Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Shaken by Reid's death, grieving Owls practice on

The impact of Garrett Reid's death was felt at Temple's football complex on Monday morning. Huddling at Edberg-Olson Hall, a number of Owls were still visibly saddened one day after Garrett Reid, the eldest of Eagles coach Andy Reid's five children, was found dead in a dormitory room at Lehigh University.

"It's been a tough couple of days," Temple coach Steve Addazio said. (Ron Tarver/Staff Photographer)
"It's been a tough couple of days," Temple coach Steve Addazio said. (Ron Tarver/Staff Photographer)Read more

The impact of Garrett Reid's death was felt at Temple's football complex on Monday morning.

Huddling at Edberg-Olson Hall, a number of Owls were still visibly saddened one day after Garrett Reid, the eldest of Eagles coach Andy Reid's five children, was found dead in a dormitory room at Lehigh University.

Garrett was connected to Temple's program through his two brothers: Spencer Reid is a redshirt freshman and Britt Reid is a graduate assistant coach.

"It's been a tough couple of days, as all of you can imagine," Temple coach Steve Addazio said after Monday's practice. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the Reid family.

"Obviously, we have Spence here and Britt. We are all very close. It's just a tragic event and your heart breaks. I don't know what else you can say more than that."

A father of three children, Addazio said he can't imagine what Andy Reid and his wife, Tammy, are going through.

"You certainly find yourself thinking about that," he said of the thought of losing a child.

The Owls pushed Tuesday's morning practice to the afternoon so Addazio and some members of his coaching staff can attend Garrett Reid's funeral.

Britt and Spencer Reid were absent from practice Sunday and Monday.

"Our hearts go out to them and their family," quarterback Chris Coyer said. "That's a tough situation. Our prayers and thoughts go out to their family."

While Temple is saddened by the loss, Coyer said it hasn't had a negative effect on the team.

"When we are out there at practice, we are focused on football," Coyer said. "We are playing football, and that's all there is right now."

Sloppy offense. The Owls fell short of Addazio's expectations Monday, their first day of practice in shoulder pads.

"It was a little sloppy offensively out there at the end," he said. "I think what happens is all of a sudden guys think [an 11-on-11 scrimmage] is another drill at practice. It's not. That's the game for us."

Newsome adjusting. Former Penn State quarterback Kevin Newsome's head has been spinning during the first three days of practice.

"He just got here, [and there's] a lot of information," Addazio said of the junior, who arrived on campus Friday after completing courses at Tidewater Community College in Virginia.

Newsome left Penn State in August 2011 to transfer to Tidewater C.C., which does not have a football team. He was denied a waiver to transfer to Temple in January. Seven months later, he is way behind Coyer and backup quarterback Juice Granger, and the Owls are force-feeding him the offense.

"It's hard. It's overwhelming," Addazio said. "If you did it a little bit at a time, and you didn't force people to reach beyond, you will still be installing in September."

Kroboth joins staff. Former Temple safety Kevin Kroboth recently joined the Owls coaching staff as a graduate assistant for strength and conditioning.

Kroboth, who received a kinesiology degree this spring, was last season's second-leading tackler with 76 stops.