Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson
Temple coach Al Golden is trying not to acknowledge the significance of this week’s game against Navy, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that a win over the Midshipmen would give the Owls their highest win total since 1990.
“Nobody talks about it,” Golden said. “We’re very much process oriented. I’m a believer that if you stay focused on the process -- the daily grind, making good decisions on a daily basis, staying with the formula -- that leads to the product or the outcome.
“As long as we can stay away from the media and stay away from all the people patting us on the back and be humble and just stay focused on the process, then the product will take care of itself.”
Temple is 5-2 and sitting atop the Mid-American Conference East. The Owls have won five consecutive games, including four in the conference, and have a one-game lead in the race for the East Division title. Temple’s five wins match last year’s season total, which is currently the highest win total for the program since notching a 7-4 record almost 20 years ago.
With five games remaining on the schedule, Temple has an opportunity to pass seven victories and have its highest win total since 1979.
But Golden is uneasy pointing this out because he still has a relatively young team that’s not used to success. However, he’s been pleased with the way his players have handled the winning streak and the media attention that has come with it.
Prior to last week’s game against Toledo, Golden said the Owls had received some national media attention and he was worried about the way his players would respond in a big game. The Owls came away with a 40-24 victory.
“In the past, every time we’ve gotten a little attention, we’ve gotten big-headed and we weren’t mature enough to handle it,” Golden said. “Right now, it seems like we have some maturity, some responsibility and we have some leadership that’s guiding us through. So, we’ll see if we continue to stay focused.”
Golden said from the end of last season and into spring football, he knew this year’s team had the ability to be something special. Even after it gave away a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter against FCS opponent Villanova to fall 27-24 in the season opener, Golden said he never lost faith that his team could be a MAC champion. He pointed to the fact that the Owls had 456 yards of total offense and had it not been for five turnovers, the game would have had a very different outcome.
“Although there was panic all around us after the results of that Villanova game, I was very confident, and I know the staff was, that we were going in the right direction,” Golden said. “We just had to hold it together and have some poise.”
But it was the 31-6 loss to No. 5 Penn State that really turned the Owls’ season around. Golden said the score wasn’t indicative of how competitive the game was and that people who saw the game saw the Temple program change.
“It was the first time we were moving around on the field like I thought we belonged there,” Golden said. “Up until that point in our development, it had always overwhelmed us. ... It was the first time we’d played physical against Penn State and we knew the direction we were going to go when we left that stadium.”
The Owls haven’t lost since and have won their games by an average of 14.2 points. Before allowing 24 to Toledo last week, the Owls had not given up more than 19 points to any MAC opponent this season. Temple has not scored fewer than 24 points in any game this season.
“We’re staying together and we’re fighting, and really the first two years that wasn’t the case at all,” Golden said. “The two years, we would kind of shrink from the moment as opposed to enjoy the battle. I think our kids are starting to enjoy the battle.”
Temple coach Al Golden is trying not to acknowledge the significance of this week’s game against Navy, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that a win over the Midshipmen would give the Owls their highest win total since 1990.
“Nobody talks about it,” Golden said. “We’re very much process oriented. I’m a believer that if you stay focused on the process -- the daily grind, making good decisions on a daily basis, staying with the formula -- that leads to the product or the outcome.
“As long as we can stay away from the media and stay away from all the people patting us on the back and be humble and just stay focused on the process, then the product will take care of itself.”
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| Rick Osentoski/Icon SMI | |
| Bernard Pierce has rushed for 766 yards and nine touchdowns this season. |
Temple is 5-2 and sitting atop the Mid-American Conference East. The Owls have won five consecutive games, including four in the conference, and have a one-game lead in the race for the East Division title. Temple’s five wins match last year’s season total, which is currently the highest win total for the program since notching a 7-4 record almost 20 years ago.
With five games remaining on the schedule, Temple has an opportunity to pass seven victories and have its highest win total since 1979.
But Golden is uneasy pointing this out because he still has a relatively young team that’s not used to success. However, he’s been pleased with the way his players have handled the winning streak and the media attention that has come with it.
Prior to last week’s game against Toledo, Golden said the Owls had received some national media attention and he was worried about the way his players would respond in a big game. The Owls came away with a 40-24 victory.
“In the past, every time we’ve gotten a little attention, we’ve gotten big-headed and we weren’t mature enough to handle it,” Golden said. “Right now, it seems like we have some maturity, some responsibility and we have some leadership that’s guiding us through. So, we’ll see if we continue to stay focused.”
Golden said from the end of last season and into spring football, he knew this year’s team had the ability to be something special. Even after it gave away a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter against FCS opponent Villanova to fall 27-24 in the season opener, Golden said he never lost faith that his team could be a MAC champion. He pointed to the fact that the Owls had 456 yards of total offense and had it not been for five turnovers, the game would have had a very different outcome.
“Although there was panic all around us after the results of that Villanova game, I was very confident, and I know the staff was, that we were going in the right direction,” Golden said. “We just had to hold it together and have some poise.”
But it was the 31-6 loss to No. 5 Penn State that really turned the Owls’ season around. Golden said the score wasn’t indicative of how competitive the game was and that people who saw the game saw the Temple program change.
“It was the first time we were moving around on the field like I thought we belonged there,” Golden said. “Up until that point in our development, it had always overwhelmed us. ... It was the first time we’d played physical against Penn State and we knew the direction we were going to go when we left that stadium.”
The Owls haven’t lost since and have won their games by an average of 14.2 points. Before allowing 24 to Toledo last week, the Owls had not given up more than 19 points to any MAC opponent this season. Temple has not scored fewer than 24 points in any game this season.
“We’re staying together and we’re fighting, and really the first two years that wasn’t the case at all,” Golden said. “The two years, we would kind of shrink from the moment as opposed to enjoy the battle. I think our kids are starting to enjoy the battle.”
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