Temple University Athletics
Despite Social Distancing During Global Pandemic, Temple Football Thrives in Community Outreach
8.2.21 | Football
Part 4: The Legacy
Dating back to the Al Golden era, Temple Football has grown in many areas.
Most notable to outsiders has been the record on the field. After 18 straight losing seasons, the Owls have had nine winning seasons in the last 12 years.
That production has also led to many Owls heading to the professional level. In fact, right now there are 31 former Owls currently on NFL rosters.
What's most impressive, however, is how these student-athletes grew into men while in North Philadelphia.
A couple of Golden's players who are still active in the NFL are among the best at giving back. Carolina Panthers' linebacker Tahir Whitehead was a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2019 which is annually given to the player who excels in community service.
Said Whitehead, a 2012 Temple graduate, "I'm constantly challenging myself or asking myself, 'What's your purpose?' 'Did you make a difference today?' 'What did you do today to better yourself and the people around you?'"
Denver Broncos' kicker Brandon McManus has done extensive work to promote inclusivity and decrease bullying in both the Philadelphia and Denver communities. Last year, McManus started his own foundation, Project McManus, which benefits at-risk and underprivileged youth in the Denver area.
Buffalo Bills' star Dion Dawkins' foundation, Dion's Dreamers, was started with the goal of providing mentorship and support to young men and women in underserved communities, as well as those in a place of mental, financial or physical hardship. Dion's Dreamers also aims to advocate for vulnerable populations by increasing awareness of the environmental issues that directly affect their communities.
It's no surprise that Whitehead, McManus and Dawkins all serve as captains of their respective teams and it's no coincidence that many of their traits were honed at 10th and Diamond.
Last month, Dawkins came back to Temple's campus with his Dion's Dreamers foundation and enlisted the current football roster to help provide food and other goods to those in need. He had previously made similar donations in Buffalo and his hometown of Rahway, New Jersey.
"There are so many people in the world that need a helping hand and just need help and this is just something that's a part of it," said Dawkins. "There's so many guys that can impact people in different ways. I just want to just do it in the communities that built me."
"I grew up in Rahway in Jersey. I went to school in Philly. I got drafted by the Bills. So those three places are my core places of my life. So just giving back to the community that helped grow me is special."
None of this was lost on Temple's current crop of student-athletes.
"It's amazing," said senior safety Amir Tyler. "Just knowing the person Dion is and the success he's had, some people wouldn't do what he does. So just to see him come back to the community and come back to the University just to give back to the community – and to give his time to us – it's a blessing."
Dawkins and nearly 50 players packed bags of food and handed them out to families who drove to campus from the surrounding neighborhoods. Following the event, Dawkins spent time with the players detailing his path to NFL stardom, why it's important to remember where you came from, and how much he learned at Temple – in and out of the classroom.
Dawkins added, "There's so many Temple guys in the league now that have just brought everything that we were taught from our roots at Temple to the NFL."
Most notable to outsiders has been the record on the field. After 18 straight losing seasons, the Owls have had nine winning seasons in the last 12 years.
That production has also led to many Owls heading to the professional level. In fact, right now there are 31 former Owls currently on NFL rosters.
What's most impressive, however, is how these student-athletes grew into men while in North Philadelphia.
A couple of Golden's players who are still active in the NFL are among the best at giving back. Carolina Panthers' linebacker Tahir Whitehead was a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2019 which is annually given to the player who excels in community service.
Said Whitehead, a 2012 Temple graduate, "I'm constantly challenging myself or asking myself, 'What's your purpose?' 'Did you make a difference today?' 'What did you do today to better yourself and the people around you?'"
Denver Broncos' kicker Brandon McManus has done extensive work to promote inclusivity and decrease bullying in both the Philadelphia and Denver communities. Last year, McManus started his own foundation, Project McManus, which benefits at-risk and underprivileged youth in the Denver area.
Buffalo Bills' star Dion Dawkins' foundation, Dion's Dreamers, was started with the goal of providing mentorship and support to young men and women in underserved communities, as well as those in a place of mental, financial or physical hardship. Dion's Dreamers also aims to advocate for vulnerable populations by increasing awareness of the environmental issues that directly affect their communities.
It's no surprise that Whitehead, McManus and Dawkins all serve as captains of their respective teams and it's no coincidence that many of their traits were honed at 10th and Diamond.
Last month, Dawkins came back to Temple's campus with his Dion's Dreamers foundation and enlisted the current football roster to help provide food and other goods to those in need. He had previously made similar donations in Buffalo and his hometown of Rahway, New Jersey.
"There are so many people in the world that need a helping hand and just need help and this is just something that's a part of it," said Dawkins. "There's so many guys that can impact people in different ways. I just want to just do it in the communities that built me."
"I grew up in Rahway in Jersey. I went to school in Philly. I got drafted by the Bills. So those three places are my core places of my life. So just giving back to the community that helped grow me is special."
None of this was lost on Temple's current crop of student-athletes.
"It's amazing," said senior safety Amir Tyler. "Just knowing the person Dion is and the success he's had, some people wouldn't do what he does. So just to see him come back to the community and come back to the University just to give back to the community – and to give his time to us – it's a blessing."
Dawkins and nearly 50 players packed bags of food and handed them out to families who drove to campus from the surrounding neighborhoods. Following the event, Dawkins spent time with the players detailing his path to NFL stardom, why it's important to remember where you came from, and how much he learned at Temple – in and out of the classroom.
Dawkins added, "There's so many Temple guys in the league now that have just brought everything that we were taught from our roots at Temple to the NFL."
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