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"My great memories and happiest times in my life were out there," he said. "By no means was I a great player, but any of the highlights that I had there [were created by] just doing what I was trained to do, doing what I was told to do and relaxing and having fun and playing the game. "When I go back there, I ask myself, why would I do anything di1erent? I'll relax, have fun and coach football." Rhule is in his eighth season at Temple and has coached against Penn State as an assistant six times in the past, but this will be his 4rst in charge. Rhule began his climb up the coaching ladder as a volunteer assistant at Penn State the season a5er he 4nished play- ing. Next he went to Albright College for a year before making stops at Bu1alo, UCLA and Western Carolina. Temple hired him in 2006, and he served as an assistant under fellow PSU alum Al Golden and later Steve Addazio, then took a job with the New York Giants for the 2012 season. When Addazio le5 for Boston College, Rhule returned to Philadelphia. At 39, he's the seventh-youngest head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision. In his 4rst season, Temple 4nished with only two wins, but the team has shown improvement in year two. The Owls got o1 to a 4-1 start, and despite losing three of their past four, they have allowed only 18.1 points per game, which ranks among the nation's top 25. They have also been extremely opportunistic on defense, amassing 25 turnovers and averaging 11 points per game immedi- ately a5er those takeaways. Similar to Penn State, the defense has been Temple's strong suit in 2014. Also like Penn State, the o1ensive line has had its fair share of struggles, dating back to last fall. Temple had to replace 4ve linemen who combined for 41 starts a year ago, so Rhule had to convert a couple defensive linemen – again, like PSU – and con- struct a mostly makeshi5 O-line to begin the season. (Center Kyle Friend, a Rim- ington Trophy watch-list guy, is an ex- ception.) From that season-opening o1ensive line, too, Temple could be without two of its starters vs. Penn State. In each of the past three games, it's used a di1erent O- line combination. Also like Penn State, Temple has a young receiving corps with a strong quarterback in P.J. Walker under center. But an underpowered rushing game has hindered the passing attack. "We're just a work in progress right now at receiver," Rhule said. "We just haven't had a big-play threat to get peo- ple o1 us in coverage, and really, there aren't many people open right now." Making matters worse, Temple's lead- ing receiver – Harrisburg native Jalen Fitzpatrick – injured his leg in a 16-13 loss to Memphis last week. Fitzpatrick didn't practice early this week, and Rhule called his status "a game-time decision." Fitzpatrick accounts for nearly a third of Temple's receiving yards through the 4rst nine games. Without him, Walker must rely on a host of inexperienced pass-catchers. Said Rhule, "Other than the [receivers] who are redshirting, I think we're just playing with who we have. We just have to get them better as much as we can this week." No matter how much his receivers im- prove, Rhule is expecting tough traveling against Penn State's defense, which he said has "very intricate blitz packages, multiple fronts and coverages. That's why you see them shutting people out and playing such great defense," adding, "you never really know what you're get- ting." That has him more hung up than this return home to State College. He's got fond memories, of course, the fondest being Penn State's 63-14 thrashing of Ohio State in 1994, his freshman year. "I'll just never forget that day and that energy," he said. And he still travels back to the area a few times each year to visit his grandmother, aunts and uncles. But this trip home will simply be about business. "I spent a lot of my life there, a lot of my time there," he said. "There are great people there who I'm excited to see and be a part of. From a personal standpoint, those things are nice for me. More im- portantly, though, I think it's a great op- portunity for our kids to go there and play against a really good football team. You come to Temple so you can play in games like this. And one is here." NATE BAUER 2014 RECORD 7-2 Both defenses are pretty good, with Temple's being especially talented at creating points. Is another pick-six in the cards? If it is, Penn State could be in trouble. Either way, another close game is likely to come down to the wire this weekend at Beaver Stadium. PENN STATE 16, TEMPLE 13 PHIL GROSZ 2014 RECORD 6-3 Temple has an unbelievable 17 fumble recoveries this season, as well as six blocked kicks. If the Nittany Lions can create some turnovers and remain turnover-free, they will qualify for a bowl game with their sixth win. PENN STATE 24, TEMPLE 10 MATT HERB 2014 RECORD 6-3 Whatever was hindering the offensive line earlier this year was apparently contagious, because hardly anyone is doing well on that side of the ball right now. Still, this is a winnable game, provided the Lions hold Temple's de- fense scoreless. The Owls have racked up six defensive TDs, so PSU had bet- ter be careful with the ball. PENN STATE 17, TEMPLE 13 TIM OWEN 2014 RECORD 7-2 The identities of these two teams are eerily similar, but Penn State has the advantage in overall talent. This one might come down to which defense can score more points. PENN STATE 13, TEMPLE 7 RYAN SNYDER 2014 RECORD 7-2 The Owls haven't pulled out many wins of late, but they've been playing better in recent weeks. Penn State may have gotten the win against Indiana, but the play on offense left a lot to be desired. I think this too will be closer than what it should be. PENN STATE 17, TEMPLE 10 N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 2 BWI'S FORECAST

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