Temple University Athletics
OWLS TAKE FLIGHT FOR THE GRAND CANYON STATE TO MEET #18/20 SUN DEVILS IN FOOTBALL SEASON OPENER THURSDAY EVENING
8.28.05 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Temple opens its 107th season of collegiate football Thursday evening in Tempe, Ariz. when the Owls line up for a 7:00 p.m. local kickoff versus Arizona State. The Sun Devils are ranked No 18 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll and No 20 in the Associated Press poll. Temple head coach Bobby Wallace is in his 8th season directing the Owls, who employ a multiple offense and a 4-2-5 defense. ASU is under the leadership of 5th-year head coach Dirk Koetter and utilizes both a multiple offense and defense. The game is being broadcast on Fox Sports Net Arizona with Trey Bender calling the action and Danny White providing the commentary. FSN Arizona is available to Temple fans in the Delaware Valley who have the requisite cable or satellite package. The game is the first of eight contests to be televised live this season, the second most in program history and the most since 2000 (10).
Temple is coming off a 2-9 2004 mark, which included 1-5 Big East record in its final season as a league member. On May 17, Temple President David Adamany announced that the University accepted an invitation for its football program to compete in the Mid-American Conference. The Owls will play as an affiliate member in 2005 and 2006, playing four and six league games respectively, before gaining full membership in 2007. The Owls also gain immediate access to the conference's two bowl affiliations and television agreements. Temple returns seven starters (three offense, four defense) among 38 letterwinners (16 offense, 17 defense, 5 specialists). Twenty-seven seniors are listed on the latest depth chart, including 14 projected starters.
Fifth-year senior QB Mike McGann leads Temple's re-worked offense under new offensive coordinator Willie Slater. McGann ranks third all-time at Temple in career passing yards (4,498), second in attempts (790), third in completions (390), fifth in total offense (4,639) and eighth in TD passes (22). Defensively, senior DT Antwon Burton returns to anchor the middle after missing the entire 2004 campaign with a broken foot. He is joined on the line by 2004 second team All-Big East DE Mike Mendenhall and senior returning starters Rodney Wormley (DE) and Adam Fichter (DT).
Arizona State posted an 9-3 overall mark in 2004, including a 5-3 record in Pac 10 play. ASU defeated Purdue 27-23 in the Sun Bowl. The Sun Devils return 15 starters (nine offense, six defense) among 49 letterwinners (27 offense, 19 defense, three specialists). ASU ranked fifth nationally in passing offense (317.33 ypg.) in 2004 and returns Playboy preseason All-American WR Derek Hagan, who has had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including 83 grabs for 1,248 yards and 10 TDs last year.
Thursday evening's game marks the first time that Temple football will play in the Grand Canyon State. The Owls are looking to snap a 21-game losing steak against nationally-ranked opponents. Temple's last victory over a ranked club was a 28-24 upset of No. 10/14 Virginia Tech 1998. The Owls are also looking to snap an eight game road losing streak.
