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Five things to know about the Temple Owls before they face Oklahoma
The Temple Owls are coming off a pair of 3-9 seasons and will look to turn things around in their third year under head coach Stan Drayton (pictured). Here are five things to know about the team before it kicks off its season on Friday night against a Top 25 opponent.
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The Temple Owls are coming off a pair of 3-9 seasons and will look to turn things around in their third year under head coach Stan Drayton (pictured). Here are five things to know about the team before it kicks off its season on Friday night against a Top 25 opponent.
Eight is great
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Earlier this month, Temple announced eight players who will join wide receiver Ian Stewart (1) in wearing single-digit jerseys, which are given to players considered to be the preeminent leaders on and off the field.
Eight is great
Earlier this month, Temple announced eight players who will join wide receiver Ian Stewart (1) in wearing single-digit jerseys, which are given to players considered to be the preeminent leaders on and off the field.
Wide receiver Dante Wright (5), tight end James Della Pesca (8), defensive tackles Demerick Morris (9) and Latrell Jean (7), linebacker D.J. Woodbury (0), cornerback Elijah Deravil (4), and safety Andreas Keaton (2) are the first-timers. Defensive end Tra Thomas (3, pictured) played one game last year in single digits.
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Wide receiver Dante Wright (5), tight end James Della Pesca (8), defensive tackles Demerick Morris (9) and Latrell Jean (7), linebacker D.J. Woodbury (0), cornerback Elijah Deravil (4), and safety Andreas Keaton (2) are the first-timers. Defensive end Tra Thomas (3, pictured) played one game last year in single digits.
Starting with a bang
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Temple will test its mettle early against No. 16 Oklahoma on Friday (7 p.m., ESPN). A win would be the Owls’ first against a ranked opponent since 2019, when they beat two ranked foes (No. 21 Maryland and No. 23 Memphis).
Starting with a bang
Temple will test its mettle early against No. 16 Oklahoma on Friday (7 p.m., ESPN). A win would be the Owls’ first against a ranked opponent since 2019, when they beat two ranked foes (No. 21 Maryland and No. 23 Memphis).
Conference carousel
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This will be Temple’s 12th season in the American Athletic Conference. Before that, it had on-again-off-again relationships with the Mid-American Conference (twice) and the Big East (also twice). The Owls were independents twice.
Conference carousel
This will be Temple’s 12th season in the American Athletic Conference. Before that, it had on-again-off-again relationships with the Mid-American Conference (twice) and the Big East (also twice). The Owls were independents twice.
Owls vs. Owl-less
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Temple won’t face Rice this season, which is a shame. It would have been the first meeting since QB E.J. Warner transferred there. Despite Temple’s 6-18 mark, Warner, son of Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, was an electric part of the offense.
Owls vs. Owl-less
Temple won’t face Rice this season, which is a shame. It would have been the first meeting since QB E.J. Warner transferred there. Despite Temple’s 6-18 mark, Warner, son of Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, was an electric part of the offense.
Keep your eyes on ...
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Ashton Allen, a transfer wide receiver from Southern Cal, who actually was a track star for the Trojans. Allen became a national champion as part of USC’s 4x100-meter relay team in 2022.
Keep your eyes on ...
Ashton Allen, a transfer wide receiver from Southern Cal, who actually was a track star for the Trojans. Allen became a national champion as part of USC’s 4x100-meter relay team in 2022.
Despite having offers from schools like Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh following his high school career, Allen, now a grad student after three years in Southern California, heads to North Broad for his final season.
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Despite having offers from schools like Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh following his high school career, Allen, now a grad student after three years in Southern California, heads to North Broad for his final season.