Owls Notes: Two kickers still sharing one job for Temple
Two kickers have handled sharing the job well at Temple, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been difficult.
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Temple has had two placekickers and it appears for the immediate future that senior Austin Jones and sophomore Aaron Boumerhi will continue to share the job.
Jones has been attempting the shorter field goals and Boumerhi, who kicked a winning and career-best 49-yard field goal with a minute to go in last week's 16-13 win over Villanova, is the long-range kicker. He has also been handling kickoffs.
The Owls (1-1) host Massachusetts 7 p.m. on Friday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Each kicker is 2 for 3 on field goals this season. They are good friends and have handled the situation well, putting the team ahead of any individual goals.
Still, that doesn't mean it's been an easy situation.
"It is weird, but the way Austin and I prepare, we just try to treat it like a normal game and we do the best we can to eliminate the outside factors of not knowing and try to relax and stay calm as much as we can," said Boumerhi, the AAC special teams player of the week.
Added Jones: "It's a little tough, but you have to keep working and you know you will get your shot eventually."
Good memories of the Linc
UMass coach Mark Whipple says he is looking to return to Lincoln Financial Field.
"The Linc has been pretty good to me," Whipple said in a phone interview. "When I worked for the Eagles, the last time I was there we got a win to get in the playoffs, beating the Dallas Cowboys."
That was the last game of the 2008 regular season when the Eagles beat Dallas, 44-6, to earn the second wild card with a 9-6-1 record. Dallas finished 9-7.
The Eagles eventually lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC title game.
"I had a lot of good memories that season," Whipple said.
Taylor a single-digit award winner
Temple defensive lineman Jullian Taylor was given the single-digit No. 1 this week, a reward for his toughness and dedication during practices and the game. Temple is rewarding the No. 1 all season to a different player each week who displays the toughness trait.
A 6-foot-5, 280-pound redshirt senior who has undergone his share of injuries, Taylor had two tackles in Saturday's 16-13 win over Villanova.
"It was a dream come true to wear a single digit," said Taylor, a product of Williamstown High. "I have been here five years and been through a lot of injuries, so I had the biggest smile on my face when he said I was going to wear it."