Ad Disclosure
What Now For Temple Football After “Single Most Embarrassing Game” of K.C. Keeler’s Career?
Published:
The Temple Owls lost at home to the 0-6 Charlotte 49ers on Saturday afternoon.
They were a 21-point favorite.
Afterward, K.C. Keeler said this:
“I’ve coached over 400 games as a head coach. That was the single most embarrassing game I’ve ever been involved with. I saw one side of my operation (the offense) fight like hell, every inch, every play, every second. And I saw the other side (defense) just undisciplined, just not with the same care factor. Poor leadership. As I told them, it’s a privilege to play on this Temple football team. It’s not your right. I’ll meet with the coaches and there will be some changes made.”
Keeler followed up on that promise, firing his DL coach and changing the defensive play caller, as reported by Pete Nakos at On3:
Defensive coordinator Brian Smith is apparently still with the team, but Baker will handle play calling. He’s listed on the Owls’ staff as “Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator/Cornerbacks.”
Charlotte came into Lincoln Financial Field last week as one of the worst FBS teams, with a loss to FCS Citadel in addition to three straight blowout losses against Louisiana, Memphis, and North Texas. They proceeded to hang 38 points on Temple while racking up 449 yards and going 6-10 on third down. Temple was +1 in turnover margin and quarterback Ajani Sheppard almost singlehandedly won it for the Owls, but the defense fell apart entirely in the second half, allowing four touchdowns and a field goal on six drives before the 49ers took a knee.
Temple is now 2-5 and their season is pretty much over. They need to win four of their last five games just to make a bowl game and improve upon last year’s 5-7 record.
Keeler also said this after the game:
“We’re as good as any team in this league. We’re also as bad as any team in this league. What you’re watching (currently) is poor football.”
Hard to agree with the head coach. This Temple team is a classic high ceiling/low floor type of team. We saw them go down to Tampa and play a great game against USF. They were up by two scores on the road in Toledo (now 5-2, the Rockets). Sheppard has 13 total touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a 162.7 QB rating. The only blemish right now on his game is a couple of fumbles and maybe a slightly low completion percentage (it’s around 61), but he’s done his part, as has the offense.
Then you look at the negatives – the collapse in Ohio, the blowout to Charlotte, and AWOL second-half defense against UConn and Charlotte, on home soil, no less. The Owls arguably have enough talent and the schedule to be 6-6, even 7-5. Navy and Rice are not good this year, but neither is Charlotte, so what now?
They’ve been a big disappointment this season and have underachieved. Maybe the coaching changes will kickstart this team into a positive finish, but it’s not looking great. And let’s not act like Keeler himself is blameless. He’s the head coach! He hired these guys!
Temple sports – not a great era. More on that next week.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com