Temple University Athletics
Saturday, September 10
Akron, Ohio
6 p.m.
Temple University
at
*at Akron
S Kevin Kroboth
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Temple Football Travels to Akron for MAC Opener
9.5.11 | Football
Kickoff is 6 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN3.com
Gamenotes in PDF
Media Conference Video:
Coach Addazio, Part I
Part II
Part III
Players Palumbo & Robinson
THIS WEEK
Temple opens MAC play with a trip to Akron on Sept. 10. Kickoff at InfoCision Stadium is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN3.com.
ESPN3 will broadcast the game live over the internet with Michael Reghi calling the action and Jerod Cherry providing color commentary. The Owls' radio broadcast will air on WIP 610 AM with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Steve Addazio, stand 1-0 after a 42-7 victory over VIllanova in the season opener. The 2011 Temple squad returns 46 lettermen, including 13 starters. The Owls utilize a multiple offense and a 4-3 defense.
Junior RB Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) leads all rushers with 147 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Sophomore WR Deon Miller (Highland Springs, Va.) is the top receiver with 74 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Junior QB Mike Gerardi (Parsippany, N.J.) is 14-of-20 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore LB?Blaze Caponegro (Allenwood, N.J.) leads the defense with seven solo tackles.
In the national rankings, Temple ranks among the nation's Top 20 in eight categories, including No. 2 in punt returns (37.00), No. 4 in net punt (49.00), and No. 10 in passing efficiency (201.70). Individually, senior S Kevin Kroboth (Nazareth, Pa.) is No. 1 in interceptions (2.00), and junior RB Bernard Pierce is No. 5 in scoring (18.00) and No. 8 in rushing (147.00). Senior LB?Tahir Whitehead (Newark, N.J.) is No. 6 in tackles for loss (3.00), while junior QB Mike Gerardi is No. 9 in passing efficiency (201.70).
Akron, under the guidance of second-year head coach Rob Ianello, is 0-1 following a 42-0 loss at No. 18 Ohio State. The Zips return 14 starters to their pro style offense and 4-3 defense.
Sophomore QB Clayton Moore is the Zips' leading rusher with 32 yards on eight carries. R-freshman RB?Jawon Chisholm follows with 26 yards on 13 carries. Under center, Moore is 6-of-16 for 54 yards. Chisholm is the top receiver with 10 yards on three receptions. Junior LB Brian Wagner leads the defense with 12.5 tackles.
Nationally, Wagner ranks No. 8 in tackles (15.0), while Zack Campbell is No. 25 in punting (44.20).
TEMPLE-AKRON CONNECTIONS
Temple has no players on its roster from the state of Ohio. Akron has 17 players from Pennsylvania but none from Philadelphia.
TEMPLE-AKRON— THE SERIES
Tonight's game marks the 21st meeting between the Owls and the Zips since the squads' first meeting in 1967. In series action, Temple leads, 13-7.
Last fall at Lincoln Financial Field, Temple shut out Akron, 30-0, in its school record 10th consecutive win at home. Brandon McManus nailed three field goals, including a 45-yarder, while the defense was led by DE Sean Daniels and CB Maurice Jones with two sacks each.
In 2009, at InfoCision Stadium, Temple scored 49 unanswered points en route to a 56-17 win on Friday the 13th. QB Chester Stewart threw two touchdowns while rushing for two TDs, opening the scoring with a 63-yard TD reception to WR Michael Campbell.
In 2008 during Senior Day at Lincoln Financial Field, seniors QB Adam DiMichele and FB Marcellous Grigsby scored two touchdowns apiece to lead Temple to a 27-6 win in the season finale. The victory gave the Owls five wins on the season (and four in MAC play).
During their first game as MAC opponents in 2007, QB Adam DiMichele threw for three fourth quarter touchdowns, the last a 19-yarder to WR Dy'Onne Crudup with 27 seconds to play, to lead Temple to a 24-20 come-from-behind win at the Rubber Bowl. It marked the first time the Owls posted consecutive wins since 2002 and the first consecutive victories in conference play in 40 years when the Cherry and White played in the old MAC (Middle Atlantic Conference). It was also the team's first road win since 2003, snapping a string of 24 straight road defeats.
In the teams' 1999 meeting, Akron scored 25 first-half points en route to a 25-15 win at the Rubber Bowl. Temple scored all 15 of its points in the fourth quarter. Marcus Godrey led the Owls on the ground with 16 carries for 67 yards. QB Mac Devito scored TU's first touchdown on a two-yard run. Devito closed out the stanza with a 43-yard toss to Sean Dillard for the second touchdown.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Akron: 13-7
Temple in games at Temple: 7-4
Temple in games at Akron: 6-3
First meeting in series: 1967 at Temple Stadium, W, 22-21
Last meeting in series: 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field, W, 30-0
SERIES HIGHS
Temple Owls
Rushing: Todd McNair, 32-127, 2 TD (1987)
Passing: Adam DiMichele, 23-34-242, 3 TD (2007)
Receiving: Leslie Shepherd, 5-116, 0 TD?(1991)
Akron Zips
Rushing: Brandon Payne, 25-156, 2 TD?(1999)
Passing: Marcel Weems, 13-19-247, 0 TD (1993)
Receiving: Jeff Blakely, 3-133, 0 TD (1993)
Year Site Results TU Coach UA Coach
1967 Temple Stadium W, 22-21 George Makris Gordon Larson
1970 Temple Stadium L, 0-21 Wayne Hardin Gordon Larson
1973 Temple Stadium W, 47-33 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1975 Rubber Bowl L, 23-24 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1976 Rubber Bowl W, 23-13 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1978 Rubber Bowl W, 56-21 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1979 Veterans Stadium W, 42-6 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1980 Veterans Stadium W, 16-7 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1987 Veterans Stadium W, 23-3 Bryce Arians Gerry Faust
1988 Rubber Bowl W, 37-17 Bruce Arians Gerry Faust
1991 Veterans Stadium L, 32-37 Jerry Berndt Gerry Faust
1992 Rubber Bowl L, 15-29 Jerry Berndt Gerry Faust
1993 Veterans Stadium L, 7-31 Ron Dickerson Gerry Faust
1994 Rubber Bowl W, 32-7 Ron Dickerson Gerry Faust
1998 Franklin Field L, 28-35 Bobby Wallace Lee Owens
1999 Rubber Bowl L, 15-25 Bobby Wallace Lee Owens
2007 Rubber Bowl W, 24-20 Al Golden J.D. Brookhart
2008 Lincoln Financial Field W, 27-6 Al Golden J.D. Brookhart
2009 InfoCision Stadium W, 56-17 Al Golden J.D. Brookhart
2010 Lincoln Financial Field W, 30-0 Al Golden Rob Ianello
HOOT TOOTS ... OWL NOTES & QUOTES
• Seven of Temple's 2011 opponents— Villanova (FCS semifinal), Penn State (Outback Bowl), Maryland (Military Bowl), Toledo (Little Caesar's Bowl), Ohio (R+L Carriers Bowl), Miami (GoDaddy.com Bowl), and Army (Armed Forces Bowl)— participated in postseason play.
• Since joining the MAC in 2007, the Owls own the league's best home record for MAC games at 13-3.
• “I really want to thank our students at Temple. They came eight to 10,000 strong for this game. That's just a great thing too see, you know the major college football culture is here in Philadelphia, it's really terrific to see the support of the university and the support of the students, and that was just a real thrill to come out here. I'm awful proud of our football team. I'm awful proud of our football staff. You know these first football games are all about coming out and playing physical and playing hard, and I thought that happened.”
— Steve Addazio following the win over Villanova
UP NEXT
Temple hosts perennial powerhouse Penn State on Sept. 17 at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for Noon. The game will be televised by one of the ESPN entities (ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU).
Media Conference Video:
Coach Addazio, Part I
Part II
Part III
Players Palumbo & Robinson
THIS WEEK
Temple opens MAC play with a trip to Akron on Sept. 10. Kickoff at InfoCision Stadium is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN3.com.
ESPN3 will broadcast the game live over the internet with Michael Reghi calling the action and Jerod Cherry providing color commentary. The Owls' radio broadcast will air on WIP 610 AM with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Steve Addazio, stand 1-0 after a 42-7 victory over VIllanova in the season opener. The 2011 Temple squad returns 46 lettermen, including 13 starters. The Owls utilize a multiple offense and a 4-3 defense.
Junior RB Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) leads all rushers with 147 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Sophomore WR Deon Miller (Highland Springs, Va.) is the top receiver with 74 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Junior QB Mike Gerardi (Parsippany, N.J.) is 14-of-20 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore LB?Blaze Caponegro (Allenwood, N.J.) leads the defense with seven solo tackles.
In the national rankings, Temple ranks among the nation's Top 20 in eight categories, including No. 2 in punt returns (37.00), No. 4 in net punt (49.00), and No. 10 in passing efficiency (201.70). Individually, senior S Kevin Kroboth (Nazareth, Pa.) is No. 1 in interceptions (2.00), and junior RB Bernard Pierce is No. 5 in scoring (18.00) and No. 8 in rushing (147.00). Senior LB?Tahir Whitehead (Newark, N.J.) is No. 6 in tackles for loss (3.00), while junior QB Mike Gerardi is No. 9 in passing efficiency (201.70).
Akron, under the guidance of second-year head coach Rob Ianello, is 0-1 following a 42-0 loss at No. 18 Ohio State. The Zips return 14 starters to their pro style offense and 4-3 defense.
Sophomore QB Clayton Moore is the Zips' leading rusher with 32 yards on eight carries. R-freshman RB?Jawon Chisholm follows with 26 yards on 13 carries. Under center, Moore is 6-of-16 for 54 yards. Chisholm is the top receiver with 10 yards on three receptions. Junior LB Brian Wagner leads the defense with 12.5 tackles.
Nationally, Wagner ranks No. 8 in tackles (15.0), while Zack Campbell is No. 25 in punting (44.20).
TEMPLE-AKRON CONNECTIONS
Temple has no players on its roster from the state of Ohio. Akron has 17 players from Pennsylvania but none from Philadelphia.
TEMPLE-AKRON— THE SERIES
Tonight's game marks the 21st meeting between the Owls and the Zips since the squads' first meeting in 1967. In series action, Temple leads, 13-7.
Last fall at Lincoln Financial Field, Temple shut out Akron, 30-0, in its school record 10th consecutive win at home. Brandon McManus nailed three field goals, including a 45-yarder, while the defense was led by DE Sean Daniels and CB Maurice Jones with two sacks each.
In 2009, at InfoCision Stadium, Temple scored 49 unanswered points en route to a 56-17 win on Friday the 13th. QB Chester Stewart threw two touchdowns while rushing for two TDs, opening the scoring with a 63-yard TD reception to WR Michael Campbell.
In 2008 during Senior Day at Lincoln Financial Field, seniors QB Adam DiMichele and FB Marcellous Grigsby scored two touchdowns apiece to lead Temple to a 27-6 win in the season finale. The victory gave the Owls five wins on the season (and four in MAC play).
During their first game as MAC opponents in 2007, QB Adam DiMichele threw for three fourth quarter touchdowns, the last a 19-yarder to WR Dy'Onne Crudup with 27 seconds to play, to lead Temple to a 24-20 come-from-behind win at the Rubber Bowl. It marked the first time the Owls posted consecutive wins since 2002 and the first consecutive victories in conference play in 40 years when the Cherry and White played in the old MAC (Middle Atlantic Conference). It was also the team's first road win since 2003, snapping a string of 24 straight road defeats.
In the teams' 1999 meeting, Akron scored 25 first-half points en route to a 25-15 win at the Rubber Bowl. Temple scored all 15 of its points in the fourth quarter. Marcus Godrey led the Owls on the ground with 16 carries for 67 yards. QB Mac Devito scored TU's first touchdown on a two-yard run. Devito closed out the stanza with a 43-yard toss to Sean Dillard for the second touchdown.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Akron: 13-7
Temple in games at Temple: 7-4
Temple in games at Akron: 6-3
First meeting in series: 1967 at Temple Stadium, W, 22-21
Last meeting in series: 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field, W, 30-0
SERIES HIGHS
Temple Owls
Rushing: Todd McNair, 32-127, 2 TD (1987)
Passing: Adam DiMichele, 23-34-242, 3 TD (2007)
Receiving: Leslie Shepherd, 5-116, 0 TD?(1991)
Akron Zips
Rushing: Brandon Payne, 25-156, 2 TD?(1999)
Passing: Marcel Weems, 13-19-247, 0 TD (1993)
Receiving: Jeff Blakely, 3-133, 0 TD (1993)
Year Site Results TU Coach UA Coach
1967 Temple Stadium W, 22-21 George Makris Gordon Larson
1970 Temple Stadium L, 0-21 Wayne Hardin Gordon Larson
1973 Temple Stadium W, 47-33 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1975 Rubber Bowl L, 23-24 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1976 Rubber Bowl W, 23-13 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1978 Rubber Bowl W, 56-21 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1979 Veterans Stadium W, 42-6 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1980 Veterans Stadium W, 16-7 Wayne Hardin Jim Dennison
1987 Veterans Stadium W, 23-3 Bryce Arians Gerry Faust
1988 Rubber Bowl W, 37-17 Bruce Arians Gerry Faust
1991 Veterans Stadium L, 32-37 Jerry Berndt Gerry Faust
1992 Rubber Bowl L, 15-29 Jerry Berndt Gerry Faust
1993 Veterans Stadium L, 7-31 Ron Dickerson Gerry Faust
1994 Rubber Bowl W, 32-7 Ron Dickerson Gerry Faust
1998 Franklin Field L, 28-35 Bobby Wallace Lee Owens
1999 Rubber Bowl L, 15-25 Bobby Wallace Lee Owens
2007 Rubber Bowl W, 24-20 Al Golden J.D. Brookhart
2008 Lincoln Financial Field W, 27-6 Al Golden J.D. Brookhart
2009 InfoCision Stadium W, 56-17 Al Golden J.D. Brookhart
2010 Lincoln Financial Field W, 30-0 Al Golden Rob Ianello
HOOT TOOTS ... OWL NOTES & QUOTES
• Seven of Temple's 2011 opponents— Villanova (FCS semifinal), Penn State (Outback Bowl), Maryland (Military Bowl), Toledo (Little Caesar's Bowl), Ohio (R+L Carriers Bowl), Miami (GoDaddy.com Bowl), and Army (Armed Forces Bowl)— participated in postseason play.
• Since joining the MAC in 2007, the Owls own the league's best home record for MAC games at 13-3.
• “I really want to thank our students at Temple. They came eight to 10,000 strong for this game. That's just a great thing too see, you know the major college football culture is here in Philadelphia, it's really terrific to see the support of the university and the support of the students, and that was just a real thrill to come out here. I'm awful proud of our football team. I'm awful proud of our football staff. You know these first football games are all about coming out and playing physical and playing hard, and I thought that happened.”
— Steve Addazio following the win over Villanova
UP NEXT
Temple hosts perennial powerhouse Penn State on Sept. 17 at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for Noon. The game will be televised by one of the ESPN entities (ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU).
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