GAME PREVIEW: TEMPLE
BY LOU SOMOGYI
DEFENSE 'RHULES'
Much was made about Notre Dame
returning basically 11 starters on de‑
fense this year. The lone loss was cor‑
nerback Cody Riggs — who was re‑
placed by cornerback KeiVarae Russell,
a 26‑game starter in 2012‑13 who was
academically ineligible last season but
is now back in the lineup.
Turns out that the Fighting Irish did
lose starting nose guard Jarron Jones
for the season when he suffered a knee
injury in August, but overall it's replete
with starting experience.
Almost as much as Temple.
Third‑year head coach Matt Rhule's
Owls returned all 11 starters from
2014, headlined by fourth‑year starting
linebacker Tyler Matakevich, the cor‑
ner tandem of Tavon Young and Sean
Chandler, and big‑play senior lineman
Matt Ioannidis.
It wasn't just any defense, either, but
one that finished fourth in the nation in
fewest points allowed per game (17.5).
TOP STOrylineS
Senior defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis (No. 9) is part of a Temple defense that returned all 11 starters
from a unit that allowed only 17.5 points per game last year, which ranked fourth in the nation.
PHOTO BY JOSEPH V. LABILITO/COURTESY TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
