Temple University Athletics
Owls Host Central Michigan Saturday At Lincoln Financial Field In Annual Senior Day Contest
10.30.06 | Football
Oct. 30, 2006
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PHILADELPHIA - Temple, under the direction of first-year head coach Al Golden, hosts Central Michigan, under the leadership of third-year mentor Brian Kelly at Lincoln Financial Field Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in the Owls' annual senior day game. Temple employs a multiple offense and a 3-4 defense. Central Michigan utilizes a multiple offense and defense. Both of the teams' last outings resulted in home victories against Bowling Green. The game is the Owls' final home contest of the season and the last of six games against MAC opponents. The Cherry and White is in its second season as an affiliate MAC member and joins the league as a full football member in 2007.
Temple has played 21 true freshmen thus far this season, the most in Div. I-A, after LB Dave Chiavacci saw his first action last Saturday versus Bowling Green. Thirty-seven Owls have seen their first collegiate action this season, including five redshirt freshmen. In total, 68 different players have competed. Of those 68, 46 have two or more additional seasons of eligibility remaining after the 2006 campaign.
The game will not be televised. The radio broadcast will air on WPHT 1210 AM, with Harry Donahue handling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim serving as the analyst. Live radio audio, via Yahoo Sports, and live Gametracker stats are available on the Temple Athletics web site, www.owlsports.com. Live video with home audio can be viewed at www.mac-sports.com via the All-MACcess! package.
Temple (1-8) is coming off an emotional 28-14 win over Bowling Green (4-5, 3-2) at home last Saturday in the annual homecoming game presented by Verizon. The victory earned Temple runner-up for Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week honors behind Oregon State, which defeated No. 3 USC 33-31. The Owls snapped a 20-game game losing streak with a gutsy performance highlighted by a multitude of big plays to provide Golden his first victory at the helm. Redshirt sophomore QB Adam DiMichele threw TD passes of 43 and 45 yards to Travis Shelton and Bruce Francis, respectively, while completing an efficient 10 of 13 passes for 162 yards to help lead the win. Shelton, a redshirt sophomore, put on yet another electrifying performance playing in just his third game of the season after being redshirted in 2005. He opened the Temple scoring with his 43-yard grab before closing the scoring and sealing the win with a 96-yard kickoff return. The return tied for the longest in the modern era of Owl football (since 1971) with Paul Loughran's return against Boston University in 1971 and was Temple's first kick returned to pay dirt since Makonnen's Fenton's 94-yarder against UConn in 2002.Redshirt senior RB Tim Brown rushed for 104 yards on 21 carries for his third 100-plus yard performance in seven games this season. Brown, who also caught three passes for 37 yards, ranks 34 nationally in rushing with an 83.57 yards-per game average.
Redshirt senior LB Walter Mebane made a game and career-high 15 total tackles and forced a key fumble. He is one of five candidates for USA Today National Player of the Week, which will be announced this Tuesday. With the game tied, BGSU had a first and goal at the two-yard line after a pass interference call in the end zone. Falcon RB Chris Bullock, who finished with 182 yards and two scores, was met head-on by Mebane at the one-yard line and fumbled out of the back of the end zone for a touchback. Temple proceeded to go 80 yards on nine plays to take a 14-7 lead, an advantage it would never relinquish, with 4:52 remaining before the half.
Of all the highlight-reel plays, however, perhaps the biggest highlight belonged to true freshman LB Junior Galette. With the Owls in an early 7-0 hole, the home squad forced a punt at the BGSU 47. On the play, Galette scaled an opposing offensive lineman and with his foot on the player's chest, blocked punter Alonso Rojas' attempt. On the next play, DiMichele connected with Shelton on a flea-flicker to tie the game and provide Temple a momentum that it did not see fit to return to the visitors. Galette's punt block was ranked No. 2 on ESPN's college football plays of the week.
Central Michigan (5-3, 5-0) had a bye last weekend after defeating Bowling Green at home, 31-14, on Oct. 19. CMU freshman QB Dan LeFevour threw two fourth-quarter TD passes and the Chippewas blocked a field goal in the final stanza to earn the win. CMU ranks sixth nationally in net punting (39.79) and 24th in passing offense (244.75). Redshirt freshman WR Bryan Anderson ranks 22nd nationally in receptions per game (5.63). On defense, redshirt junior LB Red Keith ranks 10th nationally in total tackles, averaging 10.50 stops per contest.
Despite the fact that Temple has sponsored a football program since 1894 and Central Michigan has fielded a gridiron squad since 1896, Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting between the schools.
