Jensen: Temple's 'Champ' Chandler draws raves

Sean "Champ" Chandler, Temple Owls safety, defensive star, lingered on the middle of the practice field Tuesday after former 76ers president and Philadelphian for the ages Pat Croce finished talking to the Owls about embracing life and maximizing each day.

Chandler had a more specific reason to touch base. He has a strong interest in physical therapy as a career after football. He knew that was Croce's background.

Chandler already knew about Croce? Chandler was 5 years old when Croce was on top of the world - or at least the Walt Whitman Bridge - with the Sixers in 2001.

"Allen Iverson mentioned him in his Hall of Fame speech," Chandler said after chatting with Croce for a minute. "That's when I had to Google him - I found out who he was."

Is it any wonder that Temple coaches rave about this junior, calling him a leader before he even played a game. Why players at Camden High told their coaches they wanted to "be like Champ." Why he's on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list for top defensive backs.

We could focus on Chandler's upbringing, which involved a lot of moving around and included a time in a homeless shelter in Camden. Maximizing each day? Chandler could give that talk.

Owls coach Matt Rhule said last season that of all the changes that led to success in Temple's program, bringing in Chandler "was the biggest thing" because of the work he put in and the love he had for the sport, how even within the team Chandler made it "cool" to love football.

Temple gives their single digit numbers to the players chosen as the toughest by their teammates. Chandler got that distinction as a true freshman. Rhule tried to say they couldn't do it, but doesn't regret being talked into it.

It was a bit of a risk this season when Owls assistant coach Fran Brown talked to Chandler about switching to safety from cornerback, where he had held his own.

"I told him, 'Wherever you all need me, I'm willing to go,' " Chandler said this week. "That was during the winter. We came back to school. 'Yeah, you're going to be playing safety.' "

"I was like, 'Let's go.' "

"It was definitely taking a chance," Rhule said of making the switch. "I think we felt it was his really his own personal natural progression and that is his best chance to be a great player and we felt that is what we needed."

Rhule raved about an interception Chandler had last weekend against Stony Brook.

"I know it was against an FCS team but for him to make that unbelievable tipped-ball pick, that is something - we haven't made that play, and with him, that showed us he could do that," Rhule said.

Of this week, Rhule said, "They will be challenged this week and this will really be a litmus test for us, where are we at corner and where we are at safety."

Last season, Temple eventually dominated Penn State defensively, sacking Christian Hackenberg 10 times in a 27-10 victory. Put it down as the most important victory in Temple history.

"I looked on the seniors' faces and saw we had finally beat them," Chandler said. "I don't think anybody believed we were going to actually beat them."

How did he play?

"On the field, I felt like we played perfect," Chandler said, turning it into a team question. "Then when you go back and look at the film, you see you still made a lot of mistakes. We won the game but we still have things to correct. We're still looking at the film from last year to better ourselves."

Does Temple's defense have enough playmakers this time to do what it needs to do against Penn State?

"Oh, I feel like we have more playmakers," Chandler said. "I feel like we're faster on defense. Guys have more experience. Even the guys who began this year, they're coming along. Just following along behind the guys who do have the experience. I feel like we're a better defense this year."

If you want to draw a line through the Army game because the triple option is a different animal, then Temple's defense will need to start proving that point and, as Rhule suggested, Penn State's spread attack will be a different kind of test.

Is Chandler himself a better safety or cornerback?

"I feel like I'm a better DB," Chandler said, and he also noted that showing he can play any secondary position is good for his future.

It was just interesting that his future was exactly what was on Chandler's mind when he went over to talk to Croce.

"You're just starting," Croce told him as they finished up. "You're just starting."

mjensen@phillynews.com

@jensenoffcampus