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Temple of Doom

Temple ('98: 2-9, 2-5 Big East)

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Posted: Wednesday August 11, 1999 05:59 PM

The Plot

The Road to BCS Payday If you only win two games, you should make at least one of them a biggie. Temple did just that last year with a 28-24 win over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The Owls are again expected to play spoilers in '99. The hope in Philadelphia, though, is that Temple plays that role a couple of times, instead of the single cameo of last year.

The Director

Bobby Wallace -- second year, 2-9; 84-45-1 overall

Ensemble cast

RB Elmarko Jackson -- Senior replaces Stacey Mack as the No. 1 tailback after earning All-Big East honors as a kick returner (22.4 yards per return) in '98.
LB Taylor Suman -- Started only five games but made 99 tackles as a redshirt freshman last season -- the most of any freshman in the conference.
WR Carlos Johnson -- Small (5-9, 167) and speedy, Jackson made six TD receptions as a true freshman in '98.
OL Theo Ross -- The only member of the team to start all 11 games last season.
QB Devin Scott -- Scott was huge in his first of three 1998 starts -- Temple's upset at Virginia Tech (4-for-9, 155 yards, two TD passes, one on the ground) -- and he enters camp with competition, but the inside track on the No. 1 job.

Why it will work

With so many first-year players tried by fire (25 last season), Temple is certainly a team on the rise even if it takes a few baby-stepping seasons before the Owls see .500 in the Big East.

Why it won't

Bill Cosby's alma mater may not be the laughingstock of the Big East any longer, but too many players are young and still feeling their way.

Our critics' review

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