Temple University Athletics
Owls To Open Inaugural MAC Season By Hosting Navy On Thursday Evening, August 30
2.26.07 | Football
Feb. 26, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics today announced that the Owls will host Navy on Thursday evening, August 30, in their 2007 football season opener. The contest is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start at Lincoln Financial Field.
"A Thursday evening game provides our fans the opportunity to kick-off the Labor Day weekend with some exciting Temple football action," said Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw. "Owls are nocturnal predators and we wanted to provide an environment most conducive to success in beginning our inaugural Mid-American Conference season."
After being an affiliate member of the MAC for the past two seasons, 2007 marks Temple's initial campaign as a full conference member. The Owls will play in the MAC East Division with Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Kent State, Miami and Ohio. Under the leadership of second-year head coach Al Golden, Temple will play eight league foes in 2007, including four at home, in what will be their 109th season of football.
The entire 2007 Temple football schedule, as well as season ticket information, will be released at a later date. To place an advanced ticket order for the Temple-Navy game, visit the ticket information page on the Temple athletics web site, www.owlsports.com.
The Owls and Midshipmen have met seven times on the gridiron dating back to 1988, with Temple holding a 4-3 advantage in the series. The Cherry & White will be looking to avenge season-ending losses to the Mids in Annapolis the past two seasons. The Owls opened their 2001 season against Navy on Thursday evening, August 30, at Franklin Field and defeated the visitors 45-26.
Temple begins spring practice on Monday, March 26, and will conclude the drills with the annual Cherry & White intra-squad scrimmage on Saturday, April 21, at the Ambler (Pa.) Sports Complex. Last season, the Owls played 22 true freshmen, the most in Division I-A. They competed against eight bowl teams, the third most in the nation, behind only national champion Florida (10) and Stanford (9), during the regular season. Temple, which has only two scholarship seniors on its 2007 roster, signed the highest rated recruiting class in the MAC according to Scout.com earlier this month.
