Temple AD: We'll try to keep Golden

Temple's Bill Bradshaw recently was asked what an athletic director is to do when his football coach is sure to be coveted by other programs.

"You try your very best to keep your best people," the Temple AD said. "Sometimes that isn't enough. But within your resources, and within your means, you try your very best to keep those people here."

In Bradshaw's case, he has Mid-American Conference coach of the year Al Golden in his employ. Golden guided Temple to a 9-3 season, the program's best since 1979. The Owls also are going to their first bowl game since that year.

Naturally, Golden's name is coming up in connection with other jobs.

Golden said yesterday he had interviewed for the vacant Notre Dame position, which went to former Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly.

"I listened, and I moved on," Golden said.

With the spot at Cincinnati now open, Golden's name surfaced. He said Cincinnati had not contacted him.

"If it gets to that, we'll deal with it," he said. "But it's not an issue and not something I'm dealing with at all. I'm not engaged in any talks right now."

Golden is in the fourth year of a six-year deal he signed when he was hired at Temple. He is believed to be making about $500,000 a year.

"Temple will do whatever it takes to keep Al Golden at Temple, and those conversations are important to both Al and to us," Bradshaw said. "But in my experience, those things are better talked about after the season. Al Golden will have every opportunity to do whatever he wants in football. He does not have to do anything out of desperation."