Temple University Athletics
Temple Opens MAC Play at Buffalo
9.8.08 | Football
Sept. 8, 2008
Complete Gamenotes in PDF Format 
THIS WEEK
Temple opens its second season of Mid-American play at Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for Noon at UB Stadium. The game will be televised regionally and shown by ESPN Plus (locally on myPHL17) with Michael Reghi handling play-by-play duties and Doug Chapman on color commentary. ESPN360.com will also televise the game nationally.
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 stands 1-1 overall. The Owls opened with a 35-7 win at Army and dropped a 12-9 overtime decision to Connecticut at home last week. Returning 20 seniors and 26 juniors, Temple returns 21 starters this season and the top defense in the MAC. Senior WR Travis Shelton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is the Owls' top receiver with six catches for 87 yards. Sophomore RB Marquise Liverpool (Ramsey, N.J.) leads the Owl rushers with 78 yards on 25 carries. Redshirt senior QB Adam DiMichele (McKees Rocks, Pa.) conducts the offense, going 26-of-50 for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB Alex Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) has 21 tackles, including nine solos, in two games.
Temple ranks in the Top 5 nationally in three categories. The Owls are No. 1 in kickoff returns (43.25), No. 3 in pass defense (80.00), and No. 4 in pass efficiency defense (68.71). TU also ranks No. 25 in punt returns (16.00).
The Owls will utilize their East Coast offense and 4-3 defense when they travel to Buffalo for the MAC opener. Under the guidance of third-year head coach Turner Hill, the Bulls also sport a 1-1 overall record after a 42-17 win over Texas-El Paso and a 27-16 loss at Pittsburgh. Buffalo returns 18 starters to its multiple offense and 4-3 defense. Junior RB James Starks is the Bulls' leading rusher with 276 yards on 51 carries. Senior QB Drew Willy, last week's MAC Offensive Player of the Week, is 31-of-50 for 444 yards and five touchdowns in two contests. Junior WR Naaman Roosevelt is the top receiver with 219 yards on 10 receptions and two touchdowns.
This is the 13th time Temple and Buffalo have met on the gridiron. In the 2006 season opener, Buffalo claimed a 9-3 overtime win at home during the coaching debuts for Golden and Gill.
COMMON TIES
Prior to joining the Owls, Temple assistant coaches Matt Rhule (offensive coordinator) and Andrew Dees (offensive line) were assistants at Buffalo. Rhule served as the assistant defensive line coach in 1999 and as the defensive line coach in 2000. Dees coached the tight ends from 2001-05.
Temple junior OT Marcus Brown and UB junior Kendric Hawkins hail from Upper Marlboro, The duo, along with TU redshirt freshman QB Chester Stewart (Hanover, Md.) and UB senior WR Jamal Chisam (Glendale, MD.), played their high school ball at DeMatha Catholic.
Other prep teammates reuniting this weekend will be Temple's freshmen OL Sean and Pat Boyle (Towson, Md.) and UB's juniors DB Mike Newton (Pasadena, Md.) and DL Dane Robinson (Baltimore, Md.) who played at Calvert Hall HS.
Buffalo's athletics communications director Jon Fuller is a 1995 Temple graduate.
AGAINST THE HOME STATE
Overall, Temple has nine players­ from the state of New York, all hailing from the New York City and Long Island areas. Conversely, Buffalo has eight players from Pennsylvania, with only junior OL Jordan Jerrold (Fairless Hills / Pennsbury HS) from the Philadelphia suburban area.
TEMPLE-BUFFALO: THE SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 13th meeting between the Owls and Bulls and the second in MAC play. Buffalo holds an 11-1 advantage in the series which began in 1957. Last season in Philadelphia, the Bulls claimed a 42-7 win at Lincoln Financial Field in the Owls' Mid-American Conference debut.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Buffalo: 1-11 Temple in games at Temple: 0-6 Temple in games at Buffalo: 1-5 First meeting in series: 1957 at Temple Stadium; L, 13-6 Last meeting in series: 2007 at Lincoln Financial Field; L, 42-7 Temple's win: 1970 at Temple Stadium; W, 21-8SERIES HIGHS Temple Owls Rushing: Tim Brown, 20-82, 0 TD (2006) Passing: John Waller, 35-62-440, 5 TDs (1968) Receiving: Jerry Loviglio, 14-209 (1968)
Buffalo Bulls Rushing: Mario Henry, 17-125, 1 TD (2007) Passing:  Drew Willy, 20-22-190, 2 TD (2007) Receiving: Terrance Breaux, 3-68, 0 TD (2006)
Year Site Results TU Coach UB Coach 1957 Temple Stadium L, 13-6 Peter P. Stevens Dick Offenhamer 1958 Rotary Field L, 54-6 Peter P. Stevens Dick Offenhamer 1959 Temple Stadium L, 28-14 Peter P. Stevens Dick Offenhamer 1960 Temple Stadium L, 21-12 George Makris Dick Offenhamer 1961 Rotary Field L, 30-3 George Makris Dick Offenhamer 1962 Temple Stadium L, 16-13 George Makris Dick Offenhamer 1967 Rotary Field L, 44-14 George Makris Doc Urich 1968 Temple Stadium L, 50-40 George Makris Doc Urich 1969 Rotary Field L, 33-0 George Makris Bob Deming 1970 Temple Stadium W, 21-8 Wayne Hardin Bob Deming 2006 UB Stadium L, 6-3 (ot) Al Golden Turner Gill 2007 Lincoln Financial Field L, 42-7 Al Golden Turner Gill
