Temple Notes: 'Raucous' atmosphere excites Rhule

Temple coach Matt Rhule was greeted like a rock star during his appearance Saturday morning on ESPN's College GameDay, which was broadcast from Independence Mall.

Rhule was interviewed by ESPN's Samantha Ponder during the first hour of the show. He entered and exited the stage to rousing ovations.

"I thought it was an unbelievable atmosphere," Rhule said shortly afterward. "I knew it would be great but didn't expect it to be that raucous."

Rhule said the noise was deafening.

"I couldn't even hear the questions I was being asked," he said. "I thought it was an amazing turnout, and I am really proud of our city."

Temple athletic director Patrick Kraft was basking in the glow of being, for one day, in the center of the college football universe, with GameDay coming to Philadelphia and Saturday's sold-out game at Lincoln Financial Field against Notre Dame.

Kraft was asked whether the football team's success this season and the attention this weekend could further help Temple's goal of getting an on-campus football stadium.

"It helps, everything positive helps," Kraft said before the game. "We have given them a taste of what this big-time college football is."

Then Kraft warned that it takes more than short-term success to get something of this magnitude done.

"You just don't build a football stadium because of one game, or one year," he said. "That decision is much broader in scope and has to be an institutionwide decision. But yes it is a great thing."

The Notre Dame game was used as a recruiting tool for the Owls. Temple entertained many potential recruits in addition to players who have already made commitments. It was estimated that about 100 high school players attended the game as Temple's guests.

Temple has 12 players for the Class of 2016 who have made oral commitments.

As a member of the American Athletic Conference, Temple isn't in one of the Power Five conferences.

AAC commissioner Mike Aresco was asked whether the goal is to eventually have the AAC added to the Power Five (Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Southeastern, and Pac-12).

"That is out goal, and it has been our goal from the beginning," Aresco said before the game. "You have six schools here that have been in that designation at one time or were in the old Southwest Conference."

He also cited improved programs, including Temple's.

"There are people like East Carolina and Memphis who are doing things they never did before because they are getting exposure," Aresco said. "Temple, this is not your grandfather's Temple, and this is not your grandfather's Memphis."