Temple University Athletics
Owls Tune Up For Music City Meeting With SEC-Member Vanderbilt
9.25.06 | Football
Sept. 25, 2006
PHILADELPHIA -
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Temple, under the direction of first-year head coach Al Golden, travels to Nashville to do battle with SEC Conference-member Vanderbilt, under the leadership of fifth-year head coach Bobby Johnson, this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern) at 39,790-seat Vanderbilt Stadium. Saturday night's game is the Owls' third straight on the road and fourth of five overall thus far way from home. Three of TU's initial four road contests are evening kick-offs. Temple employs a multiple offense and a 3-4 defense. Vanderbilt utilizes a multi-set offense and a 4-3 defense.
Temple has played 19 true freshmen thus far this season, the most in Division I-A. Through the first three games, 34 Owls have seen their first collegiate action, including five redshirt freshmen. In total, sixty-two different players have competed. Of those 62, 41 have two or more additional seasons of eligibility remaining after the 2006 campaign. Eight true freshmen are presently listed as starters on the Cherry & White depth chart.
Temple (0-4) is coming off a 41-7 defeat at Western Michigan (3-1) last Saturday evening. The game proved a defensive battle early, as the first 23 minutes and 11 seconds of the contest were scoreless. The Owls forced punts on the Broncos first five possessions. Temple was poised to enter the locker room at halftime down by just a TD, but a 44-yard FGA was blocked as the second quarter expired. WMU scooped up the blocked kick and raced to the end zone to take a 17-0 lead at intermission. WMU scored an additional 14 second half points off turnovers. The Owls had a season-high four lost miscues, including three in the second half. Temple scored its first TD of the season when true freshman RB Jason Harper rumbled into the end zone from 11 yards out to reduce the deficit to 17-7 with 10:53 remaining in the third quarter. Harper netted 84 yards on 14 carries (6.0 avg.), including 71 yards on 11 carries in the opening half.
Three true freshmen (QB Vaughn Charlton, LB John Haley and DB Wilbert Brinson) earned their first career starts in Kalamazoo. Eight true freshmen have started for the Owls this season
Vanderbilt (1-3) earned its first win of the season in a 38-9 defeat of I-AA Tennessee State (2-2) at home last Saturday in a game that was delayed 40 minutes due to inclement weather. Despite the soggy conditions, the Commodores developed a 31-9 lead as redshirt sophomore QB Chris Nickson tossed two scoring aerials, including a 33-yard strike to 2005 consensus ALL-SEC choice Earl Bennett. Prior to the TSU game, Vandy suffered two defeats of three points or less to SEC-foes, losing 13-10 at Alabama (Sept. 9) and 21-19 at home to Arkansas (Sept. 16). VU opened its season with a 27-7 loss at now No. 6-ranked Michigan.
Saturday evening's 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.
