Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Romeo Guzman
Football Looks Forward to East Carolina Matchup
10.28.14 | Football
After a 34-14 loss to the UCF Knights last week, head coach Matt Rhule held his weekly press conference and spoke about the Owls' upcoming home meeting with the #21 East Carolina Pirates. The November 1 matchup will be broadcast on ESPNews with a kickoff time at 12 p.m. Those in the Philadelphia area can listen to the game on 97.5 The Fanatic with Harry Donahue (play-by-play), Paul Palmer (analyst) and Harry Mayes (sidelines).
Below is Coach Rhule's opening statement:
"I appreciate everybody coming, thank you very much. Obviously we have a tremendous task ahead of this week, it's a great test for us to play a tremendous East Carolina team, a Top-20 team, and probably the best football team we've played in the last two years. Offensively, they are absolutely dynamic, defensively, they play with tremendous swagger and energy. It's going to be a big test for our football team and also a great opportunity for us to measure ourselves against that team.
Obviously, we're disappointed in coming off Saturday and the last two games where we haven't played our brand of football. It's one thing to win or lose, but we haven't played the way we want to play. I think it's really a pivotal moment for us; you don't want to say a young football team, but a football team that's trying to figure out how to win or lose all the time. I think, with even being out a practice today, that we're a little bit rattled, our confidence is a little bit shaken. As I told them, this is their last opportunity to play a Top-25 team this year, it's their last opportunity to play someone that's done the things that these guys have done, and we better quickly regain our confidence if we want to play a high level. It's pivotal in that a couple of weeks ago people were saying "now you're 4-1" and now we're 4-3. As I said to our players, it's not about your record, it's not about who you're playing, it's not about the officiating, it's not about anything, it's about how you play. We've played good football at times, we obviously didn't play good football on Saturday and to have a chance against a really good East Carolina team, we're going to have to play good football. If we can play good football down the stretch, then we'll do good things, we'll be a good team, and we'll have great outcomes. But we have to get back to being who we are, playing the way we want to play, playing with the energy and intensity and focus that we have. I think the kids are ready; they wanted to play hard, I think right now they're just shaken and rattled, and hopefully we'll regain that this week as we go play these guys as they come in."
Below is Coach Rhule's opening statement:
"I appreciate everybody coming, thank you very much. Obviously we have a tremendous task ahead of this week, it's a great test for us to play a tremendous East Carolina team, a Top-20 team, and probably the best football team we've played in the last two years. Offensively, they are absolutely dynamic, defensively, they play with tremendous swagger and energy. It's going to be a big test for our football team and also a great opportunity for us to measure ourselves against that team.
Obviously, we're disappointed in coming off Saturday and the last two games where we haven't played our brand of football. It's one thing to win or lose, but we haven't played the way we want to play. I think it's really a pivotal moment for us; you don't want to say a young football team, but a football team that's trying to figure out how to win or lose all the time. I think, with even being out a practice today, that we're a little bit rattled, our confidence is a little bit shaken. As I told them, this is their last opportunity to play a Top-25 team this year, it's their last opportunity to play someone that's done the things that these guys have done, and we better quickly regain our confidence if we want to play a high level. It's pivotal in that a couple of weeks ago people were saying "now you're 4-1" and now we're 4-3. As I said to our players, it's not about your record, it's not about who you're playing, it's not about the officiating, it's not about anything, it's about how you play. We've played good football at times, we obviously didn't play good football on Saturday and to have a chance against a really good East Carolina team, we're going to have to play good football. If we can play good football down the stretch, then we'll do good things, we'll be a good team, and we'll have great outcomes. But we have to get back to being who we are, playing the way we want to play, playing with the energy and intensity and focus that we have. I think the kids are ready; they wanted to play hard, I think right now they're just shaken and rattled, and hopefully we'll regain that this week as we go play these guys as they come in."
Ep. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Adam Fisher)
Sunday, December 14
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Derrian Ford & Gavin Griffiths)
Sunday, December 14
Ep. 28: Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson
Friday, December 12
