SPORTS | SPRING COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEMPLE Senior linebacker Matakevich expects big thingsfor Owls and says, ‘You makesomany BY ANDREWALBERT tackles,’ but,atthe end of the Philly.com day, Ican’tdoany of thatwith-
[email protected] out everyone elseonthe team,” Matakevich said. “Thedefen- URING Tyler Mata- siveline makes it so mucheasier kevich’s sophomoreyear to play. Whentheyare blowing Din the Temple football up 300-poundguysand Ican program, newly installed head justmeet arunning back in the coachMattRhule posed aques- hole, thatissomuch easierfor tiontohis entirefootball team. me.Igetall the spotlightand Rhule asked howeachplayer stuff likethat, but it is all these wanted to be remembered at guys. It is literallyateameffort.” Temple. Thisyear’s Temple teamhas ForMatakevich,the answer the makingstobethe bestinre- back then was simpleand has re- cent history,and thatstarts mained the same, as he heads withthe defense. Lastseason, forhis lastyear in cherry and the Owls allowed only17.5points white. per game,and Matakevich has “A hardworking, nose-for-the- even higher expectations for balltype of footballplayer,”the seniorlinebacker said, describ- thisseason. ing howhewants to be remem- “Weare expecting to be the bered. “A kid thatnever stops. best,”Matakevich said. “Last That’s it right there.” year,wewereranked highin Forthree yearsananOwl, he somecategories,but afew has shown to be justthat. He sits games camedowntothe wire. sixth on the all-timecareer tack- The wayIlookatitis, if you les listatTemple,with355.He don’t let the other teamscore, has hadmorethan100 tackles in theycan’twin.Itiscompletely each of his three seasons.Ifhe on the defense.” can do it again in his senioryear, As anchor of the Owls de- he willbeonly the seventhplay- fense, Matakevich has his eyes er in NCAA history to do so.