Temple University Athletics
Owls Football Kicks Off 2014 Season with Media Day
7.31.14 | Football
RELEASE | RHULE |
PHILADEPHIA - The Temple Owls kicked off the 2014 football season with media day on Thursday, July 31. Head Coach Matt Rhule, along with center Kyle Friend, RB Kenneth Harper, LB Tyler Matakevich and QB P.J. Walker spoke to members of the local media about the upcoming season.
Above you will find links to the training camp press release, as well as videos of the aforementioned press conferences. The press release includes a day-by-day schedule of the training camp dates and times (dates and times are subject to change).
The Temple Owls take the field in 2014 under the direction of second-year head coach Matt Rhule. In his first season at the helm, Rhule promised two things - that the team would be exciting and that it would show improvement throughout the year.
Rhule held true to his word as the Owls were one of the most exciting teams in college football. More than half of the games were decided in the final minutes; five were decided by one score; the Owls scored 20-or-more points in all but three games and 30-or-more four times. Overall, the offense averaged nearly 400-yards per game, the second best mark in school history.
While the Owls got off to a rough start, the second half of the year showed much promise. In the 2013 season's last six games, the Owls held the lead or remained tied through 85% of their games (306 of 360 minutes). By contrast, the Owls trailed for over 78% of the time in the season's first six games. The defense made strides throughout the year playing its best in the season's final two contests - allowing just 235 total yards to Connecticut and 228 to Memphis.
Temple discovered its quarterback of the future as P.J. Walker started the season's last seven games and re-wrote the Temple freshman record book with 2,084 passing yards and 20 TDs. His insertion into the lineup coincided with the explosive second half of the season. By season's end, Athlon's named him "One of the Five to Watch" in all of college football for 2014.
Owls fans will keep an eye on Walker while continuing to watch the likes of junior All-Conference LB Tyler Matakevich, who has now posted back-to-back 100-tackle seasons (100 in 2012 and 137 in 2013). His 99 solo tackles in 2013 led the nation. Leaders like center Kyle Friend, RB Kenneth Harper, WR Jalen Fitzpatrick, LB Nate D. Smith and CB Anthony Robey will be joined by a young cast including 13 true freshmen who cut their teeth a year ago. A talented roster with just eight seniors, was bolstered by one of the top recruiting classes in the conference and one of the strongest in school history.
The Owls will open the season on Thursday, August 28 against the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, TN. The nationally televised game will kickoff at 9:15pm on the SEC Network.Â
PHILADEPHIA - The Temple Owls kicked off the 2014 football season with media day on Thursday, July 31. Head Coach Matt Rhule, along with center Kyle Friend, RB Kenneth Harper, LB Tyler Matakevich and QB P.J. Walker spoke to members of the local media about the upcoming season.
Above you will find links to the training camp press release, as well as videos of the aforementioned press conferences. The press release includes a day-by-day schedule of the training camp dates and times (dates and times are subject to change).
The Temple Owls take the field in 2014 under the direction of second-year head coach Matt Rhule. In his first season at the helm, Rhule promised two things - that the team would be exciting and that it would show improvement throughout the year.
Rhule held true to his word as the Owls were one of the most exciting teams in college football. More than half of the games were decided in the final minutes; five were decided by one score; the Owls scored 20-or-more points in all but three games and 30-or-more four times. Overall, the offense averaged nearly 400-yards per game, the second best mark in school history.
While the Owls got off to a rough start, the second half of the year showed much promise. In the 2013 season's last six games, the Owls held the lead or remained tied through 85% of their games (306 of 360 minutes). By contrast, the Owls trailed for over 78% of the time in the season's first six games. The defense made strides throughout the year playing its best in the season's final two contests - allowing just 235 total yards to Connecticut and 228 to Memphis.
Temple discovered its quarterback of the future as P.J. Walker started the season's last seven games and re-wrote the Temple freshman record book with 2,084 passing yards and 20 TDs. His insertion into the lineup coincided with the explosive second half of the season. By season's end, Athlon's named him "One of the Five to Watch" in all of college football for 2014.
Owls fans will keep an eye on Walker while continuing to watch the likes of junior All-Conference LB Tyler Matakevich, who has now posted back-to-back 100-tackle seasons (100 in 2012 and 137 in 2013). His 99 solo tackles in 2013 led the nation. Leaders like center Kyle Friend, RB Kenneth Harper, WR Jalen Fitzpatrick, LB Nate D. Smith and CB Anthony Robey will be joined by a young cast including 13 true freshmen who cut their teeth a year ago. A talented roster with just eight seniors, was bolstered by one of the top recruiting classes in the conference and one of the strongest in school history.
The Owls will open the season on Thursday, August 28 against the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, TN. The nationally televised game will kickoff at 9:15pm on the SEC Network.Â
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