Temple Owls: 2010 Exit Survey

At the beginning of the year we searched high and far to find informative bloggers, beat writers and fans to answer some questions for us and give us some insight into their teams for our Pre-Season Previews. Now the season is coming to a close and Bowl Season is upon us. We will re-visit our Friends of Blog as their teams finish up the year to find out how they feel about the season and take a quick peak into what is in store for their team in the 2011/2012 College Football Season. In of first installment of these "Exit Surveys" we partner up with Mike Gibson of Temple Football Forever. To go back in time and read our Pre-Season Preview with Mike you can click here. Despite finishing with a record of 8-4 Temple was left on the outside looking in when the bowls were selected. Oh yeah, did I mention that they also lost their coach to Miami (Fl)? Temple football is definitely at a cross roads and it will be interesting to see which path they take. Here is what Mike had to say about the 2010 Temple season as well as a glimpse into the future.


How disappointing was it for Temple to go 8-4, beat a team that's playing in a BCS bowl and not get invited to a bowl?

Disappointing, but not unexpected. The Owls lost their final two games badly and their only competition for the final available bowl was Ohio and Ohio won the head-to-head. It does point out that the NCAA is corrupt as the BCS schools pushed through the rule change that allowed 6-6 teams to be invited above at-large teams with a winning record. There's no way a 6-6 team should have been invited above Temple.

Temple has a huge task of finding a replacement for Miami bound Al Golden. Who would you like to see take the helm for the Owls?

Steelers' offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. He posted two 6-5 seasons at Temple with no facilities and playing a schedule that regularly included West Virginia, Pitt, Penn State, BYU, Georgia, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Alabama, etc., etc.

What was your favorite moment of the season?

Beating UConn by two touchdowns, avenging the two prior meetings when the Owls were screwed by refs in 23-22 and 12-6 (OT) losses. Bernard Pierce played like a Heisman Trophy winner that day and Adrian Robinson played like the MAC defensive player of the year.

For those of us who didn't get a chance to watch Temple play this year, who are some of the guys who stepped up and who will be the major players next season?

Bernard Pierce and Adrian Robinson.

What area does your team need to improve on the most this off-season?

Game-day coaching. Al Golden led the nation in brain farts, but he's Miami's problem now.