Temple University Athletics
Temple Football Opens Spring Practice Today
3.20.17 | Football
PHILADELPHIA- The 2016 American Athletic Conference Football Championship. Back-to-back ten win seasons. Three straight years of bowl eligibility. More than two dozen graduates in each of the past two seasons. Three NFL draft choices in 2016 with a record setting number predicted for 2017. Seems like a new standard has been reached for Temple football.Â
Not so fast. On December 14, 2016, Geoff Collins was hired as the 27th head coach in program history and almost immediately began using social media hashtags to show his imprint on one of the fastest rising programs in the nation. #TempleTUFF, #OOU (one of us), #JUICEpoints, #Compete – all are among the most used in his first few months on the job.
However, the one that has gotten the most attention from the current roster of players is #theSTANDARD. The players have quickly learned that, despite all the recent success, the standard expected from each and everyone at Edberg Olson Hall has been raised ever higher.Â
It has to be. Leaders from the past two seasons relied on their battle scars earned while fighting through a 2-10 season in 2013. Just six players remain from that unit that went through a 6-6 season in 2014 before completing the transformation to consecutive 10-4 years in 2015-16. Those players – OLs Cole Boozer, Brian Carter, Leon Johnson, and Adrian Sullivan, along with DL Sharif Finch and DB Artrel Foster (all but Finch redshirted in 2013) – experienced what it took to go from losing to winning and from winners to champions.
Stability has worked in Temple's favor during its transition from 2-10 to 10-4. With a coaching staff that experienced minimal changes over four years and a quarterback in Phillip Walker who graduated with an NCAA leading 47 consecutive starts and ownership of every major passing record in school history, football's two most high profile positions were secure over that span. Collins, with his 23-year resume of coaching excellence, has taken the baton from Matt Rhule with whom he shared the coaching sidelines for five seasons [Albright (1998) and Western Carolina (2002-05)]. Collins has quickly and clearly established himself as a gritty, determined leader whose expectations are not only to challenge for the conference championship but to improve Temple's standing in College Football's Top 25 rankings.
While Collins' imprint has quickly been established, the quarterback position will be determined through an open competition in the months leading up to the season opener at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Redshirt sophomore Logan Marchi and redshirt junior Frank Nutile offer limited game experience while redshirt freshman Anthony Russo and freshman Todd Centeio provide unlimited potential. New offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Dave Patenaude is fresh off a season at Coastal Carolina where he employed seven different starting quarterbacks (due to injury) and still compiled school records. He will oversee the competition and adapt his offense to the skill set of the quarterback who gives the Owls the best chance of winning.
While just nine starters return from a year ago (five on offense and four on defense), Temple benefits from having 41 lettermen returning. A number of younger players saw a good deal of action but acquiesced to the graduating seniors in the starting lineup. A prime example of that was junior running back Ryquell Armstead who returns as the Owls' leading rusher. Armstead accumulated 919 yards and 14 touchdowns on 156 carries starting just three games. However, Temple will need to replace Jahad Thomas' 1,371 yards (953 rushing, 418 receiving) and 19 touchdowns (13 rushing, 6 receiving).
Look for Temple's offense to have a balanced attack as the entire receiving corps returns led by junior Ventell Bryant (54-895-4), redshirt senior Keith Kirkwood (42-648-4) and senior Adonis Jennings (27-474-4). Those three combined for 2,017 yards and 12 touchdowns on 123 catches, more than half of the Owls' total aerial production (232-3,324-22).
While the defense is forced to replace four all-conference players and the entire starting linebacker corps, it will be led by one of the best safety tandems in college football. Senior Sean Chandler has been a three-year starter and two-time all-conference player. He has been a big-play maker with seven career interceptions, 3.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Junior Delvon Randall is another sure-tackling playmaker who tied for second in the conference with five takeaways in 2016 (three interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
For the second straight year Temple is faced with replacing solid senior leadership. Last season it took a loss at Memphis in game six for things to come into focus for the team. After a 3-3 start, the 2016 squad rolled off seven straight wins down the stretch. An earlier wake-up call might be in order this season with two of the better American Conference teams – USF (11-2) and Houston (9-4) on the schedule before the calendar reaches October.
One tradition that Collins is retaining at Temple is the single-digit jerseys awarded to the team's toughest players. Last year's remaining tough guys – Bryant (#1), Chandler (#3), FB Nick Sharga (#4), and DL Jacob Martin (#9) - will have to combine with those seniors who endured 2013's 2-10 season and lead this young group immediately.
The new standard has been set - and it means getting better every day…starting right now.
Date                            Time            Event                 Avalibility
Schedule is subject to change; all practices on Chodoff Field at Edberg Olson Hall
Buy Tickets | Press Conference | Spring Prospectus
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Not so fast. On December 14, 2016, Geoff Collins was hired as the 27th head coach in program history and almost immediately began using social media hashtags to show his imprint on one of the fastest rising programs in the nation. #TempleTUFF, #OOU (one of us), #JUICEpoints, #Compete – all are among the most used in his first few months on the job.
However, the one that has gotten the most attention from the current roster of players is #theSTANDARD. The players have quickly learned that, despite all the recent success, the standard expected from each and everyone at Edberg Olson Hall has been raised ever higher.Â
It has to be. Leaders from the past two seasons relied on their battle scars earned while fighting through a 2-10 season in 2013. Just six players remain from that unit that went through a 6-6 season in 2014 before completing the transformation to consecutive 10-4 years in 2015-16. Those players – OLs Cole Boozer, Brian Carter, Leon Johnson, and Adrian Sullivan, along with DL Sharif Finch and DB Artrel Foster (all but Finch redshirted in 2013) – experienced what it took to go from losing to winning and from winners to champions.
Stability has worked in Temple's favor during its transition from 2-10 to 10-4. With a coaching staff that experienced minimal changes over four years and a quarterback in Phillip Walker who graduated with an NCAA leading 47 consecutive starts and ownership of every major passing record in school history, football's two most high profile positions were secure over that span. Collins, with his 23-year resume of coaching excellence, has taken the baton from Matt Rhule with whom he shared the coaching sidelines for five seasons [Albright (1998) and Western Carolina (2002-05)]. Collins has quickly and clearly established himself as a gritty, determined leader whose expectations are not only to challenge for the conference championship but to improve Temple's standing in College Football's Top 25 rankings.
While Collins' imprint has quickly been established, the quarterback position will be determined through an open competition in the months leading up to the season opener at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Redshirt sophomore Logan Marchi and redshirt junior Frank Nutile offer limited game experience while redshirt freshman Anthony Russo and freshman Todd Centeio provide unlimited potential. New offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Dave Patenaude is fresh off a season at Coastal Carolina where he employed seven different starting quarterbacks (due to injury) and still compiled school records. He will oversee the competition and adapt his offense to the skill set of the quarterback who gives the Owls the best chance of winning.
While just nine starters return from a year ago (five on offense and four on defense), Temple benefits from having 41 lettermen returning. A number of younger players saw a good deal of action but acquiesced to the graduating seniors in the starting lineup. A prime example of that was junior running back Ryquell Armstead who returns as the Owls' leading rusher. Armstead accumulated 919 yards and 14 touchdowns on 156 carries starting just three games. However, Temple will need to replace Jahad Thomas' 1,371 yards (953 rushing, 418 receiving) and 19 touchdowns (13 rushing, 6 receiving).
Look for Temple's offense to have a balanced attack as the entire receiving corps returns led by junior Ventell Bryant (54-895-4), redshirt senior Keith Kirkwood (42-648-4) and senior Adonis Jennings (27-474-4). Those three combined for 2,017 yards and 12 touchdowns on 123 catches, more than half of the Owls' total aerial production (232-3,324-22).
While the defense is forced to replace four all-conference players and the entire starting linebacker corps, it will be led by one of the best safety tandems in college football. Senior Sean Chandler has been a three-year starter and two-time all-conference player. He has been a big-play maker with seven career interceptions, 3.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Junior Delvon Randall is another sure-tackling playmaker who tied for second in the conference with five takeaways in 2016 (three interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
For the second straight year Temple is faced with replacing solid senior leadership. Last season it took a loss at Memphis in game six for things to come into focus for the team. After a 3-3 start, the 2016 squad rolled off seven straight wins down the stretch. An earlier wake-up call might be in order this season with two of the better American Conference teams – USF (11-2) and Houston (9-4) on the schedule before the calendar reaches October.
One tradition that Collins is retaining at Temple is the single-digit jerseys awarded to the team's toughest players. Last year's remaining tough guys – Bryant (#1), Chandler (#3), FB Nick Sharga (#4), and DL Jacob Martin (#9) - will have to combine with those seniors who endured 2013's 2-10 season and lead this young group immediately.
The new standard has been set - and it means getting better every day…starting right now.
Date                            Time            Event                 Avalibility
| Monday, March 20 | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice #1  | Geoff Collins |
| Tuesday, March 21  | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice #2 | Dave Patenaude and QBs |
| Thursday, March 23      | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice #3 | Taver Johnson and safeties |
| Saturday, March 25 | 9:00-11:00am   | Spring Practice #4 | Geoff Collins and senior players |
| Tuesday, March 28  | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice #5 | Stan Hixon and WRs |
| Thursday, March 30 | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice #6 | Jim Panagos and DL |
| Saturday, April 1Â Â | 9:00-11:00am | Spring Practice #7 | Geoff Collins and junior players |
| Tuesday, April 4 | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice  #8 | Tony Lucas and RBs |
| Thursday, April 6Â | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice #9 | Cory Robinson and CBs |
| Saturday, April 8Â | 9:00-11:00am | Spring Practice #10 | Geoff Collins and sophomore players |
| Tuesday, April 11Â Â Â | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice #11 | Chris Wiesehan and OL |
| Thursday, April 13Â Â Â | 7:00-9:00am | Spring Practice #12 | Andrew Thacker and LBs |
| Saturday, April 15Â Â Â | No Practice | Easter Weekend | Â Â |
| Tuesday, April 18 | 9:00-11:00am | Spring Practice #13 | Ed Foley and TEs & specialists |
| Thursday, April 20Â Â | 9:00-11:00am | Spring Practice #14 | Cherry & White team captains |
| Saturday, April 22  | 12:00-2:00pm | Cherry & White Game | Geoff Collins and all players |
Schedule is subject to change; all practices on Chodoff Field at Edberg Olson Hall
Buy Tickets | Press Conference | Spring Prospectus
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Players Mentioned
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