After another close loss, K.C. Keeler is ‘all in’ on helping Temple improve as season winds down
With its loss to Navy on Saturday, Temple dropped its fifth game decided by eight points or less this season. Keeler is stressing to his team to not "be afraid to play” when things get close.
Temple snapped the ball on its own 29-yard line, trailing Navy 42-35 on Saturday with 1 minute, 11 seconds remaining. The Owls were originally down 28-0 against Navy, but had surged back. Their comeback fell short when Jaxon Smolik failed to complete his pass to Jayce Freeman on fourth down.
Temple fell to 2-7 (1-4 American Conference) and lost its fourth consecutive game. It was the fifth loss decided by eight points or less. Now, the Owls return home to play Alabama-Birmingham this weekend (1 p.m., ESPN+).
“We’ve been in that situation a couple of times now and we haven’t been able to get it done,” Temple coach K.C. Keeler said on Monday. “I got to figure out what is missing. … I worry about sometimes them [being] afraid to fail. Just go play. Don’t get in those one score games and be afraid to play.”
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A shift in the culture
Keeler views Temple’s 49-48 overtime loss at Toledo on Sept. 19 as a turning point. The Owls led 42-28 at the two-minute warning before giving up two touchdowns and eventually losing in overtime. Players started pointing fingers at one another rather than themselves — something Keeler has never seen his guys do.
He made it clear to the roster that Temple doesn’t operate like that.
The Owls took another step back when they lost to previously winless Charlotte on Oct. 17.
Keeler responded by firing defensive line coach Cedric Calhoun, demoting defensive coordinator Brian L. Smith to safeties coach, and elevating Henry Baker as the new defensive playcaller.
Recently, Keeler has seen the Owls buy back.
“If you look at the last two weeks, we’ve been unbelievable,” Keeler said. “In terms of … playing all the way to the last snap.”
Looking toward UAB
The Blazers (5-4, 3-2 American) beat East Carolina in overtime 30-17 on Oct. 15, which Temple lost to 16 days later. Keeler respects UAB’s defense, praising its defensive line and safety groups.
During Monday’s practice, running back Sam Brown V and linebackers Curly Ordonez and Eric Stuart weren’t present due to illness. Running back Hunter Smith didn’t play against Navy because of flu symptoms.
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Quarterback Ajani Sheppard, who last played in Temple’s loss to ECU on Oct. 31, was sidelined against the Midshipmen due to a foot injury. Keeler thinks Sheppard will be available to play against UAB.
Getting back on track
Temple lost its seventh game over the weekend, likely extending its bowl game absence to seven years..
But Keeler and the team made a commitment to play all 12 games, even if their postseason chances are lost. The locker room has felt much more optimistic lately even amid the losing streak, Keeler says.
He’s dedicated to righting the ship as the season winds down.
“Every morning I wake up, I’m now 2-7,” Keeler said. “But when I walk in this building, I’m the leader of this pack, and the pack will travel as fast as I travel. So I am all in on us trying to get better.”
