First games meet with mixed success by Temple coaches

By Mike Gibson
Most people think Temple University's football association with the Mid-American Conference is something relatively new.
Judging by the first games of the last five Temple University head football coaches, though, opening against MAC schools is the norm, not the exception over a period of 36 years.
Only Bruce Arians, who opened his career in Sept. of 1983 with a 17-6 win over Syracuse at Franklin Field, played a first game against a non-MAC foe.
Al Golden, the 24th head coach in the history of Temple football, opens against Buffalo in two weeks.
Here's a brief look at past first games by Owl coaches, some with quirky milestones:
BOBBY WALLACE _ The last name of the first player to score in an Owl game coached by Wallace? Wallace, of course. Toledo quarterback Chris Wallace scored on a 1-yard TD run with 4 minutes, 50 seconds left in the first quarter of a 24-12 Rocket win on Sept. 5, 1998. Current Philadelphia Soul and former Philadelphia Eagle Todd France kicked three extra points and a 27-yard field goal in the game, played before 25,724 in the Glass Bowl. Three future professional football players carried the ball for the Owls in the game, Stacey Mack (20 carries, 114 yards), Jason McKie and Kevin Harvey. Temple outgained Toledo, 232-99, on the ground.
RON DICKERSON _ In the first Division IA meeting ever between black head coaches, Temple and Dickerson won, 31-28, on Sept. 9, 1993 over Ron Cooper and host Eastern Michigan. Dickerson was carried off the field afterward. That was the only plus of the season for Dickerson, who lost his remaining games by scores the likes of 58-0 (California), 66-14 (BC), 62-0 (RU), 56-21 (Army), 55-7 (Virginia Tech) and 52-3 (Syracuse).
JERRY BERNDT _ Opened with a 31-24 loss at Western Michigan on Sept. 2, 1989. His only win of that season was 36-33 over Rutgers. Berndt was 7-4 the next season (beating Virginia Tech, Boston College, Pitt and Wisconsin), a year before the Owls were to play an official Big East Conference schedule.
BRUCE ARIANS _ The first Temple coach in the modern era carried off the field by a team after his first game, a 17-6 win over Syracuse at Franklin Field on Sept. 2, 1983. The Owls won three other games that year, 24-7 over Louisville, 24-23 at Rutgers, and 23-16 at rival Delaware.
WAYNE HARDIN _ Opened unimpressively, with a 21-0 loss at home to Akron on Sept. 12, 1970, but finished his first season (like most of his seasons) strong as the Owls won seven of their last nine.
Al Golden enters his first game at Buffalo as an underdog, but chances are Las Vegas oddsmakers don't know enough about either team to establish a clear favorite. They set the line based on the action, not necessarily the stronger team.
Will Al Golden become the third Owl head coach to be carried off the field in the modern era after game No. 1?
I'm, err, betting on it.