Category Archives: Sports

Muhammad Wilkerson declares for NFL draft via twitter

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Junior defensive tackle Muhammed Wilkerson has decided to forgo a senior season with the Cherry and White and declare for the National Football League’s annual draft in April, according to the defensive lineman’s twitter account, where he goes by @Impactmo9.

“So #2011 starts a new chapter for me n my life its get right season #nfldraft.” Wilkerson tweeted on New Year’s Eve.

Subsequent tweets confirmed his decision and thanked Temple for the opportunity to play. There has been no formal announcement from Temple athletics.

In his final season, Wilkerson led the defense with 9.5 sacks and had 70 tackles en route being named a first-team, All-Mid-American Conference honoree. Various websites the follow the NFL draft have Wilkerson being drafted between the second to fourth rounds.

Four more depart from the football team

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The football team now finds itself without a defensive coaching staff, a director of football operations and a director of player development, according to an announcement from Temple athletics.

Defensive line coach Jethro Frank, defensive backs coach Paul Williams, director of football operations Tom Deahn and director of player development Ryan McNamee have all joined coach Al Golden and defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio in Miami, where they will have the same duties.

According to the NCAA, D’Onofrio, Franklin and Williams may not engage in any coaching activities until after Dec. 31, after the Hurricanes play Notre Dame in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. The three coaches may engage in recruiting activities in the meantime.

D-coordinator Mark D’Onofrio joins Al Golden in Miami

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The football team’s defensive coordinator, Mark D’Onofrio, turned down an offer to be the head coach for the Cherry and White to join former head coach Al Golden’s staff in Miami, according to reports from Philly Sports Daily and OwlScoop.com yesterday. It hasn’t been confirmed as to what job D’Onofrio will have with the Hurricanes.

D’Onofrio was considered the top candidate to replace Golden. Athletic director Bill Bradshaw released a statement last night stating a national search will be conducted to find a new head coach.

“Temple is firmly committed to finding the best possible person to continue the success it has experienced over the past two seasons and lead it to even greater heights,” Bradshaw said. “The program has never been in better shape, posting consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1978-79, with the 17 wins during that time tying the school record. Our goal is to find the right person to continue this success on the gridiron while also maintaining excellence in the classroom.”

Adios @TUCoachAlGolden

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For those of you on Twitter instead of studying for finals, there’s one less person you’ll find in the Twitter-sphere: Al Golden. After an announcement that Temple’s head coach has accepted a deal to become the head coach of the University of Miami’s football team, it seems @TUCoachAlGolden no longer exists (Don’t believe us? http://twitter/tucoachalgolden). In other news: @BillCosby is only following five people on Twitter now.

Doug is in the house

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Zumba is a great way to burn off some serious calories, but I’d rather learn how to Dougie any day.  People will do crazy things to get their 15-minutes of fame and these four girls tore up the student section at the Georgetown basketball game last night at the Liacouras Center.  Someone please contact the the Fitness Coordinator Crista Sandner at the IBC Recreation Center and have her hire these Owls as dance instructors. Got to love that school spirit!

A Hoya Amongst the Owls

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They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but this is just down right betrayal.  Spotted: Looks like the Cherry and White has got itself its own Benedict Arnold, but to infiltrate Owl territory by posing as a Temple student is sheer genius.  Better watch out TU because it seems like this curious George is recruiting an army of misfit boys.  Whatever happened to loyalty?

Bill Cosby to receive National Football Foundation’s Gold Medal

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Bill Cosby, a former Temple football player, will be awarded the National Football Foundation’s Gold Medal this Tuesday. Cosby spoke to the New York Times about his time wearing the Cherry & White and said football taught him “obedience and hope,” but “told his coaches he was giving up football” because of “’Showbiz, man, showbiz.’” During the two seasons Cosby played at Temple, the Owls won five games, lost 11 and tied two.

Temple officials say little as more information breaks

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The Temple News spoke to Ray Betzner, the Assistant Vice President of University Communications, regarding the sexual assault allegations regarding two football players.

“I can confirm that there was a report of a sexual assault in a campus residence hall over the weekend,” Betzner said. “Beyond that, the matter has been turned over to the Philadelphia Police’s special victim unit.”

When asked whether or not the suspects were freshmen, as was reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Betzner said that revealing anything that could identify the suspects would be a violation of federal privacy laws. The same was said regarding whether or not the suspects had been removed from the dorm or football team. Athletics spokesman Larry Dougherty declined to comment, deferring all questions to Betzner.

This afternoon NBC10 reported the one of the two players involved in the incident over the weekend was also named by a woman who reported being raped on Nov. 11

Kyle Gauss contributed to this post.

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Peanut Joseph suffers season-ending injury

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Elijah “Peanut” Joseph, the football team’s starting middle linebacker, has played his last game for the Owls.

The 6-foot-2-inch Connecticut native suffered an injury to his right knee in the team’s loss to Ohio last Tuesday. Joseph was carted off the field.

The senior appeared in all 10 games this year while making seven starts. Joseph was named a First Team All-MAC selection last season. He finished his career with 27 career starts.

According to a press release from the team, Joseph is expected to be ready for spring drills and any NFL Draft workouts.

Owls forward Craig Williams fractures left foot

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Just as men’s basketball senior forward Craig Williams was cleared for limited practice after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his right foot earlier this year, he fractures the fifth metatarsal in his left foot this past Sunday before Temple’s 82-49 win over Toledo, according to a release from Temple athletics.

The injury will not require surgery and Williams is expected to miss four to six weeks.