Temple football squad still has a lot to play for

Temple lost out on its chance at the Mid-American Conference football championship last week. The Owls' opponent on Tuesday night, Miami of Ohio, is still very much alive in the race.

The RedHawks will take a three-game winning streak into the game in Oxford, Ohio.

"We're playing a very good football team, and I think that's got [the players'] attention," Temple coach Al Golden said. "And they're hot right now."

At 7-4 overall and 6-1 in the MAC, Miami is tied with Ohio for first place in the East Division. If Miami and Ohio finish tied, the Bobcats would play West Division champ Northern Illinois in Detroit for the MAC title because they have beaten the RedHawks.

Temple's MAC hopes were ended in a 31-23 loss to Ohio last week. If the Owls (5-2 MAC), Ohio and Miami all finish 6-2, they will be 2010 tri-champions. Last year, the Owls and the Bobcats were cochampions.

Temple, 8-3 overall, still has a chance to better last season's 9-4 record that marked the Owls' first winning season since 1990. After making its first postseason appearance in 30 years - a 30-21 loss to UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl in Washington last year - Temple has a chance to win a bowl game and reach 10 wins for the first time since 1979.

Temple is 15-5 in its last 20 games under Golden, who is in his fifth season. The Owls went 4-16 in Golden's first 20 games.

"There's a lot to play for," Golden said. "The seniors have a chance to finish with a winning record, and that's never happened over four years since I've been here, and for a long time here. We're building a program, although we haven't been able to break through yet to get to Detroit and do those types of things. But we're building a program that's going to compete for championships year in and year out."

Golden, who will start just three seniors on offense and four on defense, went into the weekend unsure about the availability of running back Bernard Pierce (hamstring) and linebacker Elijah Joseph (knee).

Pierce's most recent injury comes after an ankle sprain earlier this season and a shoulder injury last fall. Both caused the sophomore to sit out games. Pierce led the MAC in rushing last year. Joseph, who is the Owls' leading tackler with 71, did not miss a game in 2008 or '09.

Tuesday at 7 p.m., Yager Stadium, Oxford, Ohio.

TV/Radio: ESPN2; WPHT-AM (1210).

Records: Temple, 8-3 overall, 5-2 Mid-American Conference; Miami, 7-4, 6-1.

Coaches: Temple, Al Golden (fifth season, 27-33); Miami, Michael Haywood (second season, 8-15).

Series: Temple leads, 3-1.

Temple outlook: Golden pointed out that in a 31-23 loss to Ohio last week, the Owls cost themselves 182 yards in penalties. Temple had 402 yards of total offense and punted just three times, and still lost.

Miami outlook: The RedHawks, who went 1-11 last year, have fashioned a turnaround that is one of the biggest one-season jumps in the nation. Last week, in a 19-14 victory at Akron, running back Thomas Merriweather rushed for 141 yards on 17 carries. Wide receivers Nick Harwell, Andy Cruse, and Trevor Cook are dangerous. Miami, which is bowl-eligible for the first time in five years, is averaging 19.8 points per game to 27.0 for Temple.

- Kevin Tatum

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