 The Temple Owls are seeing their second bowl win - and first in 32 years - as they face Wyoming Saturday in the Gilden New Mexico Bowl. That event kicks off a bowl season that will include five MAC teams.
Okay, probably better than they have been all season, and that is a good thing when you are seeking your first bowl win in 32 years.
Despite an 8-4 record in 2010, Temple had to settle for watching bowl games. The Owls were good enough, however, to pique interest in program buildier and coach Al Golden, who subsequently accepted the head coaching gig at Miami ( Fla. ).
It was a two-game slide at the close of 2010 that proved particularly costly to the Owls.
First, they absorbed a rare home loss against Ohio , and then they finished with a road setback at eventual MAC champ Miami .
Two critical road losses at MAC East foes Bowling Green and Ohio also cost Temple a trip to this year’s MAC championship game, but first-year head coach Steve Addazio's squad bounced back with three wins to close the regular season.
Once again, the Owls owned an 8-4 record (5-3 MAC), but this time it was good enough to land a bowl invitation. In fact, technically, Temple is at the head of the bowl lineup. That is to say, their matchup against Wyoming (8-4, 5-2 MWC) in the Gilden New Mexico Bowl Saturday at 2 p.m. ET will kick off the bowl season.
Temple ’s three-game winning streak to close 2011 is important on a couple levels. First, it was vital to keeping TU in the bowl hunt. Second, Temple seemed to improve an already potent offensive arsenal down the stretch.
Quarterback Chris Conyer started each of the final three games – all wins – after cameo appearances earlier in the season and a longer look during a relief roll against Ohio. The 6-3 sophomore completed 8-of-14 passes against the Bobcats, but three of the completions were good for touchdowns. That was the most passing touchdowns by any of three Temple quarterbacks used during 2011.
Coyer, who ripped off touchdown runs of 68 and 74 yards in two previous appearances, topped off his three TD passes versus Ohio with 184 rushing yards to lead the Owls.
It was a breakout performance for Coyer and a major step forward for the Owls. Coyer hasn’t put up big numbers with his arm, but he can pass well enough to demand serious coverage. Once defensive backs and linebackers drop into coverage, Coyer often breaks loose for key gains. He is also talented enough to warrant specific plays to take advantage of his skills.
The Owls got a real scare during the finale against Kent State as Coyer left with a left (throwing) shoulder injury. However, he is expected back at the helm for the bowl game. That will give Temple another option for an offense that was already prolific before Coyer’s rise to the starting lineup.
The Owls out-scored opponents by a 16.2 ppg margin this season and scored 40-plus points in four of their wins. They tallied at least 34 points in seven victories.
Many of those points were supplied by junior running back Bernard Pierce, who led the MAC in rushing (125.5 ppg) and scoring (13.6 ppg.).
Pierce, a pro prospect who could be headed to Sunday play after this year, has been a standout for the Owls since his freshman season and is ranked second on Temple’s career rushing list with 2,470 yards – trailing only Paul Palmer’s 4,895 yards (1983-86) . Despite some injuries along the way, Pierce has already assumed the school’s No. 1 spot for rushing touchdowns with 51 TDs.
Three of those TD’s came in the final game against Kent State as he picked up a season high 189 yards on 24 carries. He tied a MAC record with five rushing touchdowns in a Temple win over Maryland earlier in the year.
The Owls can also put the ball in the hands of running back Matt Brown. The sophomore has spelled Brown through some injuries and also combined with him for some impressive performances. Each player gained over 100-yards in the same game four times this year.
It speaks well for the Temple offensive line, which includes First Team All-MAC selections Pat Boyle and tight end Evan Rodriguez. The latter led TU receivers this year with 33 receptions for 427 yards and two TDs.
The Owls excel at opening holes that Wyoming will try to close. That figures to be a formidable challenge for a Cowboys team that ranked 115th nationally (230.08 ypg) in defending the run and 98th in total defense (432.25). Wyoming was 66th in scoring defense (27.0 ppg).
Temple’s own defense, meanwhile, has been a cornerstone in recent seasons. But it will face a challenge from the Cowboys. Wyoming ranked 32nd nationally in rushing this season with an average of 185.08 yards per game. TU was 26th against the run, yielding 122.58 ypg. Best of all, the Owls ranked third in the national in scoring defense, allowing just 13.38 ppg.
Senior linebacker Stephen Johnson leads the defense with 113 tackles, including 62 solos, five breakups, four TFL, three forced fumbles and two sacks. Senior defensive end Adrian Robinson recently picked up his third consecutive First Team All-MAC honor.
Wyoming returned 16 starters to its spread offense and 4-3/multiple defense. Junior running back Alvester Alexander was the top rusher this year with 678 yards and six touchdowns on 145 carries.
Quarterback Brett Smith connected on 233-of-385 passes for 2,495 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ranked No. 31 nationally in total offense (261.67 ypg). Junior wideout Crhis McNeill has 42 receptions for 504 yards and four TDS.
Among the defensive standouts, junior strong safety Luke Ruff leads the team with 97 tackles. Freshman CB Blair Burns is No. 23 nationally in interceptions (0.33).
Burns has helped the Cowboys excel in turnover margin. Wyoming ranks No. 4 nationally with a mark of plus-1.25 per game. Coach Dave Christensen’s crew also gets good yardage from a punt return team that is No. 13 nationally with an average of 13.38 ypr.
Temple and Wyoming, have met just once on the gridiron. That was in 1990 (a 38-23 Cowboys win). They had one common opponent in 2011. Wyoming edged Bowling Green, 28-27, at BG early in the season. Temple dropped a 13-10 road decision to the Falcons Oct. 22.
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