Temple University Athletics
Temple Football Hosts #25 Penn State at Noon on Saturday
11.5.07 | Football
Nov. 5, 2007
Gameday Advisory in PDF Format
Complete Gamenotes in PDF Format 
THIS WEEK
Under the direction of second-year head coach Al Golden, Temple hosts No. 25 Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 10. Kickoff is set for Noon at Lincoln Financial Field.
ESPNU will televise the game nationally with Clay Matvick on play-by-play duties and Larry Coker on color commentary.
The Owls' radio broadcast will air on The Big Talker, WPHT 1210 AM, with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis. Live gametracker stats and live audio streaming will be available on the Temple Athletics website at www.owlsports.com.
The meeting marks the second contest of a seven-game series between Temple and Penn State, with five games scheduled at Beaver Stadium (Nov. 11, 2006; Sept. 20, 2008; Sept. 19, 2009; Oct. 9, 2010; Sept. 15, 2012) and two games slated for Lincoln Financial Field (Nov. 10, 2007; Sept. 17, 2011).
Saturday's game also marks the first meeting between Golden (Penn State `91) and his mentor Joe Paterno, who is in his 42nd season as head coach at Penn State. Last season in Happy Valley, first-year head coach Golden led his 1-9 Owl team into his old stomping grounds of Beaver Stadium. However, Paterno did not coach the game. At Wisconsin the week before, Paterno suffered a broken leg and missed the date with the Owls, marking only the third game he has missed in his 58 years at PSU.  The Nittany Lions were coached in that game by coordinators Tom Bradley and Galen Hall.
Under Paterno, the Nittany Lions stand 7-3 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play. PSU defeated Purdue, 26-19, last Saturday on Senior Day at Beaver Stadium in front of 108,318. Senior All-American LB Dan Connor became the school's all-time tackles leader. Senior QB Anthony Morelli finished with 210 yards passing to give him 2,060 for this season. He is the first Penn State quarterback to have at least 2,000 yards passing in multiple seasons.
Temple employs a multiple offense and a 4-3 defense. Penn State utilize a multiple offense and defense. Penn State ranks nationally in several defensive categories. PSU leads the nation in sacks with 4.0 per game and stands fourth in punting (39.67 net yards) and ninth in rushing defense (allowing just 90.6 yards per game). Temple leads the Mid-American Conference in pass defense (197.0 yards per game), total defense (370.9 yards per game), least opponent third down conversions (32.5 pct.), and red zone defense (71.4 pct.).
Temple has been enjoying the sweet taste of success lately, winning three of its last four games. On Friday, Nov. 2, the Owls dropped a 23-7 decision at Ohio. Prior to that, TU had won three consecutive MAC games, marking the first time since 1990 that the Owls had posted three consecutive wins in one season and the first three consecutive victories in conference play in 40 years when the Cherry and White played in the old MAC (Middle Atlantic Conference).
With 43 freshmen on its roster, PSU returns 33 lettermen from last season, including 14 starters. Only 16 freshmen are on the depth chart, including kickers, but none are listed as starters.
Conversely, Temple sports a very youthful roster. Temple has played 25 freshmen this season, including the nation's most true freshmen (20). In two of its last three games, TU has started a season-high seven freshmen.
TEMPLE-PENN STATE CONNECTIONS
Coaching Staff Connections:
It's not a secret that Temple head coach Al Golden is a Penn State graduate. He is one of three Temple coaches that played at Penn State . Earning a degree in pre-law in 1991, Golden played TE from 1987-81 and won the team's 1991 Ridge Riley Award. Golden also served as the Nittany Lions' LB coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2000 season, working with seven current members on the PSU coaching staff-- Joe Paterno, Dick Anderson, Tom Bradley, Larry Johnson, Bill Kenney, Mike McQueary, and Jay Paterno. As a coach, Golden stands 1-2 against his alma mater, including two games as the defensive coordinator at Virginia.
Defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio (Penn State `92) played LB from 1988-91. He and Golden were team captains together during their senior season. D'Onofrio, who earned his degree in labor and industrial relations, led the team in sacks in 1989 as a sophomore and in tackles in 1990 as a junior.
Al Golden and Mark D'Onofrio were teammates with current PSU quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, all lettering for the Nittany Lions in 1989.
Quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator Matt Rhule (Penn State `97) is a State College native. He played LB from 1994-97. A three-time Penn State Scholar-Athlete, he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1997. Rhule earned his degree in political science. Rhule and PSU wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Mike McQueary, who quarterbacked the Blue and White, attended State College Area HS together. Jay Paterno is also a State College Area HS alum.
PSU assistant coaches Dick Anderson, Tom Bradley, and Bill Kenney were all assistants during the playing careers of Golden, D'Onofrio, and Rhule. PSU assistants Larry Johnson and Jay Paterno were members of the coaching staff that instructed Rhule.
Player Connections:
Temple junior DB George Coleman, redshirt freshmen RB Jarred and WR Jason Kinney, and Penn State junior K Kevin Kelly and redshirt freshman DT Tom McEowen are graduates of Neshaminy HS in Langhorne, Pa., playing together under head coach Mark Schmidt. As seniors, Coleman and Kelly led Neshaminy to the state 4A title game. Coleman earned first-team AP All-State honors as a specialist, and Kelly captured first-team AP accolades at PK.
Temple sophomore WR Dy'Onne Crudup and Penn State redshirt sophomore CB Willie Harriott are both graduates of Hyde Leadership School in New Haven, Conn., playing together and leading the squad to the Class S state title under head coach John Acquavita.
Temple redshirt sophomore PK Jake Brownell and Penn State junior S Anthony Scirrotto are both graduates of West Deptford (N.J.) HS, playing together under head coach Clyde Folsom. The duo helped West Deptford to three consecutive Group II state titles and consecutive undefeated seasons.
Temple redshirt sophomore OT Devin Tyler and Penn State sophomore LB Navorro Bowman are both graduates of Suitland (Md.) HS, playing together under head coach Nick Lynch. The twosome helped Suitland to a 13-1 record in 2004 and the state 4A title.
Additional Connections:
Before transferring to Temple where he won the 1974 Maxwell Award as college football's Player of the Year, Temple radio color commentator Steve Joachim earned a letter as QB at Penn State under Joe Paterno in 1971.
Sports media relations associate director Cathy Bongiovi (Penn State 1987) earned a degree in journalism. She previously worked at her alma mater for four years (1997-2001), advancing to the 2000 women's basketball Final Four with the Lady Lions. Following six seasons at Virginia, Bongiovi joined the Temple staff this fall. She is one of five women nationally who serve as the main contact for a bowl subdivision team.
TEMPLE-PENN STATE-- THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the 37th meeting between the Owls and the Nittany Lions, tying the second-longest series in Temple school history. TU has met only one other opponent more often-- Bucknell (44)-- and has also played Boston College 37 times.
Since the teams' first meeting in 1931, the Nittany Lions lead the series, 32-3-1. Under Paterno (since 1975), the Lions are a perfect 23-0 against the Owls.
Temple has not beaten Penn State since a 14-0 victory on Oct. 18, 1941. The teams tied 7-7 in 1950. The Owls lost by one point in both 1975 and 1976. On. Sept. 6, 1986, the Temple-Penn State game was the first-ever night game played at Beaver Stadium. The Owls and Nittany Lions have also played at twice at historic Franklin Field (1975, 1994) and met in Giants Stadium in 1996.
Last season at Beaver Stadium, Penn State blanked Temple, 47-0. Senior RB Tony Hunt rushed for a career-high 167 yards and scored four touchdowns, while senior All-America LB Paul Posluszny led the defense.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Penn State:    3-32-1 Temple in games at Temple:      3-10 Temple in games at Penn State: 0-19-1 Temple in games at a neutral site: 0-3 First meeting in series: 1931 at Temple Stadium, W, 12-0 Last meeting in series: 2006 at Beaver Stadium, L, 0-47SERIES HIGHS
Temple Owls
Rushing: Paul Palmer, 30-206, 2 TDs (1985) Passing: Henry Burris, 24-42-323, 2 TDs (1994) Receiving: Pete Righi, 7-100 (1975)Penn State Nittany Lions
Rushing:   Blair Thomas, 24-167, 2 TDs (1987) Passing:  Kerry Collins, 12-19-286, 3 TDs (1994) Receiving:  Terry Smith, 8-144, 1 TD (1991)
CROWD RECORD WATCH
Last fall at Beaver Stadium, the crowd of 105,950 fans was the largest crowd to ever watch a Temple football game. On Saturday, the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field is expected to set Temple's all-time home attendance record. (see page 15 for complete list)
BE WISE FOR THE CURE
The Temple Athletic Department sold Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirts and donated a portion of the ticket proceeds from the Miami (OH) game during the month of October. The money raised during the month of October will be presented in the form of a check to "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" at Saturday's game with Penn State.
