Temple University Athletics
Pierce (green shirt) & Brown (black shirt) with other 2011 Seniors
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Changes for Pierce & Brown
4.14.12 | Football
Duo Watches Spring Scrimmage from the Sidelines While Awaiting NFL Draft
by Kami Mattioli, OwlSports.com columnist
Ask any athlete and they'll tell you that even the shortest of moments can change one's life.
And if you believe that to be true, imagine how much changes in five months.
That's how long it's been since members of the 2011 Temple football squad hoisted a trophy at the Gildan New Mexico Bowl before a backdrop of majestic mountains in Albuquerque.
With the mild breeze of late morning at their backs, many of the same players were back on the gridiron at Lincoln Financial Field for the team's annual Cherry and White scrimmage.
The friendly split-squad showcase capped off the team's spring practice season and featured many of the familiar names that led Temple to its first bowl victory since 1979 back in mid-December.
But with a cursory glance at the roster, even the most casual of Temple fans saw there were two names noticeably absent.
After being responsible for so much of the rebirth and renewal of the Temple football program, running back Bernard Pierce and former defensive end Morkeith Brown are two names fans subconsciously search for.
But those names, obviously, weren't listed.
Brown graduated from Temple last May and exhausted his eligibility after the conclusion of the fall season. Pierce opted to forgo his senior season.
As much as things change, though, they often stay the same.
That's why it wasn't surprising to find Pierce and Brown on the sidelines at Lincoln Financial Field alongside a handful of other former Temple players casting nostalgic glances at the action on the field.
“It's nice coming back and seeing everybody enjoy the foundation that everyone else has built,” Pierce said of his view from the opposite side of the bench. “It's crazy how much the Temple football program built itself and how much of the tradition has stayed.”
Sitting directly to Pierce's left, a noticeably more-chiseled Brown chimed in.
“It's exciting to see players that didn't get the opportunity to play last year out on the field making plays this year,” he said. “It's always good to see new people stepping up and becoming leaders. Every year you need some guys to become leaders, because without them out there, you can't have a successful season.”
This fall's Temple squad will have some big shoes to fill.
After spending the winter training in Atlanta together, Brown and Pierce have both declared for the upcoming NFL draft, and in less than two weeks, they'll find out their fates.
The bond the two players forged as part of Temple football program has flourished outside the confines of the university, as the duo, who share the same agent, challenged each other every day.
“It's always easier to train with someone you know. We helped motivate each other,” Brown said of their time in Atlanta. “You know you have the same goal at the end of the day. When you're by yourself, sometimes you get lost in the negative thoughts and you might feel a little sore and feel bad for yourself, but when you're with somebody you know they can pick you up.”
Pierce laughed at Brown's assessment of the soreness they experienced in their first week of training for the pros.
Even with multiple seasons of Coach Addazio's training camp two-a-days under his belt, Pierce said he'd “never trained so hard.”
“It was pretty tough on my body. The first couple of days I was dead after every workout.”
But in 12 days, the two will find out what rewards they'll reap for the hard work and dedication they've shown. The countdown to draft day is on.
Ask either of them if they're nervous and they'll tell you no. They'll offer that they're excited, maybe anxious, but the smiles on their faces tells the whole story.
They're ready to make the most of their opportunity.
And so is the program where the pair grew their roots, as Temple begins its new slate of games in the Big East Conference this fall -- a development that occurred a few months after Pierce announced he would not return.
When asked if an earlier announcement of Temple to the Big East may have swayed his decision, Pierce never wavered in his response.
“The decision I made is the decision I made,” he said. “I wouldn't say I have any regrets. At the end of the day, I had fun here. The coaches are great. Coach Addazio is a great man. He built and is continuing to build this program so it's still on the rise. I just feel I had to do what's best for me.”
It's not just about Pierce though, whose girlfriend has a baby boy due in July. He wants to support his family, all of whom have supported him at his time here, and show the football world that you can make a name for yourself at Temple University.
For Brown, the impact of the Big East announcement was more of a foray into what could have been.
“I wish Temple to the Big East happened one year sooner than it did,” he joked.
“Temple's been a good team for four years now, but we didn't get a lot of exposure while we were in the MAC,” he continued. “Being in a bigger conference -- a BCS conference -- will give us a better chance to play in bowl games, play stiffer competition and show other teams that our athletes are just as good as other BCS teams.”
As Brown's eyes carefully scanned the expanse of the field while hidden behind aviator sunglasses, one couldn't help but wonder if he was remembering all the moments that had been seasons before.
Regardless, it's now in the rearview for Pierce and Brown, while the clock ticks closer to each man discovering what the future holds -- separately.
No matter what happens in the next two weeks, there is solace in the fact that Bernard Pierce and Morkeith Brown will be forever bonded as Temple Owls by the moment they hoisted the Gildan New Mexico Bowl trophy high above their heads in victory.
Ask any athlete and they'll tell you that even the shortest of moments can change one's life.
And if you believe that to be true, imagine how much changes in five months.
That's how long it's been since members of the 2011 Temple football squad hoisted a trophy at the Gildan New Mexico Bowl before a backdrop of majestic mountains in Albuquerque.
With the mild breeze of late morning at their backs, many of the same players were back on the gridiron at Lincoln Financial Field for the team's annual Cherry and White scrimmage.
The friendly split-squad showcase capped off the team's spring practice season and featured many of the familiar names that led Temple to its first bowl victory since 1979 back in mid-December.
But with a cursory glance at the roster, even the most casual of Temple fans saw there were two names noticeably absent.
After being responsible for so much of the rebirth and renewal of the Temple football program, running back Bernard Pierce and former defensive end Morkeith Brown are two names fans subconsciously search for.
But those names, obviously, weren't listed.
Brown graduated from Temple last May and exhausted his eligibility after the conclusion of the fall season. Pierce opted to forgo his senior season.
As much as things change, though, they often stay the same.
That's why it wasn't surprising to find Pierce and Brown on the sidelines at Lincoln Financial Field alongside a handful of other former Temple players casting nostalgic glances at the action on the field.
“It's nice coming back and seeing everybody enjoy the foundation that everyone else has built,” Pierce said of his view from the opposite side of the bench. “It's crazy how much the Temple football program built itself and how much of the tradition has stayed.”
Sitting directly to Pierce's left, a noticeably more-chiseled Brown chimed in.
“It's exciting to see players that didn't get the opportunity to play last year out on the field making plays this year,” he said. “It's always good to see new people stepping up and becoming leaders. Every year you need some guys to become leaders, because without them out there, you can't have a successful season.”
This fall's Temple squad will have some big shoes to fill.
After spending the winter training in Atlanta together, Brown and Pierce have both declared for the upcoming NFL draft, and in less than two weeks, they'll find out their fates.
The bond the two players forged as part of Temple football program has flourished outside the confines of the university, as the duo, who share the same agent, challenged each other every day.
“It's always easier to train with someone you know. We helped motivate each other,” Brown said of their time in Atlanta. “You know you have the same goal at the end of the day. When you're by yourself, sometimes you get lost in the negative thoughts and you might feel a little sore and feel bad for yourself, but when you're with somebody you know they can pick you up.”
Pierce laughed at Brown's assessment of the soreness they experienced in their first week of training for the pros.
Even with multiple seasons of Coach Addazio's training camp two-a-days under his belt, Pierce said he'd “never trained so hard.”
“It was pretty tough on my body. The first couple of days I was dead after every workout.”
But in 12 days, the two will find out what rewards they'll reap for the hard work and dedication they've shown. The countdown to draft day is on.
Ask either of them if they're nervous and they'll tell you no. They'll offer that they're excited, maybe anxious, but the smiles on their faces tells the whole story.
They're ready to make the most of their opportunity.
And so is the program where the pair grew their roots, as Temple begins its new slate of games in the Big East Conference this fall -- a development that occurred a few months after Pierce announced he would not return.
When asked if an earlier announcement of Temple to the Big East may have swayed his decision, Pierce never wavered in his response.
“The decision I made is the decision I made,” he said. “I wouldn't say I have any regrets. At the end of the day, I had fun here. The coaches are great. Coach Addazio is a great man. He built and is continuing to build this program so it's still on the rise. I just feel I had to do what's best for me.”
It's not just about Pierce though, whose girlfriend has a baby boy due in July. He wants to support his family, all of whom have supported him at his time here, and show the football world that you can make a name for yourself at Temple University.
For Brown, the impact of the Big East announcement was more of a foray into what could have been.
“I wish Temple to the Big East happened one year sooner than it did,” he joked.
“Temple's been a good team for four years now, but we didn't get a lot of exposure while we were in the MAC,” he continued. “Being in a bigger conference -- a BCS conference -- will give us a better chance to play in bowl games, play stiffer competition and show other teams that our athletes are just as good as other BCS teams.”
As Brown's eyes carefully scanned the expanse of the field while hidden behind aviator sunglasses, one couldn't help but wonder if he was remembering all the moments that had been seasons before.
Regardless, it's now in the rearview for Pierce and Brown, while the clock ticks closer to each man discovering what the future holds -- separately.
No matter what happens in the next two weeks, there is solace in the fact that Bernard Pierce and Morkeith Brown will be forever bonded as Temple Owls by the moment they hoisted the Gildan New Mexico Bowl trophy high above their heads in victory.
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 05
