Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/565808
P R E G A M E R E P O R T P E N N S T A T E @ T E M P L E 3 : 3 0 P . M . , S E P T . 5 E S P N TEMPLE FACTS COACH Matt Rhule (Penn State, '98) COACH'S RECORD 8-16 in three seasons as a head coach; career record: same 2014 RECORD 6-6, 4-4 American Athletic Conference RECORD VS. PSU The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series, 38- 3-1. MOST RECENT MEETING Led by Akeel Lynch's 130-yard out- burst, the Nittany Lions out- rushed the visiting Owls 254-61 last November in Beaver Stadium and pulled away in the second half for a 30-13 victory. It was Penn State's sixth win of the sea- son, making the team bowl-eligi- ble for the first time since 2011. GOOD NEWS In 2014 Temple ranked No. 4 in the Football Bowl Subdivision for points allowed per game (17.5) and scored eight non-offensive touchdowns, equalling the total of the Owls' four previous sea- sons combined. BAD NEWS Temple struggled on third down last year, converting just 23 per- cent of its attempts. That ranked as the worst rate in FBS. DID YOU KNOW? Penn State's visit to Lincoln Fi- nancial Field marks the first time in more than two decades that it has opened its season on the road. Since beginning their 1994 season on the road at Minnesota, the Nittany Lions have opened 16 seasons at home and four at neu- tral sites. M A T T H E R B | M A T T @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 5 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 1 RUN, DON'T WALK Safety Marcus Allen pres- sures Walker during PSU's 30-13 win over Temple in 2014. Photo Bill Anderson THE CHASE IS ON Temple aims to regain its stride as it welcomes PSU for opener It seemed like a classic sophomore slump. His interceptions were up, his touchdown passes and completion percentage were down, and quarterback P.J. Walker was beginning to feel as though he was under increasing pres- sure to turn things around – pressure that only served to erode his con"dence, mak- ing matters even worse. As he told Philly.com this past spring, "I feel like I lost my swag." Can he get it back? That's one of the biggest questions Temple faces heading into its season opener Saturday against visiting Penn State. In recent years, the Owls have developed a well-de- served reputation for defensive pro"ciency. They "elded one of the best defenses in the country last year, ranking 24th nationally in yards allowed at 347.1 per game. But if they are to take the next step in their devel- opment and play in a bowl game for the "rst time since 2011, they are going to need more productiv- ity from their o4ense. Last year, Temple 6at-lined, "nishing 115th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rush- ing o4ense (101.9 yards per game), 86th in passing o4ense (200.7 ypg) and 117th in total o4ense (308.4 ypg). The Owls didn't score