Coach Al Golden will blow the whistle on Saturday afternoon, as the Temple football team assembles for slightly less than four weeks of preseason practice leading into its season-opening battle against Navy on Aug. 31. The first practice session is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Chodoff Field.The Owls bring a young squad into the 2007 campaign, with only two scholarship seniors on the roster. But most of those young players gained valuable playing experience last season, so Golden and his staff won’t be starting from square one.
Starting jobs will definitely be up for grabs at nearly every position, with the primary focus, of course, on the quarterback race between Adam DiMichele and Vaughn Charlton.
On offense, the only position featuring a sure starter is center, where junior Alex Derenthal returns with two years of full-time experience. The stakes are high, in terms of playing time, as the Owls don’t figure to rotate players on the offensive line.
On defense, Golden has made it clear that he would like to keep as many fresh bodies as possible on the field this season. So landing the number two spot on the depth chart doesn’t necessarily mean a spot on the bench.
Heading into camp, the team appears well-stocked on the defensive line and in the secondary, though both areas need improvement. At linebacker, the Owls will receive a boost with the return of Keith Holt and John Haley, two experienced players who missed spring drills for violating team rules. Junior college transfer Tommie Weatherspoon is also expected to provide some help to an area that was dangerously thin this spring.
Back on offense, the running back and wide receiver positions figure to feel the greatest impact from new arrivals. Sophomore Jason Harper is the team’s only experienced running back.
And then there’s special teams, a sore spot for the Owls last season, except for Travis Shelton’s kickoff returns. Golden needs to find more reliable special teamers besides Shelton and kicker/punter Jake Brownell.
In accordance with NCAA rules, the Owls will practice once per day for the first five days of preseason camp, then rotate between two-a-days and one-a-day sessions before school starts on Aug. 27. Practices are closed to the public.
In less than a month, the Owls will be hosting Navy at Lincoln Financial Field.
“I think everybody involved with Temple University is really anxiously awaiting August 31st,” Golden said last week. “I think everybody wants to see what we’ve achieved since last year when we played Navy, and see how much progress we’ve made, and see what kind of representation we can have as a university at that game.
“I think those are the things that everybody is kind of looking forward to. For me, I think it’s going to be the first day of camp this year. Because I really enjoyed the spring, getting back into coaching mode a little bit and getting away from the administrative side of it a little bit. That was fun for me.”
For the Owls, the fun is only two days away.