Temple University Athletics
Saturday, October 24
Toledo, Ohio
7:00 PM
Temple University
at
TOLEDO
DB Jaiquawn Jarrett
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Temple Travels to Toledo for MAC Clash
10.19.09 | Football, General
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at the Glass Bowl
THIS WEEK
Temple hits the road on Saturday, Oct. 24, visiting Toledo at 7 p.m. at the Glass Bowl. The teams meet for the first time in MAC play.
The Owls' radio broadcast will air on WPHT 1210 AM with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis. All-MACcess will carry live video streaming of the game.
Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Al Golden, Temple stands 4-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in MAC play. Last week, the Owls captured a 27-13 non-conference win over Army during Homecoming. TU opened play in the MAC at 3-0 for the first time ever and opened conference play with three wins for the first time since 1967. The 2009 squad, featuring Golden's first recruiting class as seniors, returns 21 starters to 17 positions. The Owls utilize an East Coast offense and 4-3 defense.
On the ground, freshman RB Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) leads the Owls with 554 yards and six touchdowns on 95 carries. R-junior QB Vaughn Charlton (Landenberg, Pa.) has thrown 74-of-140 for 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns. R-sophomore Joe Jones (Davie, Fla.) is the top receiver with 232 yards on 16 catches.
Nationally Temple ranks No. 18 in turnover margin (0.83), No. 21in kickoff returns (25.24), No. 25 in rushing defense (105.50), and No. 29 in sacks (2.67). Toledo ranks No. 9 in passing offense (310.57), No. 10 in total offense (458.29), No. 26 in sacks allowed (1.14), and No. 27 in passing efficiency (143.64).
Head coach Tim Beckman is in his first season at Toledo. The Rockets stand 4-3 on the season and 2-1 in MAC play after a 20-19 win over Northern Illinois. Toledo returns 18 starters to its spread offense and multiple defense.
Senior RB DaJuane Collins is the Rockets' leading rusher with 592 yards and six touchdowns on 90 carries. Senior QB Aaron Opelt is 132-of-220 for 1,784 yards and 14 touchdowns. Freshman WR Eric Page is the top receiver with 767 yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions.
TEMPLE-TOLEDO CONNECTIONS
Temple has no players from Ohio on its roster.
Toledo's roster has seven players from Pennsylvania, but only one hails from the Philadelphia metropolitan area— junior DL Alex Johnson (Lansdale,Pa. / North Penn HS).
TEMPLE-TOLEDO: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the ninth meeting between the Owls and the Rockets and their first in MAC play. In series action, Toledo leads Temple, 6-2.
In the teams' last meeting on Sept. 17, 2005, Toledo captured a 42-17 win at Lincoln Financial Field. The game was the Owls' first with a Mid-American Conference opponent since announcing they had joined the league. The Owls played as an affiliate member in 2005 and 2006 before gaining full membership in 2007.
Temple's first win in the series came in 1984. The Owls defeated the Rockets, 35-6, in the final Temple football game held at Atlantic City Convention Hall. The game featured eight-yard endzones due to space constraints.
Temple captured a 13-12 win at Toledo in the 1987 season opener.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Toledo: 2-6
Temple in games at Temple: 1-2
Temple in games at Toledo: 1-4
First meeting in series: 1961 at Temple Stadium; L, 15-14
Last meeting in series: 2005 at Lincoln Financial Field; L, 42-17
Year Site Results TU Coach Toledo Coach
1961 Temple Stadium L, 14-15 George Makris Clive H. Rush
1962 at Toledo L, 0-13 George Makris Clive H. Rush
1984 AC Convention Hall W, 35-6 Bruce Arians Dan Simrell
1987 at Toledo W, 13-12 Bruce Arians Dan Simrell
1998 at Toledo L, 12-24 Bobby Wallace Gary Pinkell
2001 Franklin Field L. 7-33 Bobby Wallace Tom Amstutz
2004 Glass Bowl L, 17-45 Bobby Wallace Tom Amstutz
2005 Lincoln Financial Field L, 17-42 Bobby Wallace Tom Amstutz
SERIES HIGHS
Temple Owls
Rushing: Paul Palmer, 27-148, 1 TD (1984)
Passing: Lee Saltz, 7-14-174, 2 TD (1984)
Receiving: Kenyatta Carter, 5-113 (1998)
Toledo Rockets
Rushing: David Rohrs, 29-115 (1987)
Passing: B. Gradkowski, 22-27-276, 2 TD (2004)
Receiving: Carl Ford, 4-112, 2 TD (2001)
COMEDY OR FOOTBALL
Comedian Bill Cosby lettered for the Owls in 1961, catching one touchdown pass.
The 1961 Owls lost a close one at Toledo, 15-14. The next year, Toledo shut out the Owls, 13-0, in a game that a young halfback named Bill Cosby missed.
Cosby did not want to miss the game, but as he explained to coach George Makris and Athletic Director Ernie Casale, he had his big break in show business coming up at Town Hall in Philadelphia on Friday, the night before the game. Cosby was to appear on the program with Peter, Paul & Mary and couldn't miss the opportunity.
Cosby begged to be able to fly to Toledo on Saturday in time for the game, but the coach and A.D. had to explain to him that it couldn't be done, and as painful as it might be, he would have to decide between being a football player or a comedian.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
HOOT TOOTS ... OWL NOTES & QUOTES
• Temple travels to the Glass Bowl for just the second time and the first time in MAC play.
• In its 12 games, Temple faces five teams— and four consecutively— with new head coaches [Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Army, Toledo, and Miami (OH)].
• Temple plays five games in October. The last time the Owls had five games in October came in 2005. TU has recorded 13 undefeated months of October (1979, 1978, 1974, 1973, 1963, 1953, 1951, 1945, 1941, 1935, 1932, 1931, 1928) in its history.
• Temple is 3-0 in the MAC for the first time since joining the conference in 2007.
• Temple has won five consecutive MAC games at home at Lincoln Financial Field.
• Since joining the MAC in 2007, the Owls own the league's best home record for MAC games at 8-2.
• Five of Temple's 2009 opponents went on to postseason play last fall— Ball State [MAC Championship game & GMAC Bowl], Buffalo [MAC Championship game & International Bowl], Navy [EagleBank Bowl], Penn State [Rose Bowl], and Villanova [NCAA quarterfinals].
• “There's a confidence right now even as there's ebb and flow in the game. There's a confidence on the sideline that we hadn't had before. To not lose in a month is a big deal.” — Al Golden following the win over Army
UP NEXT
Temple continues its only two-game road trip this fall. The Owls travel to Navy on Oct. 31 for a 3:30 p.m. game that will be televised live by CBS College Sports. TU returns home to Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, Nov. 5 to face Miami (Ohio) at 7:30 p.m.
Temple hits the road on Saturday, Oct. 24, visiting Toledo at 7 p.m. at the Glass Bowl. The teams meet for the first time in MAC play.
The Owls' radio broadcast will air on WPHT 1210 AM with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis. All-MACcess will carry live video streaming of the game.
Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Al Golden, Temple stands 4-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in MAC play. Last week, the Owls captured a 27-13 non-conference win over Army during Homecoming. TU opened play in the MAC at 3-0 for the first time ever and opened conference play with three wins for the first time since 1967. The 2009 squad, featuring Golden's first recruiting class as seniors, returns 21 starters to 17 positions. The Owls utilize an East Coast offense and 4-3 defense.
On the ground, freshman RB Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) leads the Owls with 554 yards and six touchdowns on 95 carries. R-junior QB Vaughn Charlton (Landenberg, Pa.) has thrown 74-of-140 for 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns. R-sophomore Joe Jones (Davie, Fla.) is the top receiver with 232 yards on 16 catches.
Nationally Temple ranks No. 18 in turnover margin (0.83), No. 21in kickoff returns (25.24), No. 25 in rushing defense (105.50), and No. 29 in sacks (2.67). Toledo ranks No. 9 in passing offense (310.57), No. 10 in total offense (458.29), No. 26 in sacks allowed (1.14), and No. 27 in passing efficiency (143.64).
Head coach Tim Beckman is in his first season at Toledo. The Rockets stand 4-3 on the season and 2-1 in MAC play after a 20-19 win over Northern Illinois. Toledo returns 18 starters to its spread offense and multiple defense.
Senior RB DaJuane Collins is the Rockets' leading rusher with 592 yards and six touchdowns on 90 carries. Senior QB Aaron Opelt is 132-of-220 for 1,784 yards and 14 touchdowns. Freshman WR Eric Page is the top receiver with 767 yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions.
TEMPLE-TOLEDO CONNECTIONS
Temple has no players from Ohio on its roster.
Toledo's roster has seven players from Pennsylvania, but only one hails from the Philadelphia metropolitan area— junior DL Alex Johnson (Lansdale,Pa. / North Penn HS).
TEMPLE-TOLEDO: THE SERIES
Saturday's game is the ninth meeting between the Owls and the Rockets and their first in MAC play. In series action, Toledo leads Temple, 6-2.
In the teams' last meeting on Sept. 17, 2005, Toledo captured a 42-17 win at Lincoln Financial Field. The game was the Owls' first with a Mid-American Conference opponent since announcing they had joined the league. The Owls played as an affiliate member in 2005 and 2006 before gaining full membership in 2007.
Temple's first win in the series came in 1984. The Owls defeated the Rockets, 35-6, in the final Temple football game held at Atlantic City Convention Hall. The game featured eight-yard endzones due to space constraints.
Temple captured a 13-12 win at Toledo in the 1987 season opener.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Toledo: 2-6
Temple in games at Temple: 1-2
Temple in games at Toledo: 1-4
First meeting in series: 1961 at Temple Stadium; L, 15-14
Last meeting in series: 2005 at Lincoln Financial Field; L, 42-17
Year Site Results TU Coach Toledo Coach
1961 Temple Stadium L, 14-15 George Makris Clive H. Rush
1962 at Toledo L, 0-13 George Makris Clive H. Rush
1984 AC Convention Hall W, 35-6 Bruce Arians Dan Simrell
1987 at Toledo W, 13-12 Bruce Arians Dan Simrell
1998 at Toledo L, 12-24 Bobby Wallace Gary Pinkell
2001 Franklin Field L. 7-33 Bobby Wallace Tom Amstutz
2004 Glass Bowl L, 17-45 Bobby Wallace Tom Amstutz
2005 Lincoln Financial Field L, 17-42 Bobby Wallace Tom Amstutz
SERIES HIGHS
Temple Owls
Rushing: Paul Palmer, 27-148, 1 TD (1984)
Passing: Lee Saltz, 7-14-174, 2 TD (1984)
Receiving: Kenyatta Carter, 5-113 (1998)
Toledo Rockets
Rushing: David Rohrs, 29-115 (1987)
Passing: B. Gradkowski, 22-27-276, 2 TD (2004)
Receiving: Carl Ford, 4-112, 2 TD (2001)
COMEDY OR FOOTBALL
Comedian Bill Cosby lettered for the Owls in 1961, catching one touchdown pass.
The 1961 Owls lost a close one at Toledo, 15-14. The next year, Toledo shut out the Owls, 13-0, in a game that a young halfback named Bill Cosby missed.
Cosby did not want to miss the game, but as he explained to coach George Makris and Athletic Director Ernie Casale, he had his big break in show business coming up at Town Hall in Philadelphia on Friday, the night before the game. Cosby was to appear on the program with Peter, Paul & Mary and couldn't miss the opportunity.
Cosby begged to be able to fly to Toledo on Saturday in time for the game, but the coach and A.D. had to explain to him that it couldn't be done, and as painful as it might be, he would have to decide between being a football player or a comedian.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
HOOT TOOTS ... OWL NOTES & QUOTES
• Temple travels to the Glass Bowl for just the second time and the first time in MAC play.
• In its 12 games, Temple faces five teams— and four consecutively— with new head coaches [Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Army, Toledo, and Miami (OH)].
• Temple plays five games in October. The last time the Owls had five games in October came in 2005. TU has recorded 13 undefeated months of October (1979, 1978, 1974, 1973, 1963, 1953, 1951, 1945, 1941, 1935, 1932, 1931, 1928) in its history.
• Temple is 3-0 in the MAC for the first time since joining the conference in 2007.
• Temple has won five consecutive MAC games at home at Lincoln Financial Field.
• Since joining the MAC in 2007, the Owls own the league's best home record for MAC games at 8-2.
• Five of Temple's 2009 opponents went on to postseason play last fall— Ball State [MAC Championship game & GMAC Bowl], Buffalo [MAC Championship game & International Bowl], Navy [EagleBank Bowl], Penn State [Rose Bowl], and Villanova [NCAA quarterfinals].
• “There's a confidence right now even as there's ebb and flow in the game. There's a confidence on the sideline that we hadn't had before. To not lose in a month is a big deal.” — Al Golden following the win over Army
UP NEXT
Temple continues its only two-game road trip this fall. The Owls travel to Navy on Oct. 31 for a 3:30 p.m. game that will be televised live by CBS College Sports. TU returns home to Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, Nov. 5 to face Miami (Ohio) at 7:30 p.m.
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