Temple University Athletics
Temple to Honor 1967 Middle Atlantic Championship Football Team This Saturday
10.10.17 | Football
The 1967Â Temple football team, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Owls' first-ever conference championship, will be honored this Saturday at Homecoming when the 2017 Owls battle UConn. Temple locked up the 1967 Middle Atlantic Conference title behind a 7-2 record, going a perfect 4-0 in the league.
After kicking off the season with a close victories over King's Point and Boston University, the '67 Owls fell into a 1-2 slump as tough losses to Buffalo and Dayton slowed down the campaign. After a 26-17 defeat of rival Delaware, the MAC's defending conference champions, Temple surged to a four-game win streak to finish the year, including a brilliant 22-21 escape in the season finale against Akron.
The Owls were headlined by a slew of top-tier talent, including junior RB Mike Busch, senior QB Tom DeFelice, senior WR George Agalias junior QB John Waller and junior WR Jim Callahan.
On the season, Busch accrued 622 rushing yards and five touchdowns, leading the team on the ground throughout the year. Today he serves in the Maryland House of Delegates as the Speaker of the House, where he has been in the position for the last 14 years.
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Waller, who tossed for 542 yards and seven scores to start the '67 campaign, suffered an injury midway through the year, leaving the team to captain Tom DeFelice. The senior quarterback closed out the season in outstanding form, throwing for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 1983, Waller was inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame, as his prestigious passing ability was of great renown while heading up the Owls. By graduation, Waller had accumulated eight school records, including touchdown passes in a career (45), passing yards in a game (440) and pass completions in a game (35).
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Callahan caught 32 passes for 617 yards throughout the season with an astonishing 11 balls going for scores. Combined with Waller, the pair made up one of the most dominant passing duos in all the collegiate football from 1966-68. Following graduation, Callahan was selected in the 6th round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He later became an author, publishing a book titled "WALLS." Later in 1981, Temple honored the long-time wideout with induction into the school's athletic Hall of Fame. During his career with the Owls, the standout talent notched a few records of his own, including most touchdown passes caught in a season (14) and a career (36) as well as longest pass from scrimmage (90 yards & still standing).
Of the 1967Â squad, four other players went pro, including Wayne Coleman (Eagles & Saints), Mike Stromberg (Jets), Chris Fletcher (Chargers) and Arnold Smith.Â
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After kicking off the season with a close victories over King's Point and Boston University, the '67 Owls fell into a 1-2 slump as tough losses to Buffalo and Dayton slowed down the campaign. After a 26-17 defeat of rival Delaware, the MAC's defending conference champions, Temple surged to a four-game win streak to finish the year, including a brilliant 22-21 escape in the season finale against Akron.
The Owls were headlined by a slew of top-tier talent, including junior RB Mike Busch, senior QB Tom DeFelice, senior WR George Agalias junior QB John Waller and junior WR Jim Callahan.
On the season, Busch accrued 622 rushing yards and five touchdowns, leading the team on the ground throughout the year. Today he serves in the Maryland House of Delegates as the Speaker of the House, where he has been in the position for the last 14 years.
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Waller, who tossed for 542 yards and seven scores to start the '67 campaign, suffered an injury midway through the year, leaving the team to captain Tom DeFelice. The senior quarterback closed out the season in outstanding form, throwing for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 1983, Waller was inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame, as his prestigious passing ability was of great renown while heading up the Owls. By graduation, Waller had accumulated eight school records, including touchdown passes in a career (45), passing yards in a game (440) and pass completions in a game (35).
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Callahan caught 32 passes for 617 yards throughout the season with an astonishing 11 balls going for scores. Combined with Waller, the pair made up one of the most dominant passing duos in all the collegiate football from 1966-68. Following graduation, Callahan was selected in the 6th round of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He later became an author, publishing a book titled "WALLS." Later in 1981, Temple honored the long-time wideout with induction into the school's athletic Hall of Fame. During his career with the Owls, the standout talent notched a few records of his own, including most touchdown passes caught in a season (14) and a career (36) as well as longest pass from scrimmage (90 yards & still standing).
Of the 1967Â squad, four other players went pro, including Wayne Coleman (Eagles & Saints), Mike Stromberg (Jets), Chris Fletcher (Chargers) and Arnold Smith.Â
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