Temple University Athletics
Spring Practice #1 Recap
3.17.09 | Football
March 17, 2009
PHILADELPHIA-- The luck of the Irish shone on the Temple Owl football team on Tuesday morning for the squad's first practice of the spring season.
The players, coaches, and staff took the field for the first time at Edberg-Olson Hall under overcast skies.
Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Al Golden, this season's squad returns 17 starters, including nine on defense.
"It was our best off-season (conditioning) program by far," Golden said prior to the workout session. "There was more peer leadership than we've ever had. I think there is a lot of carryover from the end of the season with the competitiveness and just being tough. I'm excited about it. Obviously, today we'll find out if we have the chance to be a good team or not."
Temple's next practice is Thursday, March 19.
All practices are open only to Temple football alumni, Xtra Point Club members, and high school coaches, provided the individuals register in Edberg-Olson Hall before visiting the field. Practices are closed to the general public.
Temple opens the 2009 season with cross-town rival Villanova in the inaugural Mayor's Cup on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $90, and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Office at 215-204-8499. Fans are encouraged to visit www.OwlsTix.com for full season ticket pricing information.
Spring Roster & Depth Chart (03-17-09) in PDF Format 
Al Golden Quotes
On off-season conditioning:
It was our best off-season (conditioning) program by far. There was more peer leadership than we've ever had. I think there is a lot of carryover from the end of the season with the competitiveness and just being tough. I'm excited about it. Obviously, today we'll find out if we have the chance to be a good team or not.
On quarterbacks Vaughn Charlton and Chester Stewart:
Both are showing leadership. They're very strong. They're both compatible skill-wise and athleticism-wise. And they're both the same type of quarterback-- big, strong pocket guys. So we're excited about that, and we have one coming in (Chris Coyer) that's the same prototype. We think we have a good group there. Obviously we don't have the depth that we'd prefer, but that was due to unforeseen circumstances. There's not much you can do about that.
On Marquise Liverpool's switch to cornerback:
(It happened) almost immediately after the season. We don't have the depth at corner that we need. We had some attrition there. But he's very competitive, and he's very tough. He deserved a place to participate and perform, but he could be a starter. I think he has a chance to be a starter at corner. He has a lot to learn. To be honest with you, the first time you see it is March 17. We made this move probably December 1st or 2nd. So he's had a lot of background over the last three months in preparing for this move. I know he's excited about it.
On the depth at the running back position:
I like our running backs situation right now. Lamar (McPherson), Ahkeem (Smith), Kee-ayre (Griffin), and Joe (Jones), and a really good one coming in, five is enough. I think all of them are way better than they were last year as freshmen. We won five games with them as freshmen. I'm encouraged by it.
The biggest thing with Kee-ayre is getting comfortable, developing some mental and competitive toughness, and then his overall conditioning wasn't great as it is with many freshmen. It's a function of building a program that he's pressed into that situation. Now they've all settled down. Joe Jones looks the best that he's looked-- healthy. And what the doctors tell me is that it's an injury that takes a year to recover from anyway. He looks better. I think Ahkeem Smith has grown up a lot in the off season. Lamar has been really tough. He's lost weight. He's really engaged. I'm anxious to see how he runs, because he brings an element of toughness. We'll see how it shakes out here.
On Anthony Ferla's recovery:
Ferla's doing great. He's starting today. He had a great off-season program. He's been doing tremendous, so I'm excited about him. He's a starter today; how he'll finish, I don't know. He's worked really hard, and I'm excited about his progress.
On Wayne Tribue moving to center:
Wayne's got a chance to be a really good one. He's one of the strongest guys on our team. He's up to 316 (pounds) right now. He brings an element of strength; he's very bright. So he's what you want there. He's got lateral quickness. Sean Boyle, who's going to sit out the spring because of a shoulder injury, will do a lot of drills. He won't have any contact, but we'll get him ready for the season. He should also be a center, and (Jeremy) Schonbrunner's done a great job at center, too. We have three there, plus one coming in. We should be o.k. there.
On Steve Caputo and other injuries:
Caputo's on target; he's doing well. He'll sit out (spring drills). Sean Boyle will sit out. He's on target. And on offense, that's pretty much it. Junior (Galette) had shoulder surgery. He's one of five guys that are not participating. In fairness to them, we won't tell you what their injuries were or what their surgeries were. Junior had surgery and will not participate, but he's been out here everyday. He's been with us in the off season.
On Daryl Robinson's return:
I've been very pleased with him. Our function right now is having a good day then turning days into weeks and weeks into years and years into a lifestyle. That's what we're trying to teach him. He's been very good. We just didn't bring him back into the locker room. We had to make sure that he did all the right things for about a month, and then we allowed him to start working out with the team. Now he's doing all the things he needs to do academically and athletically, so now he's back with us, and we'll see where he goes. I hope he's matured from the whole situation-- he says he has. We'll see how it plays out.
On mid-year transfers Alex Jackson and Deonte Parker:
Parker is playing corner for us. He's a very athletic and fast player. He's learning a lot of our system, and we'll see how it goes. He and Marquise give us depth that we needed. Alex is one of the most gifted athletes on the team. He's probably 235 pounds right now; he doesn't know whether the ball is pumped or stuffed, but he's learning. He hasn't played a lot of football, but he's learning. We have him at defensive end right now.
