Temple University Athletics
WR Jason Harper
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Jason Harper Blog: Dec. 7
12.7.09 | Football, Owl Bowl
Values for Life
Senior wide receiver Jason Harper (Budd Lake, N.J.) is concluding his career at Temple University. Over the next two weeks, members of the Senior Class will share their thoughts as their final season of wearing the Cherry & White winds down and they gear up for their first bowl appearance.
December 7, 2009
I can't believe my Temple football career is coming to an end with one game left. It seems like just yesterday I was on my visit. I look back at my career here at Temple, and boy, have we come so far from where we used to be. We used to be the laughing stock of the college football nation. We were ranked 120 out of 120. To give you a little perspective on how far we have come, I can remember my freshman year where we couldn't even score a touchdown until the fourth game of the season, and even that was in the fourth quarter where the game was already decided. Now here we are just three years later, averaging 30 points. It's just mind-boggling when you really sit down and think about how far this program has come.
William J.H. Boetcker once said, “The difficulties and struggles of today are but the price we must pay for the accomplishments and victories of tomorrow.”
The senior class has been through all the difficulties and struggles over these last three seasons. From freshman year where we used to have 6 a.m. workouts for players not being disciplined enough to attend class. From having the youngest football team in the country, and losing football games 62-0, 62-0, 63-9 to major programs. From last season losing three heart-breaking games on the last play. For a moment I thought that nothing could go right for our team and Temple football. But as coach golden tells us “keep pounding the rock,” and that's what we did. Through all of the bad times the senior class has seen, we finally have something to be extremely proud of-- THE LONGEST WIN STREAK IN TEMPLE FOOTBALL HISTORY and part of arguably the biggest turn around for a program in college football history. Temple has suffered through 30 years without a bowl game, and as a senior class, we are honored to be a part of this special historical time for Temple.
Even though my football career here at Temple has approximately a month left, my academic time at Temple is far from over. My junior year I decided to change my major from business to sports and recreation management. Because I changed my major so late, I still have another academic year before I will say goodbye to Temple and Philadelphia. I can honestly say I am not in any rush to graduate and finally take that step out into the "real world."
Although I am not ready to step into the workforce, I do have an idea of what I plan to do once I finally graduate from Temple. As most of the seniors, we all have a dream to one day become a professional football player, so I am going to spend a lot of this spring semester training to have an opportunity to play in the NFL. As my parents have told me "make sure you always have a plan B."
For me I love sports with a passion. I can sit down every day and watch a great football, baseball, or basketball game, so I have decided when I graduate if the NFL doesn't work out, I would love to become a high school athletic director to help student-athletes who are passionate to play sports and get placed into college where they can further extend there playing career.
Being a football player at Temple has taught me so many life values. I came into this Temple program a boy, and I'm coming out of this program as a young man. I am so fortunate to be able to be at Temple at this specific given time. I am blessed to have met some great people and life-long friends. Some of my friends that I have met will be best men and ushers in my future wedding. The Temple program is full of great people from the coaching staff all the way down, and I couldn't imagine myself being anywhere else.
I want to take a special part out in my blog to thank all my family and friends for always being there for me over the last four years of my career. I wouldn't have been able to make it without the support of everyone. Things always haven't been great and, when they weren't great, you were all there to support me. So just know your support is greatly appreciated, especially since over the last four years, we haven't been able to spend all that much time together.
Overall, my experience at Temple is one that has changed my life forever, and I don't regret making the decision to come here for one second. I hope you all enjoyed reading my blog, and I hope to see everyone at the bowl game December 29 in Washington D.C.
GO OWLS beat Army/UCLA!
- Jason Harper
December 7, 2009
I can't believe my Temple football career is coming to an end with one game left. It seems like just yesterday I was on my visit. I look back at my career here at Temple, and boy, have we come so far from where we used to be. We used to be the laughing stock of the college football nation. We were ranked 120 out of 120. To give you a little perspective on how far we have come, I can remember my freshman year where we couldn't even score a touchdown until the fourth game of the season, and even that was in the fourth quarter where the game was already decided. Now here we are just three years later, averaging 30 points. It's just mind-boggling when you really sit down and think about how far this program has come.
William J.H. Boetcker once said, “The difficulties and struggles of today are but the price we must pay for the accomplishments and victories of tomorrow.”
The senior class has been through all the difficulties and struggles over these last three seasons. From freshman year where we used to have 6 a.m. workouts for players not being disciplined enough to attend class. From having the youngest football team in the country, and losing football games 62-0, 62-0, 63-9 to major programs. From last season losing three heart-breaking games on the last play. For a moment I thought that nothing could go right for our team and Temple football. But as coach golden tells us “keep pounding the rock,” and that's what we did. Through all of the bad times the senior class has seen, we finally have something to be extremely proud of-- THE LONGEST WIN STREAK IN TEMPLE FOOTBALL HISTORY and part of arguably the biggest turn around for a program in college football history. Temple has suffered through 30 years without a bowl game, and as a senior class, we are honored to be a part of this special historical time for Temple.
Even though my football career here at Temple has approximately a month left, my academic time at Temple is far from over. My junior year I decided to change my major from business to sports and recreation management. Because I changed my major so late, I still have another academic year before I will say goodbye to Temple and Philadelphia. I can honestly say I am not in any rush to graduate and finally take that step out into the "real world."
Although I am not ready to step into the workforce, I do have an idea of what I plan to do once I finally graduate from Temple. As most of the seniors, we all have a dream to one day become a professional football player, so I am going to spend a lot of this spring semester training to have an opportunity to play in the NFL. As my parents have told me "make sure you always have a plan B."
For me I love sports with a passion. I can sit down every day and watch a great football, baseball, or basketball game, so I have decided when I graduate if the NFL doesn't work out, I would love to become a high school athletic director to help student-athletes who are passionate to play sports and get placed into college where they can further extend there playing career.
Being a football player at Temple has taught me so many life values. I came into this Temple program a boy, and I'm coming out of this program as a young man. I am so fortunate to be able to be at Temple at this specific given time. I am blessed to have met some great people and life-long friends. Some of my friends that I have met will be best men and ushers in my future wedding. The Temple program is full of great people from the coaching staff all the way down, and I couldn't imagine myself being anywhere else.
I want to take a special part out in my blog to thank all my family and friends for always being there for me over the last four years of my career. I wouldn't have been able to make it without the support of everyone. Things always haven't been great and, when they weren't great, you were all there to support me. So just know your support is greatly appreciated, especially since over the last four years, we haven't been able to spend all that much time together.
Overall, my experience at Temple is one that has changed my life forever, and I don't regret making the decision to come here for one second. I hope you all enjoyed reading my blog, and I hope to see everyone at the bowl game December 29 in Washington D.C.
GO OWLS beat Army/UCLA!
- Jason Harper
Ep. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Adam Fisher)
Sunday, December 14
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Derrian Ford & Gavin Griffiths)
Sunday, December 14
Ep. 28: Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson
Friday, December 12
