Bruce Arians is still a big Temple fan

Bruce Arians started a conference call with Philadelphia-area reporters on Wednesday by paying homage to the college football team he used to coach.

"How 'bout those Temple Owls, baby!" said Arians, now the Arizona Cardinals coach. "What a year."

Arians coached Temple from 1983 to 1988. He went 27-39 with two winning seasons. He said still follows the Owls "very, very" closely.

His coaching staff in Arizona has had a Temple flavor. Cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross played at Temple for 1980 to 1983 and "has Temple stuff on every day," Arians said. His former defensive coordinator was Todd Bowles, who played at Temple.

Defensive backs coach Nick Rapone coached with Arians at Temple and was also on the Owls' staff from 1999 to 2005. Special-teams coordinator Amos Jones was part of the Arians' Temple staff, too.

" A lot of Temple," Arians said. "This is Temple West."

Arians planned on having the Cardinals practice at Temple's campus this week, but the Cardinals changed their travel plans when the NFL moved Sunday's kickoff from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Cardinals are now flying to Philadelphia on Saturday.

That doesn't give Arians as much time in the city, but enough to check off a few activities he completes whenever he comes to Philadelphia.

"Get some good pretzels and see a lot of friends from Temple," Arians said.