The sign over the locker room when Al Golden took the head coaching job at Temple summed up the journey facing the worst program in college football back in 2006. Golden hung a quote from British explorer Ernest Shackleton that will never be mistaken for a warm-and-fuzzy recruiting pitch: “Men wanted for a hazardous journey, small wage, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success.”
Golden arrived at a Temple program so depleted that none of the 32 NFL franchises attended the school’s pro day that spring.