Temple University Athletics
Saturday, October 13
East Hartford, Conn.
1 p.m.
Temple University
at
*Connecticut
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Temple Travels to UConn for First BIG EAST Road Game
10.8.12 | Football
GAMENOTES IN PDF
THIS WEEK
Temple takes to the road for its first BIG EAST Conference away game at Connecticut on Saturday, Oct. 13. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
ESPN3 will broadcast the game live online with Dave Weekley calling the action and Rene Ingoglia providing color commentary.
The Owls' radio broadcast will air on 1210 AM WPHT with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis.
Under the direction of second-year head coach Steve Addazio, Temple stands 2-2 overall and 1-0 in BIG EAST play after a 37-28 win over South Florida on Homecoming. The 2012 Temple squad returns 35?lettermen, including nine?starters. The Owls utilize a multiple offense and a 4-3 defense.
Senior RB Matt Brown (Baltimore, Md.) is the Owls' top rusher with 261 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries. Sophomore Jalen Fitzpatrick (Harrisburg, Pa.) is the top receiver with nine catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Junior QB Chris Coyer (Oak Hill, Va.) is 41-of-75 for 530 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 251 yards and two TDs. Redshirt freshman LB Nate D. Smith (Highland Park, N.J.) is the top defender with 29 tackles, including a team-best 26 solo takedowns, three forced fumbles, and a break-up.
In this week's national rankings, Temple is ranked among the nation's Top 25 in two categories, including No. 9 punt returns (17.29) and No. 10 in turnover margin (1.75). Individually, senior RB Matt Brown is No. 3 in punt returns (20.17) and No. 10 in all-purpose running (170.00). Senior PK Brandon McManus (Hatfield, Pa.) is No. 11 in punting (45.77) and No. 12 in field goals (1.75).
Under the tutelege of second-year coach Paul Pasqualoni, Connecticut is 3-3 overall and 0-1 in BIG EAST play after a 19-3?loss at No. 21 Rutgers. The Huskies return 15 starters to their multiple offense and 4-3/3-4 defense.
Connecticut is ranked among the Top 25 in eight categories, including No.. 6 in total defense (248.83), No. 8 in rushing defense (82.33), and No. 11 in pass defense (166.50). Sophomore LB Yawin Smallwood is No. 15 in tackles for loss (1.83) and No. 17 in tackles (10.33), while senior DE Trevardo Williams is No. 16 in sacks (1.08) and senior WR Nick Williams is No. 17 in punt returns (14.75).
Sophomore RB Lyle McCombs is UConn's top back with 484 yards and four touchdowns on 134 carries. Sophomore WR Geremy Davis has 23 receptions for 346 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore QB Chandler Whitmer is 97-of-166 for 1,242 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore LB Yawin Smallwood leads all defenders with 62 tackles, 11.0 TFL, four sacks, a forced fumble, and a break-up.
PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES
For the first time in 78 years, the Temple football team will travel to a game by train. For its trip to Connecticut, the TU travel party will depart Philadelphia's 30th Street Station on Friday aboard a chartered Amtrak train to New Haven. The team will also return to Philadelphia via rail.
Rail travel is not new to Temple. In December 1934, the Temple football team took the train from Philadelphia to Baton Rouge, La., a three-day ride, to play in the inaugural Sugar Bowl.
During a stop in Atlanta,?Ga., the Owls stretched their legs on the station platform and held a 10-minute “workout” with a loaf of bread as a football.
Under head coach Glenn “Pop”?Warner, Temple fell to host Tulane, 20-14, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on January 1, 1935.
TEMPLE-CONNECTICUT CONNECTIONS
COACHES:
Temple head coach Steve Addazio is a Connecticut native. Raised in Farmington, he played football at Central Connecticut State (1978-81). Addazio's first coaching job was at Western Connecticut State (1985-87) where he served as an assistant under Paul Pasqualoni. The Colonials claimed the New England Football Conference title in 1985 and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in school history.
Addazio served as the head coach at Cheshire High School from 1988-94 where he placed over 20 student-athletes in Division I-A, I-AA, II, and III programs in his seven years. His teams were nationally ranked in 1992 and 1994. During one stretch, his team won 34 consecutive games, the second-longest string in the nation, as well as three consecutive state titles.[Pasqualoni also coached at Cheshire HS from 1972-75.]
The two coaches worked together again at Syracuse from 1995-98 when Pasqualoni was the head coach and Addazio worked with the offensive line and tight ends. They guided the Orangemen to four consecutive bowl game appearances.
Temple's tight ends coach and Wethersfield, Conn., native Frank Leonard, in his first season with the Owls, worked with Addazio and Pasqualoni during the 1987 season at West Connecticut as the offensive coordinator. Leonard also served as UConn's outside linebackers coach from 1990-93 under head coach Tom Jackson. Leonard and Addazio were teammates at Central Connecticut State.
UConn offensive coordinator George DeLeone was Temple's offensive coordinator during the 2006 and 2007 seasons under head coach Al Golden. His son Mark was an offensive graduate assistant coach with the Owls in 2011.
Temple special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach Sean McGowan also hails from Cheshire, Conn. Addazio was his high school coach.
PLAYERS:
Temple has just one player on its roster from the state of Connecticut— true freshman LB Tyler Matakevich (Stratford, Conn. / St. Joseph's HS).
Connecticut has 10 players from Pennsylvania but none from Philadelphia. However, four Husky players call the tri-state region home— freshman TB?Joseph Williams hails from Allentown (Emmaus HS), while freshman OT Richard Levy is from Trenton, N.J. (Trenton Central HS), senior DT Ryan Wirth hails from Medford (Shawnee HS), and sophomore WR Kamal Abrams is from Dover, Del. (Dover HS).
TEMPLE-CONNECTICUT— THE SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 13th meeting between the Owls and Huskies. Temple holds a 8-4 advantage in the series which began in 1963. Since UConn has moved into the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division IA), the Huskies lead in series action, 3-2.
During the teams' last meeting in Philadelphia in 2010, Temple captured a 30-16 win. Heisman candidate RB Bernard Pierce rushed for 169 yards and scored three touchdowns. With the win, the Owls opened the season at 3-0 for the first time since 1979 and set the school record with right consecutive home wins. The victory did not come easy as TU trailed 16-14 with under 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The last time Temple played at Rentschler Field (on Sept. 15, 2007), Connecticut escaped with a 22-17 win after a controversial ending. A 4th-and-11 pass from WR Dy'Onne Crudup to WR Bruce Francis with 40 seconds remaining was called incomplete and was not reversed on replay, thwarting Temple's upset bid of the host Huskies. Connecticut ran the clock out on the ensuing play to hold on for the 22-17 win.
On Sept. 6, 2008, at Lincoln Financial Field, fans endured over three hours of rain and wind as the remnants of Hurricane Hanna pelted Philadelphia. UConn's Donald Brown, who rushed for a career-high 214 yards, found the end zone from seven yards out in overtime to lead the Huskies to a 12-9 victory over the Cherry and White.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Connecticut: 8-4
Temple in games at Temple: 5-1
Temple in games at Connecticut: 3-3
First meeting in series: 1963 at Temple Stadium; W, 9-7
Last meeting in series: 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field; W, 30-16
SERIES HIGHS
Temple Owls
Rushing: Mac DeVito 13-18-202, 4 TD (2001)
Passing: Walter Washington 21-44-276,2 TD (2004)
Receiving: Sean Dillard 9-148, 2 TD (2001)
Connecticut Huskies
Rushing: Rick Robustelli 17-39-281, 2 TD?(1970)
Passing: Zach Frazer 16-31-150 (2010)
Receiving: Keith Kraham 6-155, 1 TD (1970)
Year Site Results TU Coach UConn Coach
1963 Temple Stadium W, 9-7 George Makris Robert Ingalls
1964 Memorial Stadium L, 25-7 George Makris Richard Forzano
1965 Memorial Stadium W, 12-11 George Makris Richard Forzano
1966 Temple Stadium W, 35-25 George Makris John L. Toner
1970 Temple Stadium W, 41-23 Wayne Hardin John L. Toner
1971 Memorial Stadium W, 38-0 Wayne Hardin Robert Casciola
2001 Franklin Field W, 56-7 Bobby Wallace Randy Edsall
2002 Memorial Stadium W, 38-24 Bobby Wallace Randy Edsall
2004 Rentschler Field L, 45-31 Bobby Wallace Randy Edsall
2007 Rentschler Field L, 22-17 Al Golden Randy Edsall
2008 Lincoln Financial Field L, 12-9 (ot) Al Golden Randy Edsall
2010 Lincoln Financial Field W, 30-16 Al Golden Randy Edsall
WELCOME BACK TO THE BIG EAST
The 2012 season ushers in a new era for TU football. The Owls return to the BIG EAST Conference after a seven-year absence.
After playing the last five seasons in the Mid-American Conference, Temple re-joins the BIG EAST Conference in 2012. The Owls previously played in the BIG EAST [1991-2004] for football only.
All other sports, including Temple's men's and women's basketball programs, will leave the Atlantic 10 Conference and begin play in the BIG EAST starting in 2013-14. This will be the first time in Temple's history in which its intercollegiate athletic programs will compete in one conference.
BIG EAST CONFERENCE NOTES / HISTORY
• Temple has played in three conferences during its football history:
1960-1969— Middle Atlantic Conference [10 seasons]
1967 MAC champions
1991-2004— BIG EAST Conference [12 seasons]
2007-11— Mid-American Conference [5 seasons]
2009 MAC co-EAST?Division champions
• Three head coaches guided the Owls during their first BIG EAST tenure:
1991-1992— Jerry Berndt
1993-1997— Ron Dickerson
1997-2004— Bobby Wallace
• Temple's first BIG EAST tenure was rough as the Owls won just 14 conference games in 12 seasons.
• Over the last three seasons (2009-10-11), Temple set the school record with most wins in three consecutive seasons (26), won nine games twice, and won its second bowl win in school history and first since 1979 (32 years).
• “We've come off three winning seasons, two bowl games, and a recent bowl victory - the first in [32] years at Temple. It's a new Temple. It doesn't resemble anything where it was six or seven years ago.”
— Steve Addazio at BIG EAST Media Day, 7/31/12
“I don't know where we'll be in this pecking order at the end of the season. I have no idea. I do know this-- we will show up. We'll play really, really hard and we'll represent the game the way it is supposed to be represented. That's what I will promise you.”
— Steve Addazio at BIG EAST Media Day, 7/31/12
• Over current BIG EAST competitors, Temple owns series' advantages over:
Cincinnati 9-4
Connecticut 8-4
Louisville 3-2
• Temple met South Florida for the first time in 2012.
HOOT TOOTS ... OWL NOTES & QUOTES
• In 2011, Temple was bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons and just the sixth time in school history. TU also earned bowl eligibility during the 1934 (1935 Sugar Bowl), 1979 (Garden State Bowl), 1990 (7-4 record, no bowl bid), 2009 (EagleBank Bowl), 2010 (8-4 record, no bowl bid), and 2011 (Gildan New Mexico Bowl) seasons.
• Five of Temple's 2012 opponents— Penn?State (TicketCity), Rutgers (New Era Pinstripe), Pittsburgh (BBVA?Compass), Louisville (Belk), and Cincinnati (AutoZone Liberty)— participated in bowls in 2011.
• “We are very proud of how our kids played. As the head coach of this program,
I told our kids we have to go out there and fight, scratch, claw and play with
passion and enthusiasm for this game. I thought our kids came out and kept scratching and fighting and clawing as hard as you can possibly play and tried to have more will and determination, and as the head coach I am real proud of our kids.”
— Steve Addazio following the South Florida game, 10/6/12
UP NEXT
Temple returns home to Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 20 to host Rutgers. Kickoff time is set for Noon on the BIG EAST Network.
THIS WEEK
Temple takes to the road for its first BIG EAST Conference away game at Connecticut on Saturday, Oct. 13. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
ESPN3 will broadcast the game live online with Dave Weekley calling the action and Rene Ingoglia providing color commentary.
The Owls' radio broadcast will air on 1210 AM WPHT with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and Steve Joachim providing color analysis.
Under the direction of second-year head coach Steve Addazio, Temple stands 2-2 overall and 1-0 in BIG EAST play after a 37-28 win over South Florida on Homecoming. The 2012 Temple squad returns 35?lettermen, including nine?starters. The Owls utilize a multiple offense and a 4-3 defense.
Senior RB Matt Brown (Baltimore, Md.) is the Owls' top rusher with 261 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries. Sophomore Jalen Fitzpatrick (Harrisburg, Pa.) is the top receiver with nine catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Junior QB Chris Coyer (Oak Hill, Va.) is 41-of-75 for 530 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 251 yards and two TDs. Redshirt freshman LB Nate D. Smith (Highland Park, N.J.) is the top defender with 29 tackles, including a team-best 26 solo takedowns, three forced fumbles, and a break-up.
In this week's national rankings, Temple is ranked among the nation's Top 25 in two categories, including No. 9 punt returns (17.29) and No. 10 in turnover margin (1.75). Individually, senior RB Matt Brown is No. 3 in punt returns (20.17) and No. 10 in all-purpose running (170.00). Senior PK Brandon McManus (Hatfield, Pa.) is No. 11 in punting (45.77) and No. 12 in field goals (1.75).
Under the tutelege of second-year coach Paul Pasqualoni, Connecticut is 3-3 overall and 0-1 in BIG EAST play after a 19-3?loss at No. 21 Rutgers. The Huskies return 15 starters to their multiple offense and 4-3/3-4 defense.
Connecticut is ranked among the Top 25 in eight categories, including No.. 6 in total defense (248.83), No. 8 in rushing defense (82.33), and No. 11 in pass defense (166.50). Sophomore LB Yawin Smallwood is No. 15 in tackles for loss (1.83) and No. 17 in tackles (10.33), while senior DE Trevardo Williams is No. 16 in sacks (1.08) and senior WR Nick Williams is No. 17 in punt returns (14.75).
Sophomore RB Lyle McCombs is UConn's top back with 484 yards and four touchdowns on 134 carries. Sophomore WR Geremy Davis has 23 receptions for 346 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore QB Chandler Whitmer is 97-of-166 for 1,242 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore LB Yawin Smallwood leads all defenders with 62 tackles, 11.0 TFL, four sacks, a forced fumble, and a break-up.
PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES
For the first time in 78 years, the Temple football team will travel to a game by train. For its trip to Connecticut, the TU travel party will depart Philadelphia's 30th Street Station on Friday aboard a chartered Amtrak train to New Haven. The team will also return to Philadelphia via rail.
Rail travel is not new to Temple. In December 1934, the Temple football team took the train from Philadelphia to Baton Rouge, La., a three-day ride, to play in the inaugural Sugar Bowl.
During a stop in Atlanta,?Ga., the Owls stretched their legs on the station platform and held a 10-minute “workout” with a loaf of bread as a football.
Under head coach Glenn “Pop”?Warner, Temple fell to host Tulane, 20-14, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on January 1, 1935.
TEMPLE-CONNECTICUT CONNECTIONS
COACHES:
Temple head coach Steve Addazio is a Connecticut native. Raised in Farmington, he played football at Central Connecticut State (1978-81). Addazio's first coaching job was at Western Connecticut State (1985-87) where he served as an assistant under Paul Pasqualoni. The Colonials claimed the New England Football Conference title in 1985 and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in school history.
Addazio served as the head coach at Cheshire High School from 1988-94 where he placed over 20 student-athletes in Division I-A, I-AA, II, and III programs in his seven years. His teams were nationally ranked in 1992 and 1994. During one stretch, his team won 34 consecutive games, the second-longest string in the nation, as well as three consecutive state titles.[Pasqualoni also coached at Cheshire HS from 1972-75.]
The two coaches worked together again at Syracuse from 1995-98 when Pasqualoni was the head coach and Addazio worked with the offensive line and tight ends. They guided the Orangemen to four consecutive bowl game appearances.
Temple's tight ends coach and Wethersfield, Conn., native Frank Leonard, in his first season with the Owls, worked with Addazio and Pasqualoni during the 1987 season at West Connecticut as the offensive coordinator. Leonard also served as UConn's outside linebackers coach from 1990-93 under head coach Tom Jackson. Leonard and Addazio were teammates at Central Connecticut State.
UConn offensive coordinator George DeLeone was Temple's offensive coordinator during the 2006 and 2007 seasons under head coach Al Golden. His son Mark was an offensive graduate assistant coach with the Owls in 2011.
Temple special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach Sean McGowan also hails from Cheshire, Conn. Addazio was his high school coach.
PLAYERS:
Temple has just one player on its roster from the state of Connecticut— true freshman LB Tyler Matakevich (Stratford, Conn. / St. Joseph's HS).
Connecticut has 10 players from Pennsylvania but none from Philadelphia. However, four Husky players call the tri-state region home— freshman TB?Joseph Williams hails from Allentown (Emmaus HS), while freshman OT Richard Levy is from Trenton, N.J. (Trenton Central HS), senior DT Ryan Wirth hails from Medford (Shawnee HS), and sophomore WR Kamal Abrams is from Dover, Del. (Dover HS).
TEMPLE-CONNECTICUT— THE SERIES
Saturday's game will mark the 13th meeting between the Owls and Huskies. Temple holds a 8-4 advantage in the series which began in 1963. Since UConn has moved into the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division IA), the Huskies lead in series action, 3-2.
During the teams' last meeting in Philadelphia in 2010, Temple captured a 30-16 win. Heisman candidate RB Bernard Pierce rushed for 169 yards and scored three touchdowns. With the win, the Owls opened the season at 3-0 for the first time since 1979 and set the school record with right consecutive home wins. The victory did not come easy as TU trailed 16-14 with under 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The last time Temple played at Rentschler Field (on Sept. 15, 2007), Connecticut escaped with a 22-17 win after a controversial ending. A 4th-and-11 pass from WR Dy'Onne Crudup to WR Bruce Francis with 40 seconds remaining was called incomplete and was not reversed on replay, thwarting Temple's upset bid of the host Huskies. Connecticut ran the clock out on the ensuing play to hold on for the 22-17 win.
On Sept. 6, 2008, at Lincoln Financial Field, fans endured over three hours of rain and wind as the remnants of Hurricane Hanna pelted Philadelphia. UConn's Donald Brown, who rushed for a career-high 214 yards, found the end zone from seven yards out in overtime to lead the Huskies to a 12-9 victory over the Cherry and White.
SERIES INFORMATION
Temple all-time vs. Connecticut: 8-4
Temple in games at Temple: 5-1
Temple in games at Connecticut: 3-3
First meeting in series: 1963 at Temple Stadium; W, 9-7
Last meeting in series: 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field; W, 30-16
SERIES HIGHS
Temple Owls
Rushing: Mac DeVito 13-18-202, 4 TD (2001)
Passing: Walter Washington 21-44-276,2 TD (2004)
Receiving: Sean Dillard 9-148, 2 TD (2001)
Connecticut Huskies
Rushing: Rick Robustelli 17-39-281, 2 TD?(1970)
Passing: Zach Frazer 16-31-150 (2010)
Receiving: Keith Kraham 6-155, 1 TD (1970)
Year Site Results TU Coach UConn Coach
1963 Temple Stadium W, 9-7 George Makris Robert Ingalls
1964 Memorial Stadium L, 25-7 George Makris Richard Forzano
1965 Memorial Stadium W, 12-11 George Makris Richard Forzano
1966 Temple Stadium W, 35-25 George Makris John L. Toner
1970 Temple Stadium W, 41-23 Wayne Hardin John L. Toner
1971 Memorial Stadium W, 38-0 Wayne Hardin Robert Casciola
2001 Franklin Field W, 56-7 Bobby Wallace Randy Edsall
2002 Memorial Stadium W, 38-24 Bobby Wallace Randy Edsall
2004 Rentschler Field L, 45-31 Bobby Wallace Randy Edsall
2007 Rentschler Field L, 22-17 Al Golden Randy Edsall
2008 Lincoln Financial Field L, 12-9 (ot) Al Golden Randy Edsall
2010 Lincoln Financial Field W, 30-16 Al Golden Randy Edsall
WELCOME BACK TO THE BIG EAST
The 2012 season ushers in a new era for TU football. The Owls return to the BIG EAST Conference after a seven-year absence.
After playing the last five seasons in the Mid-American Conference, Temple re-joins the BIG EAST Conference in 2012. The Owls previously played in the BIG EAST [1991-2004] for football only.
All other sports, including Temple's men's and women's basketball programs, will leave the Atlantic 10 Conference and begin play in the BIG EAST starting in 2013-14. This will be the first time in Temple's history in which its intercollegiate athletic programs will compete in one conference.
BIG EAST CONFERENCE NOTES / HISTORY
• Temple has played in three conferences during its football history:
1960-1969— Middle Atlantic Conference [10 seasons]
1967 MAC champions
1991-2004— BIG EAST Conference [12 seasons]
2007-11— Mid-American Conference [5 seasons]
2009 MAC co-EAST?Division champions
• Three head coaches guided the Owls during their first BIG EAST tenure:
1991-1992— Jerry Berndt
1993-1997— Ron Dickerson
1997-2004— Bobby Wallace
• Temple's first BIG EAST tenure was rough as the Owls won just 14 conference games in 12 seasons.
• Over the last three seasons (2009-10-11), Temple set the school record with most wins in three consecutive seasons (26), won nine games twice, and won its second bowl win in school history and first since 1979 (32 years).
• “We've come off three winning seasons, two bowl games, and a recent bowl victory - the first in [32] years at Temple. It's a new Temple. It doesn't resemble anything where it was six or seven years ago.”
— Steve Addazio at BIG EAST Media Day, 7/31/12
“I don't know where we'll be in this pecking order at the end of the season. I have no idea. I do know this-- we will show up. We'll play really, really hard and we'll represent the game the way it is supposed to be represented. That's what I will promise you.”
— Steve Addazio at BIG EAST Media Day, 7/31/12
• Over current BIG EAST competitors, Temple owns series' advantages over:
Cincinnati 9-4
Connecticut 8-4
Louisville 3-2
• Temple met South Florida for the first time in 2012.
HOOT TOOTS ... OWL NOTES & QUOTES
• In 2011, Temple was bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons and just the sixth time in school history. TU also earned bowl eligibility during the 1934 (1935 Sugar Bowl), 1979 (Garden State Bowl), 1990 (7-4 record, no bowl bid), 2009 (EagleBank Bowl), 2010 (8-4 record, no bowl bid), and 2011 (Gildan New Mexico Bowl) seasons.
• Five of Temple's 2012 opponents— Penn?State (TicketCity), Rutgers (New Era Pinstripe), Pittsburgh (BBVA?Compass), Louisville (Belk), and Cincinnati (AutoZone Liberty)— participated in bowls in 2011.
• “We are very proud of how our kids played. As the head coach of this program,
I told our kids we have to go out there and fight, scratch, claw and play with
passion and enthusiasm for this game. I thought our kids came out and kept scratching and fighting and clawing as hard as you can possibly play and tried to have more will and determination, and as the head coach I am real proud of our kids.”
— Steve Addazio following the South Florida game, 10/6/12
UP NEXT
Temple returns home to Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 20 to host Rutgers. Kickoff time is set for Noon on the BIG EAST Network.
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