Temple football coach Steve Addazio: 'We're handfuls of plays away'
Is Temple better than its three-game losing streak would indicate? Owls coach Steve Addazio sure thinks so.
Temple football coach Steve Addazio: 'We're handfuls of plays away'
Is Temple better than its three-game losing streak would indicate? Owls coach Steve Addazio sure thinks so.
After leading 10-0 at the half, the Owls suffered a 35-10 setback to 24th-ranked Rutgers on Oct. 20. Pittsburgh defeat Temple, 47-17, a week later. And 11th-ranked Louisville beat the Owls, 45-17, this past Saturday.
As a result, Temple (3-5, 2-3 Big East) is riding its first three-game losing streak since 2008. Back then, the Owls went on to lose four straight en route to finishing, 5-7. That was Temple’s last losing season.
“Where are you? How far away are you? I think we’re handfuls of plays away from completely different outcomes,” Addazio said. “When I get guys that I know that I played against call me and say what they say to me those guys have no agenda. And they say ‘Wow, you have a physical football team here, man. They played really hard, physical. They’re tough. What a great future you have.’
“Then you know what you see is real. We got to develop. We got to find a way to squeeze out some of the things that are happening to me. We may get that down this year. We may not.”
Temple entertains Cincinnati on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. The Bearcats (6-2, 2-1) are an 11-point favorite.
Coach: You need to get serious. You have the worst statistical QB in DI. Your receivers can't catch and your defensive backs cannot defend. Your O Coordinator is not very good and you are not very innovative. You are deluding yourself if you think that you are a few plays away. You are about 15 players away.— BMJ- They're definitely not better than their record. Saw them against Pittsburgh and it was a disaster.— Barry Attrick
- Temple thought getting to the Big East was the end of the battle; they forgot they still had to win. Unfortunately, they had a better team in 2011 and will lose their running game after this season and will struggle again in 2013. Recruiting and attendance will suffer; 2012 had to be at least an eight win year. They are coming up way short.— Bigbirch
- I think they give Cincy a good game this week.— The One Who Knows
- Only if they play Hoops instead.— BMJ
- I'll say it again. Temple is a MAC team playing in the Big East. You have to be patient and let a few years of recruiting kick in.— bobbyd24
- The BE isn't that much better than the MAC. Temple is pretty bad this year and would be struggling in the MAC too. I hope BigBirch is wrong, but Temple knows just getting into the BE isn't the end of the battle. Its hard to tell what's really going on, but hopefully Daz can bring winning seasons on a regular basis. If this is an off season, well, us old Owl are used to that, but winning seasons MOST years is all I'm asking! Go Owls.— joninohio
- You are what your record says you are. Temple, and their record, isn't very good right now. Suck it up coach.— intheweeds
- they are ehat they are...and he needs some good big east recruiting or they will be back in the mac....no AR denial coach...— nuggett
- Relax and take a blow. Temple will improve and be a factor in the Big E next years.
'64 OWL— crumblinggeorge 
Temple football coach Steve Addazio: 'We're handfuls of plays away' Was this guy a comedian before he decided to try and coach football??- Temple football could not win anything in the MAC, can't do it for the second time in the Big East. Time to stop pretending to be something you are not. Drop down to Div 2.— Taser
- Considering all the freshman, Temple is playing at par. The QB and DBs are not playing well. Glad to see that Newsome is getting some reps. He looked faster and stronger than Coyer and couldn't possibly pass any worse.— damnels
- Typical Philly pro sports fans posting here as usual. The sky is not falling. Any real Temple football fan knew this would be a rebuilding year. Owls will be much improved next year and should be one of the top teams in the conference two years from now. Keep in mind they were picked to finish last in the conference this year (due to all of the losses from last year) and have played better than most thought they would. Give Addazio time. College programs have to reload from time to time. Again, the sky is not falling. The Owls do not = the Eagles.— TU_NY
- The owls picked a tough year talent-wise to join the BE but honestly they would be having just a tough a road in the MAC (5-0 against the BE this season). Daz is either stretching it or delusional if he thinks the owls are a few plays away from more wins. They are actually only two plays away from not winning a game against a BCS opponent (two fourth down conversions against uconn and a blocked kick against USF).
I really he the owls can get their defense and trenches in shape for next year. They're losing their strongest skill players in Matt Brown and Montel Harris and one of the top kickers in the country. They won't win a game next year if they don't get some of the younger guys to take leadership roles. They have some real talent in Nate D Brown and Matekevich but need a leader in the field. They also need to update their d-backs which are a disaster.
Good luck owls!— owl87
John Mitchell is in his first year covering Temple after two seasons covering the 76ers for the Inquirer, after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette. He graduated from Overbrook High School in 1983, and he's a graduate of Howard University in Washington DC. Follow him on Twitter @jmitchinquirer or reach him at jmitchell@philly.com.
