After getting Temple into the AP Top 25 for the first time in 36 years, head coach Matt Rhule was named to the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year watch list Wednesday.
Rhule has the No. 22 Owls off to their first 6-0 start since 1974, tying their best mark in program history. On Thursday night, Temple has a shot its first 7-0 start at ECU (see story).
Under Rhule, Temple is bowl eligible for the second straight season. The Owls were 6-6 last year, but did not get a bowl game.
Barring a total collapse, the Owls appear destined for their first bowl game since the 2011 New Mexico Bowl. The Owls finished 9-4 in 2011, and beat Wyoming, 37-15, in Steve Addazio's first year as their head coach. Addazio left for Boston College after two years on North Broad Street and Rhule replaced him in 2013.
The Owls finished 2-10 in Rhule's first season, but have improved each season. This year, his third as head coach, Rhule has wins over Penn State and Cincinnati. Temple faces No. 11 Notre Dame on Halloween in a nationally televised game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Community service
Owls defensive lineman Hershey Walton on Wednesday made the Danny Wuerffel Trophy watch list. The award goes to the "FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement."
Walton, a redshirt junior, has played in every game (41) while he's been at Temple, and racked up his 100th career tackle in the Owls' win over UCF last Saturday night. He has already completed his bachelor's degree in marketing and he's currently working on his master's degree. He also is involved in the community and volunteers his down time to several causes.