Leah Still will toss coin at Temple spring football game

Before the first snap of Temple's Cherry and White spring football game Saturday, the players will receive inspiration from somebody who has become a great friend of the program.

Leah Still, the 4-year-old girl whose battle with pediatric cancer has drawn national attention, will perform the coin toss along with her father, Devon, the Camden native, former Penn State standout, and current Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman.

The game will begin at 1 p.m. at Temple's Edberg Olson Hall Complex.

Last month, Devon Still announced that his daughter's cancer was in remission.

The connection to Temple, according to head coach Matt Rhule, is that Devon Still is close to two of the Owls assistants, defensive line coach Elijah Robinson and strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Scott. Both were coaches at Penn State when Still was there.

Rhule said that when Leah Still has undergone treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, her father has frequently gone to the practice facility to work out. Devon Still was told the news of his daughter's cancer on June 2, 2014.

"He has almost been kind of part of our building," Rhule said. "He is not here every day, but he is here enough and the players have a tremendous amount of respect for what he has done on the field both in college and the pros. But more importantly he is everything you want our players to see about being a father, being dedicated and loving people when they need it."

In addition, Leah has been to the training facility a number of times and made quite an impression on Rhule, the coaches, and players.

"You talk about somebody who can pick your day up," Rhule said. "You walk downstairs and just had a bad meeting, a bad practice, and she is down there cute as a button, blowing bubbles and doing whatever she is doing."

Devon Still has been grateful for his association with Temple.

"They definitely opened their doors for me understanding the situation of me having to be in Philadelphia and me training," Still said in a telephone interview. "It's been a big help to me."

Tickets on sale. Season tickets for the 2015 season go on sale Monday at 9 a.m. at 215-204-8499 or www.OwlsTix.com.