Temple University Athletics
RB Bernard Pierce at Media Day
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Temple Football Hosts Annual Media Day
8.24.11 | Football
Owls Open with Villanova on Sept. 1
MEDIA DAY VIDEO
Steve Addazio
By Kami Mattioli, Owlsports.com Columnist
PHILADELPHIA -- In the middle of a week bookended by torrential downpours, the midday sun shone brightly during Wednesday's football media day at Temple's Edberg-Olson Hall, almost as if in accordance with head coach Steve Addazio's attitude toward the upcoming season.
In his first official press conference of the season, Addazio spoke candidly and vigorously about his expectations for the 2011 Temple Owls football team.
“I'm excited for the start of the season. I can't wait to get going,” he said, “I like our team, our players.”
A humble man, Addazio was quick to give credit to former head coach Al Golden for cementing the framework in restoring credibility and success to Temple's football program.
He stressed the importance of maintaining steady balance and growth as a team as two of his main coaching ideologies.
“Two years don't make a program,” Addazio said. “A program's success is measured over five years. Right now we're in year 3.”
He credits much of the recent success of Temple's program to the ever-evolving work ethic of his players, citing junior running back Bernard Pierce as an example.
“Pierce had a great winter, spring and training camp,” Addazio said. “He's taken a different mental approach in the offseason. I would expect he has a great start to the season. I'd be surprised otherwise.”
He later joked that if having too many talented, motivated players was his only challenge, he would be fine -- especially with those competing for the starting quarterback position.
“The good news is, we have talented players. The good news is, that there's competition,” he said.
Aside from alluding to the notion that the competition between senior Chester Stewart and junior Mike Gerardi is extremely close, Addazio declined publicly naming a starting quarterback for next Thursday's Mayor's Cup match up with Villanova at this time, except to say that he “[doesn't] want to play two guys. [He doesn't] think it's productive.”
Productivity is paramount for Addazio, who admits to taking a day-by-day approach in training camp.
“I won't look at what's supposed to be happening on day 17 until at least day 14,” he said.
As far as looking ahead to next week's game? That's the exception to Addazio's rule.
“Now we're really locked into game week,” he said. “That's what we wanted to get done today-- set that stage for that crossover-- and I think that happened very effectively.”
As Addazio crossed the threshold between the artificial turf and the sidelines at the Edberg-Olson complex, the afternoon sun fractured into small glinted rays off the top of 100 cherry and white helmets returning to attention.
They, too, were locked in.
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
