Temple's Bernard Pierce is iffy for Wednesday's game with Miami of Ohio

Bernard Pierce's hard luck continues - even after his taking the extra measures to stay healthy.

The Temple tailback could miss Wednesday's game against Miami of Ohio after suffering a head injury in this past Wednesday's setback to Ohio.

"We don't know," Owls head coach Steve Addazio said Friday when asked if Pierce would play against the RedHawks. "Day-to-day. . . . I don't like to comment on injuries. But obviously, we all know that he got dinged in that game.

"We just have to wait and see."

This is just the latest in a string of injuries the junior has suffered throughout his career.

But this season was supposed to be different. The Glen Mills product was determined not to miss any games this year due to injuries.

That's part of the reason why he played in the last two games with a hamstring injury.

It's also the reason why he dedicated the offseason to becoming stronger, faster and living healthier.

As a result, he was having his best season.

His nation's-best 19 touchdowns are single-season rushing TD and overall TD records at Temple. Pierce's 114 points scored are also a single-season school mark.

The 6-foot, 218-pounder also ranks 15th nationally in rushing yards per game (115).

He's also Temple's career record-holder in scoring (276 points), rushing touchdowns (45) and overall touchdowns (46).

Addazio didn't appear concerned about Pierce's latest injury.

"There are no significant injuries here yet on that front anyways," the coach said.

"Hey, if you are going to tote the ball, and you are going to run a power run game, and you are going to carry the ball 20 to 25 times a game, you are going to get whacked by a high velocity by a lot of people."

The coach noted Pierce isn't the only Owl playing with injuries this season.

"Talk to [left guard] Derek Dennis, right now," Addazio said. "He went from a knee to an ankle to a neck.

"Talk to [left tackle] Pat Boyle. He got hit on a nerve on his calf. He lost the feeling in the lower part of his leg. Took a week to get the feeling back. Talk to him.

"I mean, talk to everybody. It's football. Everybody in the country is banged up. Dinged up."

Temple (5-4) had players miss anywhere from a day of practice to multiple games.

"Talk to Matt Brown," Addazio said of his backup tailback. "You think Matt Brown has been banged up a little bit?

"But it's football. That's the way it is. And I think Bernard's done a great job with it. He knows it. And that's the way it is."

Notes. Miami of Ohio (4-5) features local products in C.J. and Steve Marck. The brothers were Pennsbury High standouts. C.J. transferred to Miami of Ohio from Connecticut in 2009.

C.J. Marck, the 6-1, 250-pound fifth-year senior starting "buck" defensive end, has a team-leading eight tackles for a loss and three sacks to go with 37 total tackles, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

Steve Marck, a 6-3, 239-pound junior tight end, is sitting out this season after injuring his knee during spring practice.