Temple University Athletics
Cherry & White Scrimmage is Saturday, April 14
4.11.12 | Football
Admission & Parking FREE to all Spectators at Lincoln Financial Field
Gamenotes in PDF
Temple football concludes spring drills this week with its annual Cherry & White Game, the final scrimmage, on Saturday, April 14 at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
While admission is FREE, all fans need to have a ticket for entrance to the stadium. Tickets are available for pick-up at the Liacouras Center Box Office until Friday, April 13. The Lincoln Financial Field Box Office will have tickets for pick-up ON GAMEDAY ONLY, opening at 9 a.m.
All fans must enter the stadium through the Comcast Gate at Head House Plaza, which opens at 10 a.m. Fans will be seated in Sections 118 to 121 in the lower level. Club level seating will not be available for the scrimmage.
Parking is FREE in Lot K to all who arrive before 11:30 a.m. Vehicles arriving after 11:30 a.m. will be charged $15 to park due to the Phillies' 4:05 p.m. game with the Mets.
Head coach Steve Addazio will hand out Spring Awards prior to the beginning of the second half.
Donate Old Cell Phones to HopeLine by Verizon
In honor of Earth Day, Temple Athletics and Verizon Wireless will be collecting no-longer used cell phones for the HopeLine recycling program and donation drive.
The official wireless provider of Temple University, Verizon Wireless collects used cell phones through the HopeLine program, that are then recycled or sold and donated in the form of cash grants and pre-paid wireless phones to advocacy groups to support domestic violence survivors.
Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 9 million phones, properly disposed of 1.72 million no-longer-used wireless phones, and kept more than 210 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.
Cherry & White Quick Facts
• The 2012 Cherry & White Scrimmage will be held at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the
Temple Owls since the 2003 season, for the first time.
• Previous Cherry & White scrimmages have been held at the Edberg-Olson Football Complex,
Temple's Ambler Campus, Geasey Field, and Temple Stadium.
• The largest estimated crowd at Edberg-Olson was 3,423 fans last spring.
Temple Football to Play in BIG EAST Conference This Fall
After five years in the Mid-American Conference, Temple football will begin play in the BIG EAST Conference this fall.
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.
2012 Schedule Notes
• The 2012 season marks Temple's 10th season of playing at Lincoln Financial Field.
• Temple opens the season on Labor Day weekend with cross-town rival Villanova in the
fourth (and final) Mayor's Cup, sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts.
• Homecoming is set for the BIG EAST opener with South Florida on Oct. 6.
• For the first time since 2003, Temple plays in-state rivals Penn State and Pitt, the only other
FBS teams in Pennsylvania, in the same season.
• Temple holds a series edge over Army (5-4), Cincinnati (9-4-1), Connecticut (8-4), and
Louisville (3-2),
• The Owls have never met South Florida on the gridiron.
• Five opponents [Cincinnati (Liberty), Louisville (Belk), Penn State (TicketCity), Pitt
(Compass), Rutgers (Pinstripe)] participated in bowls following the 2011 season.
• Temple, which was bowl-eligible for the third consecutive season, won the 2011 Gildan
New Mexico Bowl with a 37-15 decision over Wyoming.
• Temple will play 11 games in 2012.
• The Owls have two bye weeks, Sept. 15 and Sept. 29.
• The 2012 season marks Temple's 15th season of BIG EAST football play and the first since
2004. The Owls were football-only members of the conference for the 1991-2004 seasons.
TU played in the Mid-American Conference the last five seasons (2007-11).
Day, Leonard, Rogers Join Owl Staff
Ryan Day, Frank Leonard, and Kevin Rogers joined the Temple coaching staff this spring. Day will serve as the offensive coordinators and wide receivers coach, while Leonard is the tight ends coach. Rogers has been named the associate head coach and quarterbacks coach.
Day re-joined the Temple staff after five seasons as the wide receivers coach at Boston College. He joined Al Golden's staff at Temple for the 2006 season as the Owls' wide receivers coach.
A 24-year college coaching veteran, Leonard spent the last three seasons as the tight ends coach for the St. Louis Rams. Prior to making his NFL coaching debut, he served as tight ends coach at Kansas State.
Rogers, who served as the offensive coordinator at Boston College in 2011, completed his fifth season as quarterbacks coach of the Vikings and his 36th year in the coaching profession, 28 of which have been spent at the collegiate level, in 2010.
Additionally, Tyree Foreman has taken over as the recruiting coordinator, while Sean McGowan increased his duties as the special teams coordinator.
Temple Roster Changes
• Senior RB Matt Brown (Baltimore, Md.) has worn jersey #2 all spring instead of his #22. A decision as to which jersey number he will wear this fall is forthcoming.
• Sophomore #97 Wanemi Omuso (Burlington, N.J.) and junior #45 Dan Van Norton
(Berwyn, Pa.) have moved from the defensive line to tight end this spring.
• Joining the Owls as mid-year transfers are freshmen LB Tyler Matakevich (Stratford,
Conn.) and WR James Whitfield (Ft. Myers, Fla.).
• R-junior QB Mike Gerardi (Parsippany, N.J.) has decided to forego his remaining eligibility
and graduate in May. He will receive his degree in criminal justice.
Edberg-Olson Expansion
Edberg-Olson Hall, Temple's state-of-the-art on-campus football complex, is undergoing a $10 million upgrade and expansion. The additional 22,00 square feet, nearly doubling the building's size, will feature an expanded weight room, state-of-the-art training and injury rehabilitation center, academic lounge, and dining room. Construction began last fall and is expected to be completed in July 2012.
2012 NFL Draft
The NFL Draft returns to primetime in 2012, with the first round taking place Thursday, April 26, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 27. Rounds 4-7 will be held Sat., April 28. Watch all of the excitement of the 2012 NFL Draft live on the NFL Network.
Last spring, a school record 10 Owls signed NFL contracts, including NFL draft picks DT Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets) and S Jaiquawn Jarrett (Philadelphia Eagles), as well as eight free agent signees: WR Michael Campbell (New York Jets); TE Vaughn Charlton (Pittsburgh Steelers); twins LB Elijah “Peanut” Joseph and DT Eli Joseph (Green Bay Packers); LB Amara Kamara (Kansas City Chiefs); DB Marquise Liverpool (Detroit Lions), OL Colin Madison (Baltimore Ravens); and OL Darius Morris (Houston Texans).
Hardin, Palmer on Hall of Fame Ballot
Former Temple football coach Wayne Hardin (1970-82) and running back Paul Palmer (1983-86) are among the 84 honorees on the 2012 Football Bowl Subdivision Ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Hardin, who coached at Navy (1959-64) before heading to Temple, led the Owls to a No. 17 ranking in 1979. He is Temple's all-time leader in wins (80), leading the Owls to their only 10-win season and their first bowl win in the 1979 Garden State Bowl.
Palmer was an unanimous first-team All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1986, his senior season. He led the nation in rushing yards (1,866), rushing yards per game (169.6) and all-purpose yards (2,633) that season. Named 1986 ECAC Player of the Year, Palmer set 23 school records and remains the Owls' career leader in rushing attempts (935), rushing yards (4,895), 100-yard rushing games (21), and 200-yard rushing games (6).
2011 Season Review
Temple, under the direction of first-year head coach Steve Addazio, finished the 2011 campaign at 9-4 overall and 5-3 in MAC (2nd East) play after a 37-15 win over Wyoming in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, N.M.
Last season, junior RB Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) led all rushers with 1,481 yards and a single-season record 27 touchdowns on 273 carries. Senior TE Evan Rodriguez (North Bergen, N.J.) was the top receiver with 479 yards and two touchdowns on 35 receptions. Sophomore QB Chris Coyer (Oak Hill, Va.) was 30-of-50 for 463 yards and six touchdowns. Senior LB Stephen Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) led the defense with 123 tackles, including a team-best 68 solos, five break-ups, four TFL, three forced fumbles, and two sacks.
In the national rankings, Temple ranked among the nation's Top 25 in 10 categories, including No. 3 in scoring defense (13.92) [behind Alabama and LSU], No. 7 in rushing offense (256.54), No. 8 in kickoff returns (25.42), No. 12 in total defense (311.77), No. 14 in net punting (39.39), and No. 15 in pass defense (187.85). Individually, junior RB Bernard Pierce was No. 2 in scoring (13.50 ppg), No. 2 in rushing TDs (27), and No. 6 in rushing (123.42). Junior RB Matt Brown (Baltimore, Md.) was No. 25 in punt returns (10.11), No. 30 in all-purpose running (139.08), and No. 35 in kickoff returns (25.11). Junior PK Brandon McManus (Hatfield, Pa.) was No. 36 in field goals (1.2), while senior LB Stephen Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) was No. 31 in tackles (9.46). Over the last three seasons, Temple was 20-2 when Pierce carried the ball at least 18 times per game.
The Owls received votes in the final USA Today Coaches' Poll, ranking No. 34th nationally.
Up Next
The Owls open the 2012 season with Villanova in the fourth annual Mayor's Cup, sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts, at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, August 31.
Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $99 and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Sales Office at 215-204-8499 or visit www.OwlsTix.com.
Temple football concludes spring drills this week with its annual Cherry & White Game, the final scrimmage, on Saturday, April 14 at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
While admission is FREE, all fans need to have a ticket for entrance to the stadium. Tickets are available for pick-up at the Liacouras Center Box Office until Friday, April 13. The Lincoln Financial Field Box Office will have tickets for pick-up ON GAMEDAY ONLY, opening at 9 a.m.
All fans must enter the stadium through the Comcast Gate at Head House Plaza, which opens at 10 a.m. Fans will be seated in Sections 118 to 121 in the lower level. Club level seating will not be available for the scrimmage.
Parking is FREE in Lot K to all who arrive before 11:30 a.m. Vehicles arriving after 11:30 a.m. will be charged $15 to park due to the Phillies' 4:05 p.m. game with the Mets.
Head coach Steve Addazio will hand out Spring Awards prior to the beginning of the second half.
Donate Old Cell Phones to HopeLine by Verizon
In honor of Earth Day, Temple Athletics and Verizon Wireless will be collecting no-longer used cell phones for the HopeLine recycling program and donation drive.
The official wireless provider of Temple University, Verizon Wireless collects used cell phones through the HopeLine program, that are then recycled or sold and donated in the form of cash grants and pre-paid wireless phones to advocacy groups to support domestic violence survivors.
Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 9 million phones, properly disposed of 1.72 million no-longer-used wireless phones, and kept more than 210 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.
Cherry & White Quick Facts
• The 2012 Cherry & White Scrimmage will be held at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the
Temple Owls since the 2003 season, for the first time.
• Previous Cherry & White scrimmages have been held at the Edberg-Olson Football Complex,
Temple's Ambler Campus, Geasey Field, and Temple Stadium.
• The largest estimated crowd at Edberg-Olson was 3,423 fans last spring.
Temple Football to Play in BIG EAST Conference This Fall
After five years in the Mid-American Conference, Temple football will begin play in the BIG EAST Conference this fall.
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.
2012 Schedule Notes
• The 2012 season marks Temple's 10th season of playing at Lincoln Financial Field.
• Temple opens the season on Labor Day weekend with cross-town rival Villanova in the
fourth (and final) Mayor's Cup, sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts.
• Homecoming is set for the BIG EAST opener with South Florida on Oct. 6.
• For the first time since 2003, Temple plays in-state rivals Penn State and Pitt, the only other
FBS teams in Pennsylvania, in the same season.
• Temple holds a series edge over Army (5-4), Cincinnati (9-4-1), Connecticut (8-4), and
Louisville (3-2),
• The Owls have never met South Florida on the gridiron.
• Five opponents [Cincinnati (Liberty), Louisville (Belk), Penn State (TicketCity), Pitt
(Compass), Rutgers (Pinstripe)] participated in bowls following the 2011 season.
• Temple, which was bowl-eligible for the third consecutive season, won the 2011 Gildan
New Mexico Bowl with a 37-15 decision over Wyoming.
• Temple will play 11 games in 2012.
• The Owls have two bye weeks, Sept. 15 and Sept. 29.
• The 2012 season marks Temple's 15th season of BIG EAST football play and the first since
2004. The Owls were football-only members of the conference for the 1991-2004 seasons.
TU played in the Mid-American Conference the last five seasons (2007-11).
Day, Leonard, Rogers Join Owl Staff
Ryan Day, Frank Leonard, and Kevin Rogers joined the Temple coaching staff this spring. Day will serve as the offensive coordinators and wide receivers coach, while Leonard is the tight ends coach. Rogers has been named the associate head coach and quarterbacks coach.
Day re-joined the Temple staff after five seasons as the wide receivers coach at Boston College. He joined Al Golden's staff at Temple for the 2006 season as the Owls' wide receivers coach.
A 24-year college coaching veteran, Leonard spent the last three seasons as the tight ends coach for the St. Louis Rams. Prior to making his NFL coaching debut, he served as tight ends coach at Kansas State.
Rogers, who served as the offensive coordinator at Boston College in 2011, completed his fifth season as quarterbacks coach of the Vikings and his 36th year in the coaching profession, 28 of which have been spent at the collegiate level, in 2010.
Additionally, Tyree Foreman has taken over as the recruiting coordinator, while Sean McGowan increased his duties as the special teams coordinator.
Temple Roster Changes
• Senior RB Matt Brown (Baltimore, Md.) has worn jersey #2 all spring instead of his #22. A decision as to which jersey number he will wear this fall is forthcoming.
• Sophomore #97 Wanemi Omuso (Burlington, N.J.) and junior #45 Dan Van Norton
(Berwyn, Pa.) have moved from the defensive line to tight end this spring.
• Joining the Owls as mid-year transfers are freshmen LB Tyler Matakevich (Stratford,
Conn.) and WR James Whitfield (Ft. Myers, Fla.).
• R-junior QB Mike Gerardi (Parsippany, N.J.) has decided to forego his remaining eligibility
and graduate in May. He will receive his degree in criminal justice.
Edberg-Olson Expansion
Edberg-Olson Hall, Temple's state-of-the-art on-campus football complex, is undergoing a $10 million upgrade and expansion. The additional 22,00 square feet, nearly doubling the building's size, will feature an expanded weight room, state-of-the-art training and injury rehabilitation center, academic lounge, and dining room. Construction began last fall and is expected to be completed in July 2012.
2012 NFL Draft
The NFL Draft returns to primetime in 2012, with the first round taking place Thursday, April 26, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday, April 27. Rounds 4-7 will be held Sat., April 28. Watch all of the excitement of the 2012 NFL Draft live on the NFL Network.
Last spring, a school record 10 Owls signed NFL contracts, including NFL draft picks DT Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets) and S Jaiquawn Jarrett (Philadelphia Eagles), as well as eight free agent signees: WR Michael Campbell (New York Jets); TE Vaughn Charlton (Pittsburgh Steelers); twins LB Elijah “Peanut” Joseph and DT Eli Joseph (Green Bay Packers); LB Amara Kamara (Kansas City Chiefs); DB Marquise Liverpool (Detroit Lions), OL Colin Madison (Baltimore Ravens); and OL Darius Morris (Houston Texans).
Hardin, Palmer on Hall of Fame Ballot
Former Temple football coach Wayne Hardin (1970-82) and running back Paul Palmer (1983-86) are among the 84 honorees on the 2012 Football Bowl Subdivision Ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Hardin, who coached at Navy (1959-64) before heading to Temple, led the Owls to a No. 17 ranking in 1979. He is Temple's all-time leader in wins (80), leading the Owls to their only 10-win season and their first bowl win in the 1979 Garden State Bowl.
Palmer was an unanimous first-team All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1986, his senior season. He led the nation in rushing yards (1,866), rushing yards per game (169.6) and all-purpose yards (2,633) that season. Named 1986 ECAC Player of the Year, Palmer set 23 school records and remains the Owls' career leader in rushing attempts (935), rushing yards (4,895), 100-yard rushing games (21), and 200-yard rushing games (6).
2011 Season Review
Temple, under the direction of first-year head coach Steve Addazio, finished the 2011 campaign at 9-4 overall and 5-3 in MAC (2nd East) play after a 37-15 win over Wyoming in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, N.M.
Last season, junior RB Bernard Pierce (Ardmore, Pa.) led all rushers with 1,481 yards and a single-season record 27 touchdowns on 273 carries. Senior TE Evan Rodriguez (North Bergen, N.J.) was the top receiver with 479 yards and two touchdowns on 35 receptions. Sophomore QB Chris Coyer (Oak Hill, Va.) was 30-of-50 for 463 yards and six touchdowns. Senior LB Stephen Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) led the defense with 123 tackles, including a team-best 68 solos, five break-ups, four TFL, three forced fumbles, and two sacks.
In the national rankings, Temple ranked among the nation's Top 25 in 10 categories, including No. 3 in scoring defense (13.92) [behind Alabama and LSU], No. 7 in rushing offense (256.54), No. 8 in kickoff returns (25.42), No. 12 in total defense (311.77), No. 14 in net punting (39.39), and No. 15 in pass defense (187.85). Individually, junior RB Bernard Pierce was No. 2 in scoring (13.50 ppg), No. 2 in rushing TDs (27), and No. 6 in rushing (123.42). Junior RB Matt Brown (Baltimore, Md.) was No. 25 in punt returns (10.11), No. 30 in all-purpose running (139.08), and No. 35 in kickoff returns (25.11). Junior PK Brandon McManus (Hatfield, Pa.) was No. 36 in field goals (1.2), while senior LB Stephen Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) was No. 31 in tackles (9.46). Over the last three seasons, Temple was 20-2 when Pierce carried the ball at least 18 times per game.
The Owls received votes in the final USA Today Coaches' Poll, ranking No. 34th nationally.
Up Next
The Owls open the 2012 season with Villanova in the fourth annual Mayor's Cup, sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts, at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, August 31.
Temple football season tickets are on sale now for as low as $99 and can be purchased by calling the Temple Ticket Sales Office at 215-204-8499 or visit www.OwlsTix.com.
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