Temple breaks camp with high expectations

The 2010 Temple football team was unveiled Wednesday on media day at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Owls, in full uniform except for helmets, posed for pictures and mingled inside the stadium they call home.

Later, outside at Head House Plaza, the Temple players and coaches greeted fans and signed autographs.

The occasion marked the end of the Owls' preseason camp, and coach Al Golden said he will now focus his team's attention on defending Football Championship Subdivision national champion Villanova, which will meet Temple on Sept. 3 for the Mayor's Cup and the season opener for both teams.

The Wildcats, who were picked to repeat at their level, defeated Temple, 27-24, on a last-second field goal in the inaugural event last fall.

Earlier Wednesday, Golden met Villanova coach Andy Talley at City Hall, where they and Mayor Nutter talked up the rematch.

The contest will kick off Golden's fifth year with the Owls, who in '09 enjoyed the program's first winning season since 1990 with a 9-4 finish, and the team's first postseason appearance in 30 years. Temple went against UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl in Washington, where the Owls went down, 30-21, at RFK Stadium.

"It has gone by quickly," said Golden, who had a 10-26 record his first three seasons while transforming Temple into a relevant team again. "Would I trade this experience for anything? No way. I don't think there's a problem out there that we had, football-wise, or administratively, that we haven't solved. Obviously, when you take a risk like we've taken to come here, the rewards are great. And that's what I see right now."

Temple is the preseason favorite to win the MAC championship, and with good reason.

Last season, Temple put together a school single-season record of nine straight wins on its way to claiming a piece of the Mid-American Conference East Division title, and Golden being named MAC coach of the year.

Furthermore, Temple was ranked second in the conference in total defense, had the league defensive player of the year in end Adrian Robinson, who led the league in sacks, and the freshman of the year in running back Bernard Pierce, who led the league in rushing.

Temple had a league-high 15 players who made one of the three all-MAC teams. The Owls also topped everybody with eight first-team selections.

This year, Temple has 56 letter winners returning, including Robinson, Pierce and 14 other starters.

With experienced depth at nearly every position, the Temple offense will be led by quarterback Chester Stewart, a 6-3, 214–pound redshirt junior who started four regular season games last year.