Temple University Athletics
Temple to Honor Wayne Hardin
9.4.13 | Football
Legendary Coach Entering College Football Hall of Fame Later This Year
PHILADELPHIA – Earlier this year it was announced that former Temple football coach Wayne Hardin (1970-82) has been selected to the 2013 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Hall of Fame. This weekend, surrounding its home opener, Temple University will honor its legendary coach, including a reception Friday night in the Mitch and Debra Sonkin Special Events Room in Edberg Olson Hall. Coach Hardin, current head coach Matt Rhule, and alumni will attend. On Saturday during the home opener against Houston, Coach Hardin will be recognized in front of the home crowd at the end of the first quarter.
"What a special honor for a special man," said Coach Rhule. "I love when he comes around and imparts his wisdom on me and my fellow coaches. Coach Hardin is a winner; he changed the way people looked at Temple Football. That 1979 season remains historical. What we need to do is add to his legacy."
The Hall of Fame Class will be inducted at the 56th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 10, 2013, at the landmark Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
"This is a great day for Temple University," said Interim Director of Athletics Kevin Clark at the time of Hardin's selection. "Wayne Hardin is not only a Hall of Fame football coach, but a Hall of Fame person. The entire Temple community is grateful that he has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame."
The winningest football coach in Temple history, Hardin had an 80-52-3 record in 13 seasons. He led the 1979 team to the Garden State Bowl where the Owls defeated California for their first bowl win and finished 10-2 for the University's most wins ever in a season. That team was ranked No. 17 in both the AP and UPI polls, the first time the Owls were in the national wire service polls.
Hardin's teams set a Temple record of 14 straight wins (eight in 1973 and six in 1974). He was honored as the 1974 Kodak District II Coach of the Year. He produced numerous All-Americans and NCAA statistical leaders at Temple. Hardin was inducted into Temple's Hall of Fame in 1994.
Hardin is the third Temple Owl to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He joins former coaches Ray Morrison [1940-48, inducted in 1954] and Glenn S. "Pop" Warner [1933-38, inducted in 1951].
For the full National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame release, visit: http://www.footballfoundation.org
The Wayne Hardin Years [1970-82]
The 1970-72 Seasons
The opponent was Akron in the 1970 season opener. The Zips scored on their first three possessions and never looked back in a 21-0 victory over the Owls. Hardin's team bounced back the following week and beat Bucknell, 10-3, in the last meeting between the two schools. Temple now had possession of "The Old Shoe" trophy for good. The winning ways continued through the 1970 campaign, though the Owls lost their season finale against Villanova, 31-26. It was the first meeting between the two teams since 1943, and it was closely contested from start to finish. Temple-Villanova was the closing game of the regular season every year from 1970 to 1980.
The Owls compiled a record of 18-9-1 during Hardin's first three years as head coach and rolled on from there. Temple beat Villanova, 12-10, in the 1972 season finale. Temple Hall of Fame kicker Nick Mike-Mayer booted two field goals and the game-clinching touchdown was set up on a fumble recovery by Bob Bernardo, the son of Temple Hall of Famer Bill Bernardo. Wide receiver Clint Graves set a school record in 1972 with 63 receptions, and he set the single-game mark with 15 catches against Rhode Island.
Hardin's first few teams featured several other stars, including quarterback Doug Shobert, an Honorable Mention All-American in 1971; tight end Randy Grossman, a Third Team All-American in 1972; and offensive guard Bill Singletary, a First Team All-American in 1972. Singletary is the only football player in Temple history to have his number (64) retired.
The 1973 Season
The Owls re-established themselves as one of the dominant programs in the East in 1973, finishing the season at 9-1 to set a school record for wins. The team won its final eight games of the season, including a 34-0 shutout of Villanova in which the defense forced 10 turnovers. Hardin's veer offense was almost impossible to stop, as the team surpassed the 30-point mark in eight of 10 games. The backfield tandem of Tom Sloan and Henry Hynoski keyed a powerful rushing attack, and the passing game was left in the capable hands of Steve Joachim. Sloan became the first 1,000-yard rusher in school history, finishing the year with 1,036 yards. Hynoski surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in 1974.
The 1974 Season
The Temple offense was just as tough to stop that season, and the defense was downright stingy. The Owls won their first six games of 1974, running their win streak to 14 games. It was the longest streak in the nation and it still stands as the longest in school history. In a nine-game stretch that spanned two seasons, Temple outscored its opponents, 361-58. The 14th victim of Hardin's Owls was Delaware, which battled hard before losing a 21-17 contest at Veterans Stadium. That marked Temple's first game at the South Philadelphia venue. The win streak was snapped the following week by Cincinnati, 22-20. The Owls finished the season with a record of 8-2, winning their finale against Villanova, 17-7, in another game played at The Vet.
The awards came piling in after the season. Joachim received numerous All-American honors, offensive guard Pat Staub was an All-East choice and defensive tackle Joe Klecko was an Honorable Mention All-American. The accolades culminated in Joachim being selected the Maxwell Award winner as National Player of the Year.
The 1975 Season
The 1975 season opener provided another milestone for the Owls, as the team faced Penn State for the first time since 1952. Running back Bob Harris shocked the Nittany Lions by breaking through the middle for a 76-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The up-and-back contest tilted toward the Owls in the fourth quarter when Anthony Anderson ran for a touchdown that gave Temple a 23-18 lead. But Penn State would score the last touchdown after a long punt return and win the game, 26-25.
The 1976-78 Seasons
The Owls and Nittany Lions played another one-point game the following year at Veterans Stadium. Beginning in 1976, The Vet became the new home of the Temple football team. Early in the season, the stadium hosted the first meeting between Temple and Grambling, which was coached by the legendary Eddie Robinson. The Owls won the contest, 31-30. That score was reversed when Penn State returned to town in October. Temple scored on the last play of the game to make the score 31-30, and Hardin opted for a two-point conversion attempt to beat the Nittany Lions. The conversion attempt failed.
Klecko ranked as the top tackler in school history following the 1976 season. Another group of stars then arrived on campus that would eventually produce the most successful season in school history. Temple Hall of Famers Anthony Anderson and Steve Watson built that success in 1977 and 1978. The Owls wrapped up both years with a trip to Japan to play in the Mirage Bowl. Tokyo's Korakeun Stadium hosted Temple-Grambling in 1977 (a 28-24 Owls' win) and Temple-Boston College in 1978 (a 29-17 Temple win). Running back Zachary Dixon set a single-season school rushing record in the BC game. He finished the year with 1,153 yards on the ground, and the Owls finished with a record of 7-3-1.
The 1979 Season
The 1979 campaign opened with three straight victories before Hardin's squad lost to Pittsburgh, 10-9. The Owls bounced back to rout Rutgers and Syracuse on the way to five straight wins. The 8-1 start had the Owls thinking about a postseason bowl bid in November. A loss to Penn State was followed by a 42-10 rout of Villanova, giving the team a record of 9-2 and securing a berth in the Garden State Bowl. Temple's offense was led by quarterback Brian Broomell, and his top receiving target was Gerald "Sweet Feet" Lucear, who set several records that year. The defense featured record-setting linebacker Steve Conjar, who had 163 tackles that season and surpassed that mark with 174 stops in 1980.
The Garden State Bowl opponent was California and the matchup painted Temple as the defender of Eastern football. The Owls jumped on the Golden Bears for three touchdowns in the first quarter, with running back Kevin Duckett scoring a pair of touchdowns. California chipped away at the 21-0 lead in the second quarter, scoring a pair of touchdowns to make it 21-14 at the half. A field goal early in the fourth quarter cut the lead to 21-17. Broomell then led the Owls on a 14-play, 78-yard drive that culminated with a five-yard TD pass to Lucear. Significant credit for Temple's offensive success went to running back Mark Bright, who totaled 112 yards rushing on 19 carries. The Owls won the game, 28-17, and Bright was voted the game's Most Valuable Player. Temple's 10-2 finish to the 1979 season marks the highest single-season win total in school history.
Hardin coached the Owls through the 1982 season, compiling 80 wins in his 13 seasons on North Broad Street. He had the most wins and the longest tenure of any Temple football coach.
"What a special honor for a special man," said Coach Rhule. "I love when he comes around and imparts his wisdom on me and my fellow coaches. Coach Hardin is a winner; he changed the way people looked at Temple Football. That 1979 season remains historical. What we need to do is add to his legacy."
The Hall of Fame Class will be inducted at the 56th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 10, 2013, at the landmark Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
"This is a great day for Temple University," said Interim Director of Athletics Kevin Clark at the time of Hardin's selection. "Wayne Hardin is not only a Hall of Fame football coach, but a Hall of Fame person. The entire Temple community is grateful that he has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame."
The winningest football coach in Temple history, Hardin had an 80-52-3 record in 13 seasons. He led the 1979 team to the Garden State Bowl where the Owls defeated California for their first bowl win and finished 10-2 for the University's most wins ever in a season. That team was ranked No. 17 in both the AP and UPI polls, the first time the Owls were in the national wire service polls.
Hardin's teams set a Temple record of 14 straight wins (eight in 1973 and six in 1974). He was honored as the 1974 Kodak District II Coach of the Year. He produced numerous All-Americans and NCAA statistical leaders at Temple. Hardin was inducted into Temple's Hall of Fame in 1994.
Hardin is the third Temple Owl to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He joins former coaches Ray Morrison [1940-48, inducted in 1954] and Glenn S. "Pop" Warner [1933-38, inducted in 1951].
For the full National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame release, visit: http://www.footballfoundation.org
=========================================================================
The Wayne Hardin Years [1970-82]
The 1970-72 Seasons
The opponent was Akron in the 1970 season opener. The Zips scored on their first three possessions and never looked back in a 21-0 victory over the Owls. Hardin's team bounced back the following week and beat Bucknell, 10-3, in the last meeting between the two schools. Temple now had possession of "The Old Shoe" trophy for good. The winning ways continued through the 1970 campaign, though the Owls lost their season finale against Villanova, 31-26. It was the first meeting between the two teams since 1943, and it was closely contested from start to finish. Temple-Villanova was the closing game of the regular season every year from 1970 to 1980.
The Owls compiled a record of 18-9-1 during Hardin's first three years as head coach and rolled on from there. Temple beat Villanova, 12-10, in the 1972 season finale. Temple Hall of Fame kicker Nick Mike-Mayer booted two field goals and the game-clinching touchdown was set up on a fumble recovery by Bob Bernardo, the son of Temple Hall of Famer Bill Bernardo. Wide receiver Clint Graves set a school record in 1972 with 63 receptions, and he set the single-game mark with 15 catches against Rhode Island.
Hardin's first few teams featured several other stars, including quarterback Doug Shobert, an Honorable Mention All-American in 1971; tight end Randy Grossman, a Third Team All-American in 1972; and offensive guard Bill Singletary, a First Team All-American in 1972. Singletary is the only football player in Temple history to have his number (64) retired.
The 1973 Season
The Owls re-established themselves as one of the dominant programs in the East in 1973, finishing the season at 9-1 to set a school record for wins. The team won its final eight games of the season, including a 34-0 shutout of Villanova in which the defense forced 10 turnovers. Hardin's veer offense was almost impossible to stop, as the team surpassed the 30-point mark in eight of 10 games. The backfield tandem of Tom Sloan and Henry Hynoski keyed a powerful rushing attack, and the passing game was left in the capable hands of Steve Joachim. Sloan became the first 1,000-yard rusher in school history, finishing the year with 1,036 yards. Hynoski surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in 1974.
The 1974 Season
The Temple offense was just as tough to stop that season, and the defense was downright stingy. The Owls won their first six games of 1974, running their win streak to 14 games. It was the longest streak in the nation and it still stands as the longest in school history. In a nine-game stretch that spanned two seasons, Temple outscored its opponents, 361-58. The 14th victim of Hardin's Owls was Delaware, which battled hard before losing a 21-17 contest at Veterans Stadium. That marked Temple's first game at the South Philadelphia venue. The win streak was snapped the following week by Cincinnati, 22-20. The Owls finished the season with a record of 8-2, winning their finale against Villanova, 17-7, in another game played at The Vet.
The awards came piling in after the season. Joachim received numerous All-American honors, offensive guard Pat Staub was an All-East choice and defensive tackle Joe Klecko was an Honorable Mention All-American. The accolades culminated in Joachim being selected the Maxwell Award winner as National Player of the Year.
The 1975 Season
The 1975 season opener provided another milestone for the Owls, as the team faced Penn State for the first time since 1952. Running back Bob Harris shocked the Nittany Lions by breaking through the middle for a 76-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The up-and-back contest tilted toward the Owls in the fourth quarter when Anthony Anderson ran for a touchdown that gave Temple a 23-18 lead. But Penn State would score the last touchdown after a long punt return and win the game, 26-25.
The 1976-78 Seasons
The Owls and Nittany Lions played another one-point game the following year at Veterans Stadium. Beginning in 1976, The Vet became the new home of the Temple football team. Early in the season, the stadium hosted the first meeting between Temple and Grambling, which was coached by the legendary Eddie Robinson. The Owls won the contest, 31-30. That score was reversed when Penn State returned to town in October. Temple scored on the last play of the game to make the score 31-30, and Hardin opted for a two-point conversion attempt to beat the Nittany Lions. The conversion attempt failed.
Klecko ranked as the top tackler in school history following the 1976 season. Another group of stars then arrived on campus that would eventually produce the most successful season in school history. Temple Hall of Famers Anthony Anderson and Steve Watson built that success in 1977 and 1978. The Owls wrapped up both years with a trip to Japan to play in the Mirage Bowl. Tokyo's Korakeun Stadium hosted Temple-Grambling in 1977 (a 28-24 Owls' win) and Temple-Boston College in 1978 (a 29-17 Temple win). Running back Zachary Dixon set a single-season school rushing record in the BC game. He finished the year with 1,153 yards on the ground, and the Owls finished with a record of 7-3-1.
The 1979 Season
The 1979 campaign opened with three straight victories before Hardin's squad lost to Pittsburgh, 10-9. The Owls bounced back to rout Rutgers and Syracuse on the way to five straight wins. The 8-1 start had the Owls thinking about a postseason bowl bid in November. A loss to Penn State was followed by a 42-10 rout of Villanova, giving the team a record of 9-2 and securing a berth in the Garden State Bowl. Temple's offense was led by quarterback Brian Broomell, and his top receiving target was Gerald "Sweet Feet" Lucear, who set several records that year. The defense featured record-setting linebacker Steve Conjar, who had 163 tackles that season and surpassed that mark with 174 stops in 1980.
The Garden State Bowl opponent was California and the matchup painted Temple as the defender of Eastern football. The Owls jumped on the Golden Bears for three touchdowns in the first quarter, with running back Kevin Duckett scoring a pair of touchdowns. California chipped away at the 21-0 lead in the second quarter, scoring a pair of touchdowns to make it 21-14 at the half. A field goal early in the fourth quarter cut the lead to 21-17. Broomell then led the Owls on a 14-play, 78-yard drive that culminated with a five-yard TD pass to Lucear. Significant credit for Temple's offensive success went to running back Mark Bright, who totaled 112 yards rushing on 19 carries. The Owls won the game, 28-17, and Bright was voted the game's Most Valuable Player. Temple's 10-2 finish to the 1979 season marks the highest single-season win total in school history.
Hardin coached the Owls through the 1982 season, compiling 80 wins in his 13 seasons on North Broad Street. He had the most wins and the longest tenure of any Temple football coach.
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