Yesterday, the NCAA announced the fourth-year Academic Progress Rates for all Division I teams. And the Owls have lost four scholarships. The penalties last for 1 year, and there's every expectation that all four will be reinstated at that time.

Two years ago the Owls lost nine scholarships, for similar reasons. Twelve months later, they had every one back.

The APR score of student-athletes recruited by Golden is 980, well above the minimum of 925.

"In the world of coaching we have a saying," Golden, who was out of town, said through the university's sports information department. "Yesterday ended last night. The more detractors choose to replay what occurred in the past, the further they will get away from the significance of what [our players] have accomplished over the last 2 years. All of us at Temple are proud to say that we have been a part of the greatest academic turnaround in the APR Reform era. We inherited a liability, and in just a short 29 months made it our single greatest asset . . .

"The programs we have implemented, and the resources utilized to support this initiative, have been unique, innovative and impactful."

Temple is one of two Division I-A schools - with San Jose State - that have been penalized the last 2 years. A third straight APR under 925 would result in a ban from postseason competition.

At least some of these problems can be traced to the Big East's decision to jettison Temple after the 2004 season. It affected recruiting. More emphasis was put on junior-college talent. It didn't work.

Under Golden, there's been much more of a commitment to academic support.

"Temple University certainly found itself in a hole that [to] many seemed irreparable," Golden noted. "However, we have repaired the problem, and have proven that the academic reforms are having lasting, positive effects . . . We are very excited about the future of Temple University and our football program in the coming years."

Last season, their first in the Mid-American Conference, the Owls - who started one senior - won four games. That's as many as they had won in the 4 previous years combined. *