Temple University Athletics
Football Hosts Bucknell in Season Opener
8.26.19 | Football
THIS WEEK
After plenty of anticipation dating back to January, Rod Carey begins his first season as the Temple head coach. As the first weekend of football is finally here, the Owls will be hosting fellow Pennsylvania foe, the Bucknell Bison. Kickoff is set for Saturday, August 31, at 3:00 p.m. EST and will air on ESPN3, 97.5 The Fanatic, and WHIP Radio. The two Pennsylvania football squads have a rich history dating back to 1927. The Owls and Bison played every year from 1927-1970 in what was known as "The Old Shoe Game." The bronze statue of a football cleat was awarded to the winning school, which held the bronze trophy until the following year's game. The tradition ended in 1970 following the most recent game between the programs. The bronze cleat trophy, which is not on the line anymore, sits in the Temple trophy case at Edberg-Olsen Hall to this day.
Temple's starting quarterback, Anthony Russo, will make his first career opening day start. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Maxwell Award nominee returns as the starter after taking the reins at Maryland last season. Many weapons Russo utilized last season return again for 2019. New single-digit WRs Branden Mack and Isaiah Wright return for their redshirt junior and senior season, respectively. Mack proved to be a go-to guy for his quarterbacks last year, and hasn't looked back since. Mack led the team in touchdown receptions (5) a season ago and was second on the team in catches (44) and yards (601) behind Temple's all-time leader Ventell Bryant. Wright, a Hornung Award watch list member, is one of the most versatile players in the country. He will be getting the ball in a variety of ways from every position on the offense. Wright is also regarded as one of the best returners in the nation having been picked as a preseason All-American returner across multiple organizations. Wright finished last season second in the nation in combined kick return yards and first in touchdown returns with three. The offensive line returns single-digits Jovahn Fair and Matt Hennessy as well as veteran Vincent Picozzi and sophomores Adam Klein and Isaac Moore. This core of guys all played together last year and proved to be one of the most sound and consistent units in the conference.
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Defensively, the Owls return seven starters from last season. The entire linebacker corps return for the final season as a unit. LB Sam Franklin was awarded a single-digit this summer and joins fellow linebackers Shaun Bradley and Chapelle Russell as single-digit players. Bradley, a Bednarik and Nagurski Award watch list member, returns as the team's top tackler. Russell, a Butkus Award watch list member, finished with the most fumble recoveries in the country last season. Franklin, a jack-off-all-trades defender, finished last season with 63 tackles, good for sixth on the team.Â
LAST TIME v. BUCKNELL
September 19, 1970. Gas was $0.40, Nixon was president, and Diana Ross was dominating the Billboard charts. It was a different era of life, and a different era of football. Temple won the last matchup against Bucknell, 10-3. It was Temple's first victory under legendary head coach Wayne Hardin. Bucknell struck first on a 40-yard field goal by Dave Boyer to take an early lead. Temple tied it up on a 22-yard field goal by Nick Mike-Mayer early in the second quarter. The Owls solidified the win on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Frank DiMaggio to Joe Mesko early in the second half. Temple's defense held strong in the second half, preventing the Bison from scoring and taking the victory. Â Â Â
UP NEXT
The Owls have a bye after facing Bucknell. Following the off-week, the Owls will host the Maryland Terrapins on September 14th at noon. Â Â
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After plenty of anticipation dating back to January, Rod Carey begins his first season as the Temple head coach. As the first weekend of football is finally here, the Owls will be hosting fellow Pennsylvania foe, the Bucknell Bison. Kickoff is set for Saturday, August 31, at 3:00 p.m. EST and will air on ESPN3, 97.5 The Fanatic, and WHIP Radio. The two Pennsylvania football squads have a rich history dating back to 1927. The Owls and Bison played every year from 1927-1970 in what was known as "The Old Shoe Game." The bronze statue of a football cleat was awarded to the winning school, which held the bronze trophy until the following year's game. The tradition ended in 1970 following the most recent game between the programs. The bronze cleat trophy, which is not on the line anymore, sits in the Temple trophy case at Edberg-Olsen Hall to this day.
Temple's starting quarterback, Anthony Russo, will make his first career opening day start. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Maxwell Award nominee returns as the starter after taking the reins at Maryland last season. Many weapons Russo utilized last season return again for 2019. New single-digit WRs Branden Mack and Isaiah Wright return for their redshirt junior and senior season, respectively. Mack proved to be a go-to guy for his quarterbacks last year, and hasn't looked back since. Mack led the team in touchdown receptions (5) a season ago and was second on the team in catches (44) and yards (601) behind Temple's all-time leader Ventell Bryant. Wright, a Hornung Award watch list member, is one of the most versatile players in the country. He will be getting the ball in a variety of ways from every position on the offense. Wright is also regarded as one of the best returners in the nation having been picked as a preseason All-American returner across multiple organizations. Wright finished last season second in the nation in combined kick return yards and first in touchdown returns with three. The offensive line returns single-digits Jovahn Fair and Matt Hennessy as well as veteran Vincent Picozzi and sophomores Adam Klein and Isaac Moore. This core of guys all played together last year and proved to be one of the most sound and consistent units in the conference.
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Defensively, the Owls return seven starters from last season. The entire linebacker corps return for the final season as a unit. LB Sam Franklin was awarded a single-digit this summer and joins fellow linebackers Shaun Bradley and Chapelle Russell as single-digit players. Bradley, a Bednarik and Nagurski Award watch list member, returns as the team's top tackler. Russell, a Butkus Award watch list member, finished with the most fumble recoveries in the country last season. Franklin, a jack-off-all-trades defender, finished last season with 63 tackles, good for sixth on the team.Â
LAST TIME v. BUCKNELL
September 19, 1970. Gas was $0.40, Nixon was president, and Diana Ross was dominating the Billboard charts. It was a different era of life, and a different era of football. Temple won the last matchup against Bucknell, 10-3. It was Temple's first victory under legendary head coach Wayne Hardin. Bucknell struck first on a 40-yard field goal by Dave Boyer to take an early lead. Temple tied it up on a 22-yard field goal by Nick Mike-Mayer early in the second quarter. The Owls solidified the win on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Frank DiMaggio to Joe Mesko early in the second half. Temple's defense held strong in the second half, preventing the Bison from scoring and taking the victory. Â Â Â
UP NEXT
The Owls have a bye after facing Bucknell. Following the off-week, the Owls will host the Maryland Terrapins on September 14th at noon. Â Â
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Players Mentioned
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