They’re baaaaack.

Actually, they never left. Six months after the Big East, citing poor attendance, gave the Temple football program the boot, the league gave it a stay of execution last September by agreeing to let the Owls remain in the league through the 2004 season.

The biggest thing the decision does is buy several people time. In addition to giving Temple a chance to continue to build under fifth-year coach Bobby Wallace, it gives Connecticut, which enters its third season of Division I-A play this fall, a chance to develop into a suitable replacement. The Huskies, original members of the Big East, will begin playing football with their basketball brethren in 2005.

The Owls ended last season with a statement game, blowing out UConn, 56-7, to leave no doubt about which program is further ahead at the present time. Wallace’s task is to keep pushing forward, despite not knowing what the future holds.

"The biggest thing we can do as a coaching staff and as a football team is be more competitive," Wallace said.

Which is something that wasn’t always the case last season when Temple’s seven losses were by an average of 31.3 points. Still, there are reasons for optimism. The Owls closed a season with back-to-back wins for the first time since 1990 and recorded their second straight 4-7 season.

The Owls were actually quite stout on defense last season, ranking 19th in the nation, but the offense struggled to get on track and ranked 111th out of the 115 Division I-A teams.

David Brock, the offensive coordinator at Hofstra the last two seasons, was hired in March to replace Charlie Fisher in the same capacity at Temple. The Owls plan to run a no-huddle scheme that takes what the defense gives. The new offense does not feature a fullback, but does employ a tight end and multiple receiver sets. Wallace also stresses that it is a no-huddle, not hurry-up, offense.

"With the no-huddle, you can definitely control the tempo," Wallace said. "But, you can speed it up or slow it down."

The Owls have a bona fide star on defense in senior Dan Klecko , the son of former Temple and New York Jets great Joe Klecko. Klecko is the only unanimous first-team All-Big East player returning on defense.

"I think he’s an All-American," Wallace said. "I wouldn’t trade him for any other defensive player in the country."

Mike McGann (6-6, 210) made his first appearance as a freshman in the third quarter against Toledo in the second week and took over the starting job until a sprained thumb knocked him out of the final two games.

McGann starred at Philadelphia’s St. Joseph’s Prep and possesses all of the physical qualities -- a strong arm, quick feet, balance, and a quick release -- to be a successful college player. He struggled a bit -- as most freshmen do, completing 87-of-190 passes for 934 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions -- but should be better with a new offense and a year of experience.

The backup is senior Mike Frost , who started three games after transferring from Glendale (Calif.) Community College in 2000 but red-shirted last season. Frost (6-2, 240) threw for 5,192 yards and 44 touchdowns during his junior college career and received honorable mention All-America honors as a sophomore.

Sophomore Collin Hannigan (6-5, 245) played in three games as a red-shirt freshman in 2001, completing 4-of-7 passes for 75 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He is young and raw, but should continue to develop in the No. 3 role.

The no-huddle, no-fullback offense should make both Tanardo Sharps and Makonnen Fenton happy because both should get plenty of opportunities to make plays.

"We need to keep Tanardo Sharps and Makonnen Fenton on the field as much as possible," Wallace said. "We have a lot of skill people that need to touch the football."

Sharps (5-11, 193) is listed as the starter at super-back. The senior has made 21 career starts at tailback and ranks fifth in Temple history with 1,993 yards. His nine 100-yard games (the Owls are 7-2 in those games) are the second most in school history and he has six career rushes of 64 yards or more. His biggest game last season came in the finale when he exploited Connecticut for 203 yards and a 58-yard touchdown.

"I think he’s a great one," Wallace said. "He’s got great explosiveness, quickness and good vision."

Fenton (5-10, 200) averaged 5.4 yards per carry while gaining 216 yards last season. Like Sharps, he has plenty of big-play capability.

Senior Lester Trammer , who led the Owls with four rushing touchdowns last season, will also figure into the mix. Trammer (5-10, 195), the son of an Army staff sergeant, played his high school football in Germany. He finished with 207 yards on 81 carries in 2001.

The Owls list 12 starters, including three receivers, on their depth chart, so you know they are serious about throwing the football.

Senior Sean Dillard (5-10, 175) isn’t big, but he is good. The speedy Dillard runs the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds and led the Big East in receptions per game (4.64) while catching 51 passes last season. He also totaled 747 yards in receiving and caught three touchdown passes. His yardage total and per-game average ranked second in the league and helped Dillard earn second-team All-Big East honors.

"He’s got tremendous speed and he’s got tremendous hand-eye coordination," Wallace said of Dillard, who he recruited as a cornerback. "If he was bigger, he could have been a Deion Sanders type on defense."

Many of Temple’s other receivers have talent, but have been slowed by injuries. Senior Zamir Cobb (6-0, 180) finished second on the team in receptions (19) despite missing the final six games with a hernia injury that required surgery. Juniors Ikey Chuku (6-3, 195) and Terrence Stubbs (6-0, 195) are also coming off of injuries. Chuku suffered a season-ending injury after catching one pass in the 2001 opener against Navy, but should be back for fall practice. Stubbs missed all of last season after breaking his kneecap in the preseason, but recovered well enough to catch a 31-yard touchdown pass in the spring game.

Senior Krishan Lewis (6-3, 215) is a physical receiver who can go and get the ball and junior Gerald Butler (6-1, 185) also has starting experience. Lewis was third on the team with 14 catches last season and Butler caught four passes. He missed spring practice but is expected to return in the fall.

Junior Donnie Coleman (5-10, 170), sophomore Scott Pristas (6-2, 190) and freshman Jamel Harris (6-1, 180), who was ranked as high as the No. 13 high school receiver in the country before tearing up his knee in a track meet, will also challenge for playing time.

Eric Carpenter (6-5, 255) who made seven starts as a freshman in 2001, leads a group of youngsters at tight end.

Injuries took their toll on the Owls up front last season, but they may prove to be a blessing this season as Temple features more experience and depth than it has in past years.

"We’re as good as we’ve been since I’ve been here," Wallace said.

Senior tackle Dave Yovanovits (6-3, 300) has proven to be a true iron man since arriving in August of 1999. Not only has Yovanovits played in every game since his freshman season, he has played every snap in 30 of the 33 games he has participated in.

Senior center Donny Klein (6-2, 295) is the same type of player. Klein, who played every position on the line at one point last season, did not originally suit up for the Owls’ game at West Virginia because of a shoulder injury, but went into the locker room and dressed at halftime.

Senior Damian Hendricks (6-4, 285) came on strong while starting the final eight games of last season and senior Anthony Nembhard (6-5, 300) has experience at both guard and tackle. Red-shirt freshmen Yohance Perry (6-6, 325) and John Gross (6-6, 268) provide depth at the tackle spots.

Junior Joe Laudano (6-2, 290) anchors the left guard spot. Laudano has added 30 pounds of muscle since arriving at Temple as a tight end and has made 16 starts in the last two seasons. Senior Anthony Bolden (6-5, 300) starts at right guard. Bolden was selected the Owls’ most improved player on offense during the spring and started nine games in 2001 after transferring from Nassau (N.Y.) Community College. Junior

Cap Poklemba (5-11, 175) enters his senior season hoping to regain some of the consistency he enjoyed while making 9-of-13 field goals as a sophomore in 2000. Poklemba led the Owls in scoring with 42 points last season, but made just 9-of-16 field goals. He has made 60-of-61 extra points in his career, but doesn’t have great leg strength. He has made 22-of-35 field goals in his career with a long of 43 yards. His 126 career points place him in a tie for eighth on Temple’s career scoring list.

Poklemba, who started at shortstop on the Owls’ baseball team for two years, is also expected to handle most of the kickoff duties. Jared Davis (5-6, 139), who is believed to be the lightest player in Division I-A football, backs up Poklemba.

There isn’t much Klecko hasn’t done in his first three seasons, but the Owls are counting on him for more this fall. After losing their top five defensive ends from a year ago, Wallace and defensive coordinator Raymond Monica plan on shifting their gifted defensive lineman in order to keep defenses honest and try to create some havoc.

"We are going to move him around a little bit and give him a chance to make some plays," Wallace said.

Whether he is lining up at his familiar tackle spot or coming off the edge, expect Klecko (6-1, 276) to deliver. The only unanimous All-Big East choice in Temple history, his strength, athleticism and passion set him apart from other defensive linemen. Klecko bench presses 520 pounds, has a 34.5-inch vertical leap and plays with relentlessness.

Senior Rob Sack (6-2, 260) returns at nose tackle. Sack has 14 career starts to his credit and proved to be a solid contributor while making seven starts and 48 tackles last season.

"Sack is one of the most underrated players on this football team," Wallace said. "I think he is an outstanding defensive tackle that has played extremely well for us."

If the Owls decide to play Klecko at end, it should open up playing time inside. Senior David Terry (6-2, 289) and juniors Taso Apostolidis (6-0, 285). Luis Lumpis 6-4, 290) and Dominique Veney (6-3, 310) and red-shirt freshman Adam Fichter (6-4, 280) could all work their way into the rotation.

Moving Klecko will help, but the Owls still need to fill the void left by the departure of Raheem Brock, a seventh-round draft choice of the Eagles, and Jason Davis and Almonese Boyles.

Temple plays a 4-2-5 scheme that features four down linemen, two inside linebackers and five defensive backs. The outside linebacker spots are manned by an owl-back and strong safety.

The outside spots emphasize speed and appear to be two of the strongest on the team. Senior Jairo Almonte (5-10, 180) started last season at cornerback before moving to owl-back in the fourth week. The transfer from Canton (N.Y.) College of Technology went on to make 57 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks and force three fumbles. He also returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown against Rutgers while establishing himself as Temple’s top newcomer in 2001. Sophomore Joel Gray (5-11, 190), who played in three games as a red-shirt freshman in 2001, backs up Almonte.

"Danny Klecko is an All-American, but he has got to fight Jairo to be the best player on our defense," Wallace said.

Senior Lafton Thompson (6-2, 195) has shown a nose for the football while starting the last 22 games at strong safety. He made 48 tackles, including 32 solo, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions last season. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one. Senior Gerard Bishop (6-0, 194), who has played in 27 games throughout his career, backs up Thompson.

Wallace wants to see more plays made by his inside linebackers, where incumbents Troy Nichols (6-2, 235) and Troy Bennett (6-2, 250) occupy the starting spots. Nichols, who plays on the strong side, made 32 tackles last season after transferring from Phoenix (Ariz.) College.

The Owls lost leading tackler Chonn Lacey to graduation, but still return plenty of experience at the cornerback and free safety positions.

Senior Jamal Wallace (6-0, 186) missed spring practice to focus on academics, but the team’s second-leading tackler is expected back at the start of fall practice. Wallace, who has started 22 straight games at free safety, made 77 tackles (40 solo), forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass last season. He also had a 36-yard fumble return against Boston College.

Senior Terrance Leftwich (6-0, 185) has made 21 straight starts at cornerback and is tied for ninth on Temple’s all-time list with seven interceptions. He picked off three passes and made 56 tackles, including 46 solo, last season. Junior Yazid Jackson (5-10, 175) worked at both free safety and cornerback with Wallace gone in the spring and is expected to start at left corner. He made 28 tackles and recovered two fumbles last season.

Wallace is hoping competition brings out the best in Garvin Ringwelski (6-5, 224) and Jace Amore (6-0, 180) this season after his team netted just 31.3 yards per punt in 2001.

Ringwelski saw action in 1999 and 2000 before red-shirting last season. He averaged 37.3 yards as the primary punter two years ago.

Amore averaged 38 yards on 73 punts last season with a long of 62 yards. He placed 13 kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line and had three touchbacks and one block. Both will have a chance to win the job in preseason practice.

The Owls boast some of the better return men in the Big East for both kickoffs and punts. Fenton led the conference in kickoff returns and ranked 21st in the nation with a 26.1-yardage. His season highlight was returning the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown against UConn. Sharps is also a dangerous return man, having averaged 26.2 yards on his five returns in 2001.

Dillard (9.0) and Cobb (12.4) are also effective bringing back punts. Cobb became the first Temple player to score on a punt return with a 47-yard touchdown against Navy.

Temple is looking to upgrade its entire punting operation. The Owls had three punts blocked last season and allowed a 52-yard touchdown return to Miami’s Phillip Buchanon. The kickoff coverage was pretty solid, allowing 20.2 yards per return, although Bowling Green did bring back an on-side kick 42 yards for a score to ruin any chances for a late comeback.

Temple will also have a new long snapper this season. Senior Brandon George (6-3, 247) has seen spot duty during his career and Carpenter worked at the position during the spring.

The Temple staff targeted the offensive line and defensive backfield during the off-season and addressed those areas in their 18-member class.

Temple signed five offensive linemen with an average size of 6-6, 289 pounds. The most intriguing lineman may be Tariq Sanders from Philadelphia’s Central High School. Sanders (6-6, 280) just turned 17 in February and will probably need to red-shirt, but could develop into something special down the road.

Reese leads a crop of four defensive backs that also includes junior-college transfer Garry Smith (5-11, 185) and Jonathan McPhee (5-11, 180), a two-way standout at St. Joseph’s Regional High School in Paramus, N.J.

It isn’t easy to build a program when you don’t know what you are building toward, but that hasn’t stopped Wallace and his staff from trying. At least Temple knows it will remain in the Big East for three more seasons, including two years of home games in the Philadelphia Eagles’ new $395-million, 66,000-seat, state-of-the-art stadium.

Playing in an NFL facility and having two-year-old Edberg-Olson Hall as an on-campus home will continue to help the Owls attract better players. The program also seems to have the university’s support to remain at the Division I-A level, which is also helpful. One of the biggest and most important challenges for Temple’s new athletic director will be to chart a course for the future of the program.

Temple has the ability to compete with almost every team on its schedule, but has not quite reached the level where it can win without playing its best football.