Nick Piccone
Temple University’s football team is ranked for the first time in 35 years. That means a lot, regardless if you love the Owls or hate them. Here’s Brenden Peddigree (@brendenp2011) of PhillyBirdsTalk.com on why now being ranked isn’t enough for Matt Rhule’s squad.
For the first time in over three decades the Temple Owls football team is ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. Temple has ridden a 6-0 start to the 22nd ranking.
The Owls shocked many when they began the season with a 27-10 romping of Penn State for their first win against the Lions since 1941. The Nittany Lions have since gone 5-1.
Temple has outscored their opponents 202-88, averaging a 19-point margin of victory.
If Temple beats ECU (4-3) on Thursday, they will be in play to have ESPN’s College GameDay Morning in Philadelphia when they face off against 11 Notre Dame (6-1) on Halloween.
While head coach Matt Rhule is excited to see the rankings, he is not planning on settling for 22nd.
“I’m really proud of our players, and it’s a tribute to them that people have noticed how they have played to this point,” Rhule said. “I am thrilled that we have been able to get off to a 6-0 start. But I’ll repeat what I have said before, it’s a long season, and I’ll be happier if we can finish the year ranked among the best in the country.”
The Owls are riding the back of their running back, Jahad Thomas, and the defense to their perfect record. Thomas, a junior, ranks 13th in the nation with 756 rushing yards. His 10 touchdowns are also tied for 11th in the nation.
The new poll rankings came the week after Thomas rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns in the Owls’ 30-16 win.
On the defensive side of the ball, Temple is tied for fourth in the nation, only allowing nine touchdowns through six games. They are also 13th in the nation in yards allowed per game and 12th in yards per play, with just 4.4 yards.
In addition, the Owls have intercepted 11 passes from their opponents, which is the third-most in the nation. If they can avoid turning the ball over with the frequency that they do, those forced turnovers could be even bigger.
If the Owls are able to continue their winning ways, they will have their first undefeated season in the school’s history. The Owls also have five one-loss seasons, with their most recent coming in 1973.
It is a season of history in the making for Temple and they have the opportunity to do big things with their newfound AP rankings. One good season could turn a school into a future powerhouse, and Temple could have exactly that in the making.
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Editor’s note: Temple vs. Notre Dame on October 31st at the Linc has been flexed to 8:00 P.M. and will be televised nationally on ABC. Will they still be undefeated? The Owls visit East Carolina University this week and face what’s probably their toughest opponent yet. But, hey, Temple’s gonna be on national TV. Pretty awesome.