Wednesday 4 February 2009

HELP WANTED: Quarterback, Temple University

By Mike Gibson
Spent the last four hours or so at Temple, listening to Al Golden and watching highlights of the recruits.
One fan got up and asked what can he promise that would encourage "us" to follow the team this year.
"Let me ask you one thing," Golden said to the young lady, "were you bored last year? I don't know if I can take another one of those ..."
Golden said it was his best recruiting class of the four and you could tell he meant it. Whatever holes the 2008 team have will be filled nicely either by these guys or by the 15 guys Golden redshirted from the 2008 class.
Temple coaches currently are currently looking for a quarterback capable of playing immediately at Football Bowl Series (FBS) level. We can only imagine what the "Help Wanted" ad would look like if they could write it. So we're taking a shot:
HELP WANTED: Quarterback, Temple University
Large, prestigious Eastern university with 260,000 living alumni and 33,000 full-time students seeks proven, polished, quarterback who will help lead our Prodigal Son fans back to our home stadium. We will be the feel-good story of the year in college football, 2009, and you will write much of it. Immediate opportunity for experienced, high-achiever, who can help tutor a promising youngster while rising through our ranks. Our quarterback department is understaffed, so we need someone who is both capable of rising to the top and filling in as a backup when necessary and bridging the gap until we can bring more people onboard next year. Intelligence and ability to work with the team preferred. Plenty of room to advance for the right person. Scholarship worth approximately $80,000 a year available at one of the top schools in the country. Our Tyler School of Art is ranked No. 1 on the East Coast, as is our graduate Fox Business School. Send resume, video to Al Golden, Head Football Coach, Temple University, Edberg-Olson Hall, 11th Street and Diamond Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19122 or email agolden@temple.edu or assistant head coach Mark D'Onofrio donofrio@temple.edu or recruiting coordinator Ed Foley edward.foley@temple.edu

The big screen showed plays of several recruits and quarterback Chris Coyer of Oakton (Va.) and linebacker Gary Onuekwusi (Dunbar) got the most applause.
The big news out of today was scheduled to come tomorrow when Temple announces it will play the opener with Villanova on a Thursday night before Labor Day.
Golden announced it and asked athletic director Bill Bradshaw if that was OK.
"We're going to make an announcement tomorrow," Bradshaw said.
"Whoops," Golden said.
The other big news is that Temple is now down to three scholarship quarterbacks with the de-commitment of Mark Giubilato. If the Owls don't add a qualified quarterback this late (and not just one to add one), they are facing a potential crisis situation come September. A polished, currently uncommitted, JUCO now becomes potentially the most attractive option on the table for Al Golden and staff.
"We're going to be actively exploring options," was the way Golden put it when asked if he is looking on the outside to add a quarterback and added that a scholarship could be made available for said quarterback.
Later, in the reception afterwards, he drove that point home.
Any and all Division IA level quarterbacks out there, JUCO or not, are invited to contact him but the point he wanted to make is that the staff is being proactive, leaving no stone unturned looking for a quarterback to get here by summer camp.
Golden then said that a scholarship can be made available to that quarterback and that just because today was signing day, doesn't mean the Owls are out of the recruting business for this current class when it comes to getting a quarterback.
Then he said something and funny and poignant in relation to that.
"The Waffle House is open," Golden said to some boosters, meaning a scholarship is on the grill for the right QB.
"The Waffle House is open," Golden said to some boosters, meaning a scholarship is on the grill for the right QB.
Word quickly got around the room and several people went up to him and said they liked that quote.
"You can use it," he said.
I told Golden that there is an All-American quarterback from Harper College who wants to play at Temple and go to the Tyler School of Art and he said:
"Harper College?" Golden said.
Take it for what it's worth.
I'm going to get some waffles.

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