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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Al Golden (1st season) 2005 record: 0-11 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 113th (82.0 ypg) Passing: 103rd (165.5 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 104th (201.6 ypg) Passing: 98th (259.3 ypg) Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Buffalo Sept. 9 Louisville Sept. 16 at Minnesota Sept. 23 at Western Michigan Sept. 30 at Vanderbilt Oct. 7 Kent State Oct. 12 #Clemson Oct. 21 at Northern Illinois Oct. 28 Bowling Green Nov. 4 Central Michigan Nov. 11 at Penn State Nov. 18 at Navy #Charlotte NC Depth Chart: Offense 5 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 10 Jamel Harris Sr. 85 Maurice Clark Fr. WR 2 Domerio Hamilton Sr. 3 Mike Holley Sr. LT 71 Jabari Ferguson So. 75 Brison Manor So. LG 97 Sean Satchell So. 55 Tariq Sanders Sr. C 59 Alex Derenthal So. 63 Evan Margulies Jr. RG 63 Evan Margulies Jr. 79 Dwavon Battle So. RT 70 Elliot Seifert Sr. 65 Carl Spitale Fr. TE 84 Ben Hendy So. 87 Bill McGrath Fr. QB 13 Joe DeSanzo So. 17 Shane Kelly So. FB 39 Josh Bundy Jr. 32 Mike Neal Jr. RB 7 Tim Brown Sr. 34 Jason Harper Fr. Depth Chart: Defense 3 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 73 Devin Tyler Fr. 50 David Fatherly Sr. NT 98 Neil Dickson Sr. 92 Terrance Knighton So. DE 61 Alston Smith So. 90 Doug Morris Sr. OLB 93 Leyon Azubuike So. 41 Kevin Armstrong So. ILB 43 Keith Holt So. 56 Andrew Coleman Jr. ILB 44 Walter Mebane Sr. 42 Vince Yasenchak So. OLB 5 Ryan Gore Sr. 27 Ryan Herting So. CB 28 Evan Cooper So. 29 Georg Coleman So. CB 24 Chris Page Sr. 6 David Reese Sr. S 25 Richard Sheppard So. 26 Michael Loveland Sr. S 9 Garrett Schultz Sr. 21 Dominique Harris Fr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 18 Danny Murphy Jr. P 47 Jake Brownell Fr. KR 22 Travis Shelton So. PR 14 Nick Santa Cruz Sr.

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Al Golden, formerly the defensive coordinator at Virginia, takes over a Temple program that has not won more than four games in a season since 1990.

The Owls have won three times in the last three years. In 2005 they didn't win any games. But as Golden has made perfectly clear, that's the past. This is a fresh start.

After playing a murderous independent schedule last season, the Owls will have six Mid-American Conference games this year before becoming a full member of the league in 2007. The non-conference schedule remains quite ambitious, especially for a team that lost almost 30 players from a year ago. Yet Golden is confident that change is coming. Perhaps not right away, but surely sooner than later.

In spring practice, he had 53 scholarship players. He also had well over 30 walk-ons. And a recruiting class of 23 is being counted on to contribute immediately. He doesn't have all the answers yet, but if you listen to him for five minutes you can only reach the conclusion that he indeed has a clue, and a plan. It's a matter of implementing it.

"We want to set the tone early," Golden says. "We have to learn how to compete. Right now, there's probably more ideological and philosophical goals. We're trying to fulfill that vision. I've told the guys we're not going to concede anything."

At least for the time being, there are probably a lot more questions than answers. That's why Temple gave him the job, following a national search. It's his transformation to choreograph.

Many assessments and decisions lie ahead. Yet for the first time in awhile, at least there seems to be a bona fide reason to believe this program can make a U-turn.

"We have to get these kids to believe in themselves, to do all the things from a fundamental standpoint that have kind of eroded. It's a mindset. We're not here to lose," says Golden.

For starters, it's one battle at a time.

OFFENSE

It all starts with the quarterback, and right now it's anybody's job to win. Three candidates -- Joe DeSanzo, Colin Clancy and Shane Kelly -- saw action as true freshmen last season. They'll compete with mid-year signee Jarret Dunston, the top-rated postgraduate player at the position in the nation according to Rivals.com. Another newcomer, Vaughn Charlton, is also considered a possibility.

In the backfield, Tim Brown is back after missing last season due to academic problems. He was a junior college All-American in California three years ago. He's joined by highly touted Jason Harper, another mid-year postgrad transfer. And freshman Kee-Ayre Griffin was considered perhaps the best player in Golden's first recruiting class.

There's decent depth at wide receiver. Jamel Harris is the most experienced of the bunch. He has 44 career receptions for 558 yards in 31 games. Mike Holley returns after missing last season because of academics. Travis Shelton redshirted last season after playing as a true freshman in 2004. Freshman Jason Simmons was considered a big catch.

Up front, there are probably more questions than answers. Senior Tariq Sanders was sidelined with an injury a year ago, after starting the year before. Jabari Ferguson played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2005. Junior Evan Marguiles sat out last season after transferring from Kansas State. And three former defensive linemen have moved over to try to help out.

DEFENSE

The Owls have to replace all four starters on the line. Nevertheless, that's one of the positions Golden feels most confident about. Sophomore Philip Simpson, a high-school quarterback who redshirted last season, is the only end on the roster with game experience. Doug Morris is a former Auburn recruit who came to Temple last year but was sidelined with an injury. Redshirt freshman Devin Tyler has added 35 pounds since he came to North Broad Street.

Senior linebacker Ryan Gore is the most experienced player on the roster, having played in almost every game over the last three seasons. Last year he had 60 tackles. Sophomore Ryan Herting is a transfer from Pitt. Leyon Azubuike has been moved back from the line.

The secondary, which has been an area of concern, has returning senior starters in Chris Page and Garrett Schultz. Another senior, David Reese, sat out last year but was once a projected starter.

SPECIALISTS

The Owls have to replace their primary kicker, both punters, holder and long snapper. Other than that, they're all set.

Junior Danny Murphy, a former walk-on, is the only kicker with game experience. He's attempted (and missed) one field goal, in '04.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Obviously, there's a lot of work to do. That's what happens when you get kicked out of the Big East and are forced to play one season as an independent. The Owls are basically starting from scratch. They've won three games in the last three years and haven't won more than four in a season since 1990. But most folks seem to think Golden is the right man for the job. It might not translate into many more wins right away, but the foundation he's building should have an impact down the road. Maybe even in the not-too-distant future.

"We're going to facilitate the greatest turnaround in college football," Golden has said, early and often. "Temple put a lot of trust in me, to build a house with brick, not straw. There's perceptions to break. But I wasn't here. I didn't go 0-11 [last year]. End of story."

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