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PHILADELPHIA - Temple, under the direction of first-year head coach Al Golden, travels to Minneapolis, Minnesota to do battle with the Big Ten-member Golden Gophers, under the leadership of 10th-year head coach Glen Mason, this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) at the 64,172-seat Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The game is the second of five contests this season for the Cherry & White against BCS conference-member foes. The Owls employ a multiple offense and a 3-4 defense. Minnesota utilizes a multiple offense and a 4-3 defense. Temple has played 16 true freshmen thus far this season, the most in Division I-A.
The game will not be televised. Due to a conflict with the Philadelphia Phillies, the radio broadcast will air on WWDB 860 AM, with Harry Donahue handling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim serving as the analyst. Live radio audio, via Yahoo Sports, from the game can be heard on the Temple Athletics web site, www.owlsports.com. Live stats can be viewed on the Minnesota web site, www.gophersports.com.
Temple (0-2) is coming off a 62-0 defeat to then No. 12/13-ranked Louville last Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls stopped Louisville on its first two possessions, forcing a punt and an interception, respectively. The Cardinals responded by scoring on their next 10 possessions en route to 671 yards of total offense. It marked the most total yards the Cherry & White has surrendered in program history, topping the 648 yards generated by Boston College in 2003. Redshirt freshman DB Dominique Harris, playing in just his second career-game, performed well for the home squad. He made a game-high 11 tackles (six solo), notched his first interception (20 yard return) and had one PBU.
Five true freshmen (OL Bryce Carter, WR Dy'Onne Crudup, WR Jarrett Dunston, TE Steve Maneri and OL Darius Morris) saw their first collegiate action against Louisville. In total, eight players competed in their first game against the Cardinals (redshirt freshman RB Nick McAllister, redshirt sophomore OL Marcos Hanna and redshirt sophomore OL Sean Satchell). Twenty-nine players have seen their first I-A action in the Owls' first two contests.
Minnesota is coming off a 42-17 loss at No. 22-ranked California last Saturday evening. After putting 44 points on the board in week one at Kent State, the Golden Gopher offense struggled to find its rhythm versus the Golden Bears and was out-gained in total yards, 531 to 352. Senior Bryan Cupito was 21 of 33 for 243 yards and senior TE Matt Spaeth made six catches for 91 yards to lead the UM offense. Sophomore Dominic Jones provided the Gophers' highlight of the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD in the second quarter.
After the second NCAA statistical report of the season, Temple ranks tied for 29th nationally in sacks per game (2.50 avg.). Minnesota ranks second in kickoff returns (42.00), tied for fourth in turnover margin (2.00), 16th in rushing offense (215.50) and tied for 17th in sacks (3.00).
Despite the fact that Temple has sponsored a football program since 1894 and Minnesota has fielded a gridiron squad since 1882, Saturday's contest will mark the first ever meeting between the schools.
