Temple's Rhule on the senior class: 'They changed my life'

BOCA RATON, Fla. - It was only for a brief moment, but Temple football coach got reflective when talking about a subject that is close to his heart - his senior class.

As much as Rhule is looking forward to Tuesday's game when the Owls (10-3) meet Toledo (9-2) in the Boca Raton Bowl, the one downside is that this will be the final game for what he considers a truly special senior class.

"After the game, win, lose or draw, it will be a hard moment for me, a sentimental moment for me," Rhule said. "As I told people earlier these guys changed my life, changed my family's life."

Those changes came in many ways.

"They enabled us to have some success, they enabled me to get a new contract and they enabled our coaches to stay here," Rhule said.

Rhule said it was a group that was a tough mentally as physically.

"They worked hard, blocked out the negativity of 2-10 (in 2013) and all that and they just worked and worked and worked and as a result, everything they have gotten this year is well deserved."

So regardless of the outcome, it will be an emotional time for Rhule, saying goodbye to a group that left a lasting impression.