a slot receiver called the "Y." The tight end, referred to as the "H," is also considered a receiver on the team's depth chart. The unit will be under the direction of first-year coach Dennis Goldman, who most recently served as wide receivers coach at Syracuse.

 "We lost two starters outside and one of our starting slot guys," said Wallace. "Getting Mike Holley back will definitely help, but it will definitely be one of our most inexperienced groups. We'll try multiple combinations as we go through the spring in order to determine the most productive arrangement."

The Owls must replace three starting seniors from 2004 in outside receivers Phil Goodman and Buchie Ibeh and slot receiver Ikey Chuku. Goodman grabbed a team-high 47 passes for 677 yards and five touchdowns, Chuku caught 31 aerials for 464 yards and three scores and Ibeh grabbed 22 passes for 337 yards and one touchdown. Collectively, the trio compiled 1,478 yards and nine scores through the air.

Jamel Harris, the team's most experienced receiver with 20 games in the slot under his belt, will move outside to the Z in the spring. The junior caught 17 passes for 217 yards last year. He will be paired on the outside with sophomore Travis Shelton, who made four grabs for 77 yards and a score as a true freshman in 2004.

"Travis may give us the most speed we have had at outside receiver since I have been here," said Wallace. He is a real sprinter and that could really help our offense if we can get him going."

Additional options on the outside in the spring will come in the form of juniors Michael Loveland and Bruce Gordon. Loveland, a local product from Langhorne, Pa., walked-on to the program in 2003 and earned starts versus Rutgers and West Virginia last year. Gordon will see his first action in Cherry & White this spring after transferring from Purdue. He was a first team junior college All-American at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College in 2003.

Seniors Brian Allbrooks and Holley will compete in the slot. Allbrooks played in 10 games last season (four starts) as a first-year junior and made 20 catches for 220 yards. Holley, a starting cornerback in 2003, was slated to play a key role in the receiving corps last year before being ruled ineligible. Senior William Bradley and second-year junior Lester Shelton will provide additional competition in the slot.

Senior Anthony Martinez returns at tight end (H) after missing the entire 2004 season with a knee injury. Christian Dunbar, who is expected to complete the necessary coursework to attain an additional season of eligibility in 2005, will move to linebacker in the spring after starting 10 games and catching four passes for 67 yards at tight end last year. Redshirt freshman Leyon Azubuike will also compete for playing time.

DEFENSE

Under the direction of eighth-year defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Raymond Monica, the defense will be looking to return to the top 20 status it enjoyed in both 2001 and 2002. Last season, the Owls endured a multitude of injuries on the defensive side of the ball and struggled to rank 107th in total defense, allowing 439.27 yards per game. Marked improvement was shown at season's end, however, as persistence turned into experience and positive results.

 "I hope the strength of our defense will be what, at times, was the weakness of our defense last year," said Wallace. "The reason I think we struggled so much was the defensive front and secondary. If you look back to the years when we were among the top 20 nationally in defense, we were very solid up front and in the defensive backfield. When you are unable to stop the run up front and apply pressure on the quarterback, it puts a lot of pressure on the secondary. When you are also inexperienced in the secondary, it is a terrible combination. This year could be just the opposite. We are going to be a lot better up front and I anticipate that to be the strength of this team."

Seniors Mike Mendenhall, a 2004 Second Team All-Big East honoree, and Rodney Wormley return at defensive end. Mendenhall has made 17 consecutive starts and compiled 41 tackles, nine tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks last season at rush end. Wormley started all nine games he played last season and made 25 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and one sack. Second year sophomore Philip Simpson, who played in eight games as a true freshman last season, and second-year senior JC Braker, who missed the 2004 campaign due to injury, will also see action at defensive end.

The interior defensive front will be bolstered by the return of senior all-star candidate Antwon Burton, who missed the entire 2004 season after suffering a broken foot in the first day of preseason practice. Burton will be paired at defense tackle with senior Adam Fichter, who has 14 career starts, including nine last season, to his credit. Fichter made 30 stops, 3.0 TFLs, two forced fumbles and a sack in 2004. Third-year senior Randy Johnson, who played in all 11 games and made two starts last year, will also see significant time on the interior. Second-year junior Neil Dickson and redshirt freshmen Dwavon Battle and Sean Satchell will compete for playing time.

The Temple linebacker corps is faced with replacing a pair of three-year starters in Rian "Goo" Wallace, a two time All-Big East selection, and Troy Bennett, the team's 2004 defensive MVP. Wallace decided to forgo his senior season in 2005 after making a team-best 101 total tackles at WLB to rank second in the Big East and 18th nationally in stops in 2004. Bennett made 95 tackles and 8.5 TFLs at SLB last season.

Senior Manuel Tapia and junior Ryan Gore enter the spring atop the depth chart at will and sam linebacker, respectively. Tapia has played in 29 career games (one start) and Gore, a Philadelphia native, has played in 23 career contests (one start). Senior Christian Dunbar, who played in all 11 games at tight end last season and made 10 starts, will move to linebacker in the spring. Dunbar is expected to complete the necessary coursework to regain another season of eligibility in 2005. He will compete at SLB with sophomore Vince Yasenchak, who missed the entire 2004 campaign with a knee injury after playing five games as a true freshman. Competition on the weak side will come in the form of redshirt freshman Rick Costa, a local product from nearby Moorestown, N.J.

"Rick has an unlimited amount of talent," said Wallace. "He has the potential to develop into an outstanding player for us."

Temple's outside safety positions, the strong safety and owl safety, must find replacements for a pair of two-year starters with the departures of Lawrence Wade and Sadeke Konte. Seniors Bobby Fulmore and Justin Johnson, both junior college transfers entering their third seasons in Owl Country, begin the spring penciled in as starters. Fulmore played in all 11 games and Johnson saw time in 10 contests last season. Competition at the outside safety positions will come from seniors Andrew Smith and Lambert Watts and sophomore Matt Powell.

The Temple secondary, comprised of the cornerbacks and free safety position, persevered through a difficult 2004 and showed marked progress at season's end. Of the six players listed on the spring, 2004 depth chart in the defensive backfield, three were not with the team for the regular season. In addition, starting cornerback Ray Lamb suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the spring game on April 24. Lamb, who underwent surgery on May 20 after swelling in the injured knee subsided, came back to play in six games.

Free safety Durrel Davis was the most productive member of the secondary in 2004, making 77 tackles despite playing with a shoulder injury the entire season. The third-year junior will receive competition from sophomore Willie Hardemon, who played in seven games as a true freshman last season, and mid-year junior college transfer Garrett Schultz.

Lamb and second-year senior Andrew Turner enter the spring atop the depth chart at right and left cornerback, respectively. Lamb started six games and Turner started seven last season. The duo was paired together in the starting lineup for the final three games of the 2004 campaign. The Owls entered those final three contests allowing 255.6 passing yards. Temple permitted an average of 227.3 passing yards in its final three games, which included a victory over Syracuse and hard-fought losses to nationally-ranked West Virginia and Boston College.

Second-year senior Jermaine Hargraves and junior David Reese also return at cornerback and both started four games last year. They help comprise a deep and talented cornerback pool that also features returning letterwinners in senior Delonne Wilbourn and junior Darren Sinclair.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Temple did not lose a single letterwinner on special teams, in terms of the kicking game, from 2004. The Owls return a pair of experienced kickers in second-year senior Ryan Lux and sophomore Danny Murphy, as well as veteran punters in fifth-year senior Mike McLaughlin and second-year senior Jake Hendy. Second-year senior Jacob Simon returns to perform long snapping duties.

Lux made nine of 17 field goal attempts with a long of 41 yards. McLaughlin punted 34 times for a 36.5 average, including seven fair catches and six inside the 20. Hendy had 28 punts for a 37.1 average, including two fair catches and eight inside the 20-yard line.

"The kicking game has to improve," said Wallace. "We are better than how we performed last year. We have high character people in that area. I expect us to do much better, given a year's experience, both kicking and punting the ball this spring."

The Owls lose both their primary punt and kick returner from last season in Phil Goodman (10 punt returns, 10.3 avg.) and Jamil Porter (32 KORs, 21.5 avg.). Brown, who returned five punts last season, and Holley will show their skills at punt returner in the spring. Speedster Travis Shelton, who returned 13 kicks for a 20.4 average last year, is poised to assume kickoff return duties. Brown returned three kickoffs for a 19.3 average in 2004 and will be given the opportunity to expand his playing time on the unit.

Temple University Athletics

TEMPLE SET TO BEGIN SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE

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