Temple University Athletics

From The AD's Desk - July 2011

From The AD's Desk - July 2011
“From the AD’s Desk”
A column from Temple University Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw
July 2011


July officially starts the 2011-12 academic year at colleges and universities around the country, but before we turn the page here at Temple University, I would be remiss if I did not point out all that we have been able to accomplish in the previous 12 months.

First, we had our second straight Bowl-eligible football season, with our Owls knocking off Big East champion Connecticut along the way. We wished head coach Al Golden well for all his hard work in restoring the program as he left to take the head coaching position at the University of Miami, and welcomed Steve Addazio from the University of Florida, who is poised to take the program to even greater heights.

Next we watched as Fran Dunphy and Tonya Cardoza completed the Temple Trifecta by combining for 50 wins while leading the men's and women's basketball programs to the NCAA Tournament. It marked a fourth straight trip for the men's program, who posted their first NCAA win in a decade with a thrilling defeat of Penn State while the women, making their eighth straight appearance, also won a game in the tournament, defeating Arizona State.

Some other key notes on our "Big Three":

* Temple is one of only five schools (Texas, Tennessee, Duke, Texas A&M) to have competed in the last four men's and women's basketball NCAA Tournaments.

* In combined wins by its men's and women's basketball and football programs over the last two years, Temple ranks fifth with 121 wins, behind only Connecticut (141), Duke (137), Notre Dame (125), West Virginia (123), and ahead of Ohio State (120), Florida State (115) and North Carolina (109).

* Temple is one of only three schools (Texas A&M and Tennessee) to have its men's and women's basketball teams compete in the last two NCAA Tournaments and its football team be bowl-eligible each season.

* Temple had two football players - Muhammad Wilkerson (1st) and Jaiquawn Jarrett (2nd) - and one men's basketball player - Lavoy Allen (2nd) - taken in the first two rounds of their sports professional drafts.

Let us also not forget our four All-Americans - Patrick McLaughlin (men's gymnastics), Alyssa Lomuscio (women’s fencing), Bob Keogh and Travis Mahoney (men's outdoor track) - that shined brightly on the national stage. Lomuscio helped lift the women’s fencing team to ninth place at the NCAA Championships.

Academically it was another stellar year with over 300 student-athletes being recognized for academic success at our annual Breakfast of Champions, as well as numerous academic all-conference and area honorees.

Lastly, I want to thank you, our loyal alumni and supporters. Without your help in the stands cheering on our teams, and your vital financial support, Temple athletics and its student-athletes would not be able to achieve these successes, on the playing field as well as in the classroom.

We need your generosity now, more than ever, to continue to succeed, and we appreciate your outpouring of support that reached record numbers in 2010-11. Now the challenge is to continue to raise the bar – as our student-athletes and coaches have done each season – to support our programs this coming year and beyond.

Thanks again…and Go Owls!!


Other notes from my desk:

Fond Farewell – Herman Frazier, one of the top athletic administrators I have had the pleasure of working with in my career, has resigned his position at Temple to become the Deputy Director of Athletics at Syracuse University. A consummate professional and an even better person, we wish Herman all the best and thank him for all he has done in his three years as an Owl.

Great Seats Still Available for the 2011 Temple Football Season. We are currently 55% ahead of our season ticket total from the 2010 season, but we need to finish strong as we lead up to what promises to be an exciting season under new coach Steve Addazio. There are also still plenty of great seats for the Penn State game on September 17 and it is so important that we fill the stadium with Cherry and White on what promises to be a memorable day for Owl fans. Visit owlstix.com or call 215-204-8499 to purchase single-game, partial plans or season tickets.

Temple Football Boardwalk Fan Fest - Temple Athletics hits the Jersey Shore on Saturday, July 30! The ever-popular Temple Football Boardwalk Fan Fest will take place from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier; and will feature giveaways, autographs from members of the 2011 Temple Football team, as well as appearances from Hooter the Owl, the Temple Spirit Squad and more! This event is FREE to the public and has always been a fun way to energize our alumni, fans and friends for the upcoming season. We hope to see even more faces this year on the boardwalk!

Thank you Temple Football Season Ticket Holders - We look forward to seeing you at our annual Season Ticket Holder Party – scheduled for Monday, August 1 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at McFadden’s (Ballpark location). This is a great opportunity to meet the Temple Football coaching staff, as well as mingle with fellow Owl fans. Plus, there will be giveaways – and appearances from our always energetic Temple Spirit Squad. RSVP for this exciting event via e-mail: tixsales@temple.edu or phone at 215-204-8499. Season ticket holders can bring as many people as they have tickets in their account. A reminder - this event is only open to current Football season ticket holders.

Save The Date –September 24 is the Owl Club's Temple Football Fan Bus Trip to the University of Maryland. Details, including price, will all be forthcoming soon.

Basketball on the Horizon – Season ticket renewals for the 2011-12 men’s and women’s basketball seasons will be sent electronically in the coming weeks. Both programs offer great home slates with the men’s team hosting Duke at the Wells Fargo Center, Maryland at The Palestra and Villanova at the Liacouras Center. The women's team will also be brining Duke to Philadelphia with UCLA making a visit as well.