Highlights from Matt Rhule's AAC teleconference

Here are some highlights from Temple coach Matt Rhule's American Athletic Conference coaches conference call on Monday:

While Temple didn't go to a bowl game in 2010, when the Owls went 8-4 and 5-3 in the in the Mid-American  Conference, Rhule believes that being a part of the American Athletic Conference will play more of a role in getting a bowl trip this season if the Owls (5-4, 3-3) become bowl eligible in their last two games (Cincinnati and Tulane).

"I think it's more in our hands," Rhule, who was an assistant at Temple in 2010, said. "We were 8-4 but because of the level of competition we didn't get to go. That's why there's one thing about coming to a powerful conference like the American Athletic Conference with so many good teams. If you get to six wins you are going to a bowl because of the amount of tie-ins [AAC commissioner] Mike Aresco and his staff have put together. So really it's in your hands, whereas before it came down to an eighth or ninth win. It's just more within our control whether we can play well and pull a 'w' out."

The Owls last went to a bowl in 2011, when they defeated Wyoming, 37-15, in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.  That season they also finished the regular season with eight wins.

ON WHAT THE OWLS, WHO HAD THEIR THIRD BYE WEEK THIS PAST WEEKEND, FOCUSED ON.

"There was a real focus on recruiting by the staff and not a lot of practice by the team," Rhule said.  "We really tried to get them to focus on the last week of school  before fall break, so it was really an academic week as well as resting, recovering and lifting to make sure we're at our best physically for the last two times."

With an eye on 2015, they also got extra work for many of the players who will not play in 2014.

"We also took an opportunity to work the young guys, work the redshirt freshmen kids that aren't really playing, so we worked them trying to move the team along for the future," Rhule said.

They have turned their eyes on Saturday's noon game at Lincoln Financial Field with Cincinnati (7-3, 5-1 AAC). Following their 41-0 win over UConn, the Bearcats have won five straight games.

"Our attention is really on a tremendous Cincinnati team with a dynamic offense, great defense and  a really experienced coach in coach [Tommy] Tubervile. We'll have to play very well to play up to the level they are playing at."

ON THE HEALTH OF THE TEAM

Rhule said he expects both running back Kenneth Harper (ankle) and defensive back Jihaad Pretlow (hamstring) are questionable for this week's game. He also said he hoped that this game would mark the return of injured guard Shahbaz Ahmed (ankle) to his position at left guard. Ahmed has missed the last three games. He seemed less optimistic that starting right guard Brendan McGowan would return to the lineup this weekend but did not rule it out.