Temple University Athletics
Where There’s A Will, There’s a Way
12.13.19 | Football
To college football enthusiasts, bowl season is special. Your team is coming off a winning year. That season is extended. During the holidays there is college football almost every day.
For student-athletes who play football, you get to play more games with your football family. You get to go to some place special. Sometimes, you get to go to some place warm! And, there is always the gift suite!
The 2017 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl had all those things for the Temple Owls. But for then-sophomore linebacker William Kwenkeu, it will always be an unforgettable experience.
The game itself was a memorable one for Kwenkeu. With starting middle linebacker Shaun Bradley nursing an injury, Kwenkeu made his first career start, the first of his career. He led the Owls with six tackles and had a career-best 2.0 sacks and TFLs as the Owls dominated FIU, 28-3.
"I knew I was going to get a lot of reps," said Kwenkeu, "because Shaun had broken his hand. He still had a great game (4 tackles, one interception) because he's a dude. He's awesome."
If Kweneku was not prepared for that moment, one might understand. You see, he left Florida the morning before the game to return to Philadelphia. He was scheduled to take his U.S. Naturalization Test and interview to become a United States citizen.
Kwenkeu was born in Douala, Cameroon, in 1998. Hs mother, Martine Etammane, was so impressed with Bill Clinton during his second inauguration that she named her newborn son, William, after the 42nd President of the United States. Martine immigrated in 2010 and brought William along one year later.
Fast-forward to Wednesday, December 20, 2017 – the day before the Gasparilla Bowl. Without many teammates knowing, Kwenkeu chaperoned by graduate assistant, Tom Bradway, left the hotel in St. Petersburg early in the morning to return to Philadelphia. Kwenkeu headed to his on-campus apartment to gather some items and met his mother and then two Uber'd to the immigration office.
"I'm not a talkative person," said Kwenkeu when asked how many people knew of his plan. "It wasn't a secret but it didn't come up much. My closest friends on the team – like Todd Jones and Karamo Dioubate – knew about it."
To prepare for the exam, Kwenkeu was told to prepare for about 100 questions about U.S. history and politics. The actual exam consisted of about ten questions and was followed by an interview. Kwenkeu aced them both and was told that day that he passed and an official swearing-in date was scheduled for January.
"It's like getting a driver's license," he said of the process. "If you fail the test, you need to wait a while before you can apply again."
"I was definitely more nervous about the citizenship," said Kwenkeu when asked to compare the totality of that 48-hour span. "I was well prepared for both. Once I went through the naturalization process I was able to relax and take a deep breath."
When asked which was more exciting Kwenkeu was at a loss, "Both were equally exciting." When reminded that you can start many football games but you can only be sworn in as a citizen one time he replied, "That's very true."
He should be given many more opportunities on the football field. Earlier this year Kwenkeu approached head coach Rod Carey about the possibility of redshirting so that he can extend his career at Temple. With a deep and talented linebacking corps that features Bradley, fellow seniors Chapelle Russell and Sam Franklin, and redshirt junior Isaiah Graham-Mobley, game-time snaps were at a premium this year. It made sense for both Kwenkeu and the program to hold off his final year of eligibility till the 2020 season.
That allows Kwenkeu to complete his degree in adult & organizational development and pursue a master's degree. It also permits him to play up to four games this season, including the 2019 Military Bowl.
In 40 career games, Kwenkeu has tallied 83 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery. That Gasparilla Bowl game remains his only career start.
"Definitely was my best game so far," reflected Kwenkeu. "I have to get back to that and more."
No one will work harder than Kwenkeu to earn his spot on the field.
"No one wants to be given anything. I want to work hard and earn the spot. I know there is a lot of speculation that is just going to be given to Isaiah or me. You have to show up every day and prove that you deserve to be in that position. No one, especially not myself, wants to be given anything. I want to earn it."
For student-athletes who play football, you get to play more games with your football family. You get to go to some place special. Sometimes, you get to go to some place warm! And, there is always the gift suite!
The 2017 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl had all those things for the Temple Owls. But for then-sophomore linebacker William Kwenkeu, it will always be an unforgettable experience.
The game itself was a memorable one for Kwenkeu. With starting middle linebacker Shaun Bradley nursing an injury, Kwenkeu made his first career start, the first of his career. He led the Owls with six tackles and had a career-best 2.0 sacks and TFLs as the Owls dominated FIU, 28-3.
"I knew I was going to get a lot of reps," said Kwenkeu, "because Shaun had broken his hand. He still had a great game (4 tackles, one interception) because he's a dude. He's awesome."
If Kweneku was not prepared for that moment, one might understand. You see, he left Florida the morning before the game to return to Philadelphia. He was scheduled to take his U.S. Naturalization Test and interview to become a United States citizen.
Kwenkeu was born in Douala, Cameroon, in 1998. Hs mother, Martine Etammane, was so impressed with Bill Clinton during his second inauguration that she named her newborn son, William, after the 42nd President of the United States. Martine immigrated in 2010 and brought William along one year later.
Fast-forward to Wednesday, December 20, 2017 – the day before the Gasparilla Bowl. Without many teammates knowing, Kwenkeu chaperoned by graduate assistant, Tom Bradway, left the hotel in St. Petersburg early in the morning to return to Philadelphia. Kwenkeu headed to his on-campus apartment to gather some items and met his mother and then two Uber'd to the immigration office.
"I'm not a talkative person," said Kwenkeu when asked how many people knew of his plan. "It wasn't a secret but it didn't come up much. My closest friends on the team – like Todd Jones and Karamo Dioubate – knew about it."
To prepare for the exam, Kwenkeu was told to prepare for about 100 questions about U.S. history and politics. The actual exam consisted of about ten questions and was followed by an interview. Kwenkeu aced them both and was told that day that he passed and an official swearing-in date was scheduled for January.
"It's like getting a driver's license," he said of the process. "If you fail the test, you need to wait a while before you can apply again."
"I was definitely more nervous about the citizenship," said Kwenkeu when asked to compare the totality of that 48-hour span. "I was well prepared for both. Once I went through the naturalization process I was able to relax and take a deep breath."
When asked which was more exciting Kwenkeu was at a loss, "Both were equally exciting." When reminded that you can start many football games but you can only be sworn in as a citizen one time he replied, "That's very true."
He should be given many more opportunities on the football field. Earlier this year Kwenkeu approached head coach Rod Carey about the possibility of redshirting so that he can extend his career at Temple. With a deep and talented linebacking corps that features Bradley, fellow seniors Chapelle Russell and Sam Franklin, and redshirt junior Isaiah Graham-Mobley, game-time snaps were at a premium this year. It made sense for both Kwenkeu and the program to hold off his final year of eligibility till the 2020 season.
That allows Kwenkeu to complete his degree in adult & organizational development and pursue a master's degree. It also permits him to play up to four games this season, including the 2019 Military Bowl.
In 40 career games, Kwenkeu has tallied 83 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery. That Gasparilla Bowl game remains his only career start.
"Definitely was my best game so far," reflected Kwenkeu. "I have to get back to that and more."
No one will work harder than Kwenkeu to earn his spot on the field.
"No one wants to be given anything. I want to work hard and earn the spot. I know there is a lot of speculation that is just going to be given to Isaiah or me. You have to show up every day and prove that you deserve to be in that position. No one, especially not myself, wants to be given anything. I want to earn it."
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DT
/ Football
BUBO
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballLB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballEp. 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
