Temple University Athletics
E(X)cited (F)or (L)ife - Tales from the XFL
4.18.23 | Football
Those who follow Temple Football know there have been a number of important games played in the Washington, D.C. area over the past few years that have been important to the program.
The most meaningful game was the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship Game played in Annapolis, Maryland. The Owls' 34-10 victory over Navy stands as Temple's first-ever conference championship.
The 2009, 2016 and 2019 seasons were capped off by Military Bowl games. The 2009 game, which was then-titled the EagleBank Bowl, was played in RFK Stadium.
Just a stones throw away from RFK Stadium stands Audi Field, home of MLS's DC United and the XFL's DC Defenders. This past Sunday at Audi Field, when the Defenders hosted the Arlington Renegades, it pitted two former Owls against each other for the first time in an XFL game. Running back Ryquell Armstead helped the home team defeat the Renegades and former Owl linebacker Isaiah Graham-Mobley, 28-26 in overtime.
The two former single-digit players shared their experiences in the XFL which has a very different feel than many professional American sports leagues. The 2023 season of the XFL marks a return for the professional spring football league after two previous incarnations. What makes this league different than what we might be used to, is that the league is owned and operated by one group of individuals led by former wrestler and Hollywood icon, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
All eight teams train in Arlington, Texas, during the week and then two teams travel together to play a game in the host city.
For Graham-Mobley, that would seem pretty normal. Half his games are in Arlington and the other half he travels to.
"I have a lot of friends on a bunch of different teams," said Graham-Mobley, "and we're all in the same area, so we all get to hangout during the week. If anything comes up, we can go out for dinner, but it's definitely an interesting little hub. Being the Arlington team, it's nice not having to travel every weekend, but the opportunity to travel is nice. It's definitely weird to have two teams on the same plane, but nothing really happens, it's all separated."
For Armstead, he trains in Arlington but has to travel nearly every week, even for home games.
"Yeah it's pretty hard," said Armstead. "I love my kids, I love my family, but I've done a great job balancing. I just had to go away for a couple months and lock in and focus, and then I get to enjoy my family. They get to come out, enjoy the fanbase, this team. It's everything I could ever imagine, and I'm enjoying it. My family's having fun. We went out this weekend, so all and all, it's been good."
Armstead misses his seven-year old daughter Ry-Kail, and four-year old son Ryquell Jr. "They live back home in New Jersey, but they lived with me in Jacksonville for four years. So we just made the pivot, I went to Texas, they went back to Jersey, so they're with family, they're loved. It's a jungle raising a village."
And that village was in attendance on Sunday when the Defenders sold out Audi Stadium for the first time this season. "We fly in the day before and we have time from 1-5 and then 8-11 to spend time with people."
For Graham-Mobley, playing on the east coast, it was the first time he had seen his family in a while. "We went to dinner at Founding Farmers, that's like our go-to [back at home]. I have 15 people here, so seeing them was awesome. They came from all over, some people were in Virginia, some from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut. It's awesome just to be able to see them, and it's been a long time because I was just with Carolina, and then I stayed in Carolina because I was still training and doing my PT out there, and then came straight to Texas."
Although the season is coming to a close, both players have a chance to continue playing football. Armstead's Defenders have clinched a spot in the playoffs and Graham-Mobley's Renegades are on the cusp but need help.
"Yeah, we are the best in the XFL right now," said Armstead. "Shoutout to Von Hutchins (Director of Player Personnel), and Stacie [Johnson] (Director of Operations) for putting this team together. Everyone was specifically picked for a reason, we all do our job, we all show up. We don't do too much, and we love each other, we enjoy each other. It's a great chemistry and great atmosphere."
"We got one more game next week, we'll drive out to San Antonio. No more flights, so I'm happy about that. We go to a playoff game, destroy whoever we play. Go to a championship game, we win, and then we figure it out from there. I'm just flowing, enjoying it, and I'm in the best shape of my life, prepared for anything."
Armstead has spent the past four seasons in and out of the NFL with the Jaguars, Giants, Saints and Packers after suffering a life-threatening illness known as myocarditis due to COVID-19. "I had been struggling for a while, just staying healthy stuff like that. I bought in last offseason. I was with the Jaguars in 2022 before I got released. From September to January, when this all started, I really learned about myself. I spent two, three hours a day working out, rehabbing my body, really understanding. I feel great, you know, we're on week nine now. I'm healthy and I've never felt this good, so I'm as healthy as I can be, and I feel great."
"The season has been great for me. I came into this season in shape. I put my pride aside. I wanted to come here, compete, and have fun. And that's all it's been. I got my groove back, got my rhythm back. I'm leading in other ways. I'm learning about myself, from doing the little things that I couldn't do in the league, like punt and pass protection. I'm just working everyday trying to get better."
Graham-Mobley is hoping to use this experience as a stepping stone as well. "It's a huge opportunity, first and foremost. You can definitely see and feel the difference between the XFL and the NFL, but it points to the opportunity to go back to the NFL."
"Yeah, it's either looking forward to the NFL or finding a new path here in life."
Graham-Mobley talked about the fraternity that begun on 10th and Diamond and has followed him to the professional level, first with the Carolina Panthers and now in the XFL. "Yeah, it was phenomenal. And it was guys from all different years. So, it was guys that when I came into my freshman year some had already graduated, like P.J. [Walker], Colin Thompson, and Matt Ioannidis. All those guys that graduated in 2016, I was able to get to hangout with, and then Sam Franklin, of course, being my guy. I hung out with him every time I was out there. All of those guys just brought me under their wing, and we're all one family."
The most meaningful game was the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship Game played in Annapolis, Maryland. The Owls' 34-10 victory over Navy stands as Temple's first-ever conference championship.
The 2009, 2016 and 2019 seasons were capped off by Military Bowl games. The 2009 game, which was then-titled the EagleBank Bowl, was played in RFK Stadium.
Just a stones throw away from RFK Stadium stands Audi Field, home of MLS's DC United and the XFL's DC Defenders. This past Sunday at Audi Field, when the Defenders hosted the Arlington Renegades, it pitted two former Owls against each other for the first time in an XFL game. Running back Ryquell Armstead helped the home team defeat the Renegades and former Owl linebacker Isaiah Graham-Mobley, 28-26 in overtime.
The two former single-digit players shared their experiences in the XFL which has a very different feel than many professional American sports leagues. The 2023 season of the XFL marks a return for the professional spring football league after two previous incarnations. What makes this league different than what we might be used to, is that the league is owned and operated by one group of individuals led by former wrestler and Hollywood icon, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
All eight teams train in Arlington, Texas, during the week and then two teams travel together to play a game in the host city.
For Graham-Mobley, that would seem pretty normal. Half his games are in Arlington and the other half he travels to.
"I have a lot of friends on a bunch of different teams," said Graham-Mobley, "and we're all in the same area, so we all get to hangout during the week. If anything comes up, we can go out for dinner, but it's definitely an interesting little hub. Being the Arlington team, it's nice not having to travel every weekend, but the opportunity to travel is nice. It's definitely weird to have two teams on the same plane, but nothing really happens, it's all separated."For Armstead, he trains in Arlington but has to travel nearly every week, even for home games.
"Yeah it's pretty hard," said Armstead. "I love my kids, I love my family, but I've done a great job balancing. I just had to go away for a couple months and lock in and focus, and then I get to enjoy my family. They get to come out, enjoy the fanbase, this team. It's everything I could ever imagine, and I'm enjoying it. My family's having fun. We went out this weekend, so all and all, it's been good."
Armstead misses his seven-year old daughter Ry-Kail, and four-year old son Ryquell Jr. "They live back home in New Jersey, but they lived with me in Jacksonville for four years. So we just made the pivot, I went to Texas, they went back to Jersey, so they're with family, they're loved. It's a jungle raising a village."
And that village was in attendance on Sunday when the Defenders sold out Audi Stadium for the first time this season. "We fly in the day before and we have time from 1-5 and then 8-11 to spend time with people."
For Graham-Mobley, playing on the east coast, it was the first time he had seen his family in a while. "We went to dinner at Founding Farmers, that's like our go-to [back at home]. I have 15 people here, so seeing them was awesome. They came from all over, some people were in Virginia, some from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut. It's awesome just to be able to see them, and it's been a long time because I was just with Carolina, and then I stayed in Carolina because I was still training and doing my PT out there, and then came straight to Texas."
Although the season is coming to a close, both players have a chance to continue playing football. Armstead's Defenders have clinched a spot in the playoffs and Graham-Mobley's Renegades are on the cusp but need help.
"Yeah, we are the best in the XFL right now," said Armstead. "Shoutout to Von Hutchins (Director of Player Personnel), and Stacie [Johnson] (Director of Operations) for putting this team together. Everyone was specifically picked for a reason, we all do our job, we all show up. We don't do too much, and we love each other, we enjoy each other. It's a great chemistry and great atmosphere."
"We got one more game next week, we'll drive out to San Antonio. No more flights, so I'm happy about that. We go to a playoff game, destroy whoever we play. Go to a championship game, we win, and then we figure it out from there. I'm just flowing, enjoying it, and I'm in the best shape of my life, prepared for anything."
Armstead has spent the past four seasons in and out of the NFL with the Jaguars, Giants, Saints and Packers after suffering a life-threatening illness known as myocarditis due to COVID-19. "I had been struggling for a while, just staying healthy stuff like that. I bought in last offseason. I was with the Jaguars in 2022 before I got released. From September to January, when this all started, I really learned about myself. I spent two, three hours a day working out, rehabbing my body, really understanding. I feel great, you know, we're on week nine now. I'm healthy and I've never felt this good, so I'm as healthy as I can be, and I feel great."
"The season has been great for me. I came into this season in shape. I put my pride aside. I wanted to come here, compete, and have fun. And that's all it's been. I got my groove back, got my rhythm back. I'm leading in other ways. I'm learning about myself, from doing the little things that I couldn't do in the league, like punt and pass protection. I'm just working everyday trying to get better."
Graham-Mobley is hoping to use this experience as a stepping stone as well. "It's a huge opportunity, first and foremost. You can definitely see and feel the difference between the XFL and the NFL, but it points to the opportunity to go back to the NFL."
"Yeah, it's either looking forward to the NFL or finding a new path here in life."
Graham-Mobley talked about the fraternity that begun on 10th and Diamond and has followed him to the professional level, first with the Carolina Panthers and now in the XFL. "Yeah, it was phenomenal. And it was guys from all different years. So, it was guys that when I came into my freshman year some had already graduated, like P.J. [Walker], Colin Thompson, and Matt Ioannidis. All those guys that graduated in 2016, I was able to get to hangout with, and then Sam Franklin, of course, being my guy. I hung out with him every time I was out there. All of those guys just brought me under their wing, and we're all one family."
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