MAC Football 2011: Temple Owls Season Preview

Al Golden is no longer pacing back and forth on the sidelines wearing his varsity letter jacket or his shirt and tie. Instead, he is flashing that “U” sign in Coral Gables as he landed the big job with the Miami Hurricanes. So, in steps a man from the same state in former Florida Gators offensive line/offensive coordinator coach Steve Addazio. Addazio has never had head coaching experience in Division I FBS and will be tested in year one.

Last season, the Owls went 8-4 and did not get an invite to a bowl. Those out there who say there are way too many bowls either just hate college football, don’t enjoy sports or are lacking the understanding that collegiate players love playing for their school more than anything on the planet. Plus, what else are you going to be doing during the holidays but get annoyed by your in-laws?

Let it be known that going into the 2009 season, the fighting Bill Cosbys had not experienced a winning season for 18 straight seasons.

Also, 2009 was the first time they topped the four win mark since 1990. It was the fourth year of the Golden era where they went to their first bowl game since 1979.

They ended up losing to UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl, but their star RB Bernard Pierce was dinged up during the game and has missed time for the past two seasons. 

Pierce has rushed for 2,000 yards the past two seasons and in a down year had only 11 total TDs. His backup, Matt Brown, is an incoming junior just like Pierce and had a solid season as well.

Brown (5’5", 170 pounds) is seven inches shorter and about 50 pounds lighter, which makes Brown the scant back. He avoided the sophomore slump with 830 yards and seven rushing TDs. This duo is the best in the MAC and they will only improve upon their rushing numbers from a season ago (150 YPG—67th).

Both QBs return in Mike Gerardi (6’2", 206 pounds, junior) and Chester Stewart (6’3", 214 pounds, senior) but they have both had their fair share of struggles. Stewart struggled with only four TDs and five INTs in seven starts last year.

Gerardi had 10 TDs compared to eight INTs, but his percentage was six points higher at 59 percent. Regardless, who starts this team is not going to chuck it around the field very often with two studs in the backfield.

The offense should be much improved from last year’s 89th ranking averaging just 334 YPG. The offensive line and receiving corps are in the middle of the pack with just seven starters back as a whole on offense.

Three offensive linemen return and one WR/TE returns as well. Rod Streater is the top returner for the Owls with 30 catches and four TDs.

A former junior college recruit comes to Philly (Malcolmm Eugene 6’4", 205 pounds). C John Palumbo (6’6", 312 pounds) is the lone premier player on this line as he has a chance at being named to the All-MAC honorable mention team.

Defensively, five return and they will be led up front by DE NFL prospect Adrian Robinson (6’2", 250 pounds, senior). Robinson is great off the edge and had 3.5 sacks. 

Muhammed Wilkerson up front will be a tough loss, but this Owls squad was sensational at least statistically speaking. And by sensational, I am talking about the MAC after all. They were 16th in total and scoring defense allowing just 317 YPG and 19 PPG.

Not many MAC teams ran the ball against the Owls as Temple only allowed 139 YPG, which ranked 47th in the nation.  When your SS is your leading returnee tackler, the future does not look as bright as it would if a linebacker led the team.

Justin Gildea returns for his junior season and will do his best to ensure the Owls continue their success on defense. 

The schedule is fairly easy, like it is for all MAC teams. Outside of games against Penn State, Maryland and Toledo, the Owls should be favored in nearly all of them.

Ohio and Miami (OH) (likely pick 'em games) will be stiff tests, but I am looking for a split in those two games with an improved offense and a defense that won’t fall much behind 2010’s squad.

Predicted Finish: 8-5, 6-2

Predicted Bowl: New Orleans Bowl 

Predicted order of finish in MAC: Fourth overall, Second in East Division