Temple to sport new unis; picked 6th in MAC preseason poll

-Couresty of Temple University

DETROIT, MI - The Temple football team will compete in new helmets and custom Adidas uniforms during the 2007 season, second-year head coach Al Goldenannounced today at the Mid-American Conference Media Day at Ford Field in Detroit.

Cherry helmets will once again feature the text "TEMPLE," which adorned the Owls' helmets from 1972 to 1988.

"There are several reasons for the change," Golden said. "The first is for our current team to discover our tradition. The 2007 uniform brings us back to the most successful TEAM period in the history of Temple Football; a time that produced a 10-game winner and a final Top 20 ranking in both polls. The second reason is quite simply branding. When I was growing up in New Jersey, Temple's uniforms were unique. It was one of the most recognizable uniforms in the East, let alone the country. Somewhere along the way that got lost, so I wanted to bring it back. The last reason has to do with our overall football operation. Our goal is to be first in every endeavor that we believe impacts our football team. We now feel like we have the best uniform, not only in the MAC, but on the East Coast. We have our brand back and it is here to stay."

The jerseys will be solid cherry or white, with collar and sleeve trim in the opposite requisite color. The collars will be trimmed with diamonds to reference Temple founder Russell H. Conwell's "Acres of Diamonds" lecture. The Temple "T" will be featured at the "V" of the collar. As per Golden's directive last season, player names will not be on the jersey backs. The pants will resemble those worn during the Wayne Hardin Era from 1970 to 1982, featuring a white base with cherry blocks down the legs.

The Owls were picked to finish sixth in their inaugural season in the MAC East Division, in voting conducted by the MAC News Media Association. The Cherry and White did receive one first-place vote. Ohio (216 points) was picked to repeat in the East Division, followed by Kent State (203), Akron (171), Miami (163), Bowling Green (130), Temple (64) and Buffalo (61).
Western Michigan (175) edged Central Michigan (173) in the West Division. Toledo (138) was picked to finish third, followed by Ball State (134), Northern Illinois (90) and Eastern Michigan (46).

The 2007 season marks the Owls first campaign as a full football member of the MAC, after playing as an affiliate league member the past two years. With Golden at the helm, Temple signed the highest rated recruiting classes in the MAC in both 2006 and 2007. The Owls are slated to begin preseason practice on August 4.