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Owls ready to turn back the clock



This Monday night we will Turn Back The Clock with our basketball program and play a game at McGonigle Hall for the first time since the Liacouras Center opened in 1997.

McGonigle Hall has a special place in the mind of many Temple fans. From its opening night when the Harry Litwack-coached Owls edged Lou Carnesseca's St. John's Redmen, to wins over national powerhouse UCLA and A-10 rival UMass, it has compiled many treasured memories in its 18 seasons serving as the program's home court.

My fondest memory of McGonigle Hall is watching on television Temple's win over Villanova in 1988. In one of the greatest games in Big 5 history, top-ranked Temple, led by freshman All-America Mark Macon defeated 10th-ranked Villanova. After the game both John Chaney and Rollie Massimino said that it was a game where you just watched the kids play. You did not have to get involved in the coaching piece because you did not need to. They were just two great teams going after one another.

Our players are excited about playing in McGonigle Hall. They are also excited to wear the old uniforms. They will not be wearing the real "short" shorts, that we all looked foolish wearing back in the day, but the look of the old Temple uniform will be the same.

I look forward to the tremendous atmosphere, with the fans right on top of you, that we will recreate against Bowling Green on Monday. I have experienced it as a visiting coach while at Penn and am looking forward to the experience as the Temple head basketball coach.

Go Owls!

Fran Dunphy