Temple University Athletics
Temple Hosts Connecticut in Home Opener
9.1.08 | Football
Sept. 1, 2008
THIS WEEK Temple opens its home slate with Connecticut on Saturday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for Noon at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU with Dave Armstrong handling play-by-play duties and Larry Coker on color commentary.
The Owls' radio broadcast will air on WPHT 1210 AM with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis. Live gametracker stats and audio streaming will be available on the Temple Athletics website at www.owlsports.com.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Al Golden, Temple opened its 2008 campaign with a 35-7 win at Army on August 29. The win was TU's first on opening day since 2002 and first road opener victory since 2000. The Owls held Army scoreless in the first half and to just seven points for the game, the least since 2004. Returning 20 seniors and 26 juniors, Temple played 15 freshmen in the win. The Owls are looking for their first home opening win since 2002.
The unbeaten Owls will utilize its East Coast offense and 4-3 defense when they host the UConn Huskies in the re-match of last year's controversial 22-17 defeat in Hartford. Under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Randy Edsall, the Huskies claimed a 35-3 home win over Hofstra last week to open the season . Connecticut returns 19 starters to its multiple offense and 4-3 defense. Against Hofstra, tailback Donald Brown rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns. Brown ranks 13th nationally in rushing.
Golden and Edsall have only met once in last year's game in Hartford. The coaching duo has taken similar paths along the coaching lines. Both served as defensive assistant coaches at Boston College, and both have coached at ACC schools; Golden at Virginia and Edsall at Georgia Tech.
In series action, Temple leads Connecticut, 7-3. Since UConn has moved into the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division IA), the Huskies lead in series action, 2-1. In the teams' last meeting on Sept. 15, 2007, UConn escaped with a 22-17 win at home.
COMMON TIES Temple head coach Al Golden is a graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, N.J., which is also the alma mater for UConn junior TB Donald Brown. Golden served as the school's offensive coordinator during the 1993 season before moving into the collegiate coaching ranks.
AGAINST THE HOME STATE Overall, Temple has eight players­-- QB Colin Clancy (Stonington); WR Dy'Onne Crudup (New Haven); LB Alex Joseph (Stamford); DE Elisha Joseph (Hartford); LB Elijah Joseph (Hartford); DT Terrance Knighton (Windsor); WR James Nixon (new Haven); DE Brian Sanford (Hartford);-- from the state of Connecticut, six of whom are listed on the depth chart.
TEMPLE-CONNECTICUT: THE SERIES Saturday's game will mark the 11th meeting between the Owls and Huskies. Temple holds a 7-3 advantage in the series which began in 1963. Last year at Rentschler Field, Connecticut escaped with a 22-17 win after a controversial ending. A 4th-and-11 pass from WR Dy'Onne Crudup (New Haven, Conn.) to WR Bruce Francis (Sicklerville, N.J.) with 40 seconds remaining was called incomplete and was not reversed on replay, thwarting Temple's upset bid of the host Huskies. Connecticut ran the clock out on the ensuing play to hold on for a 22-17 win.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Connecticut: 7-3
Temple in games at Temple: 4-0
Temple in games at Connecticut: 3-3
First meeting in series: 1963 at Temple Stadium; W, 9-7
Last meeting in series: 2007 at Rentschler Field; L, 22-17
SERIES HIGHS
Temple Owls
Rushing: Mac DeVito 13-18-202, 4 TD (2001)
Passing: W. Washington 21-44-276,2 TD (2004)
Receiving: Sean Dillard 9-148, 2 TD (2001)
Connecticut Huskies
Rushing: Rick Robustelli 17-39-281, 2 TD (1970)
Passing:  Terry Caulley 20-79, 1 TD (2002)
Receiving:  Keith Kraham 6-155, 1 TD (1970)
