During the last decade or so, the Temple Owls football program has seemingly been on the precipice of decline only to prove the doubters wrong again and again. The foundation that Al Golden built while the team was still a member of the Mid-American Conference was tested when Golden left for Miami. Golden’s replacement, Steve Addazio, took over and won nine games his first year. But then Addazio left soon after going 4-7 and all hope looked lost, especially after the next guy in line, Matt Rhule, went 2-10 in his first year.
Rhule persisted, however, and after going 6-6 in his second year, led the Owls to back-to-back 10-win seasons.