History Philly Proud
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History Philly Proud. History A Look Back at Temple Football [1894-2010] GGrroovveerr WWeeaarrsshhiinngg &&HHeeaadd CCooaacchh HHeennrryy MMiilllleerr The Early Years The school mascot had already been established The Owls did not field a varsity football team be - though, along with the school colors—Cherry and tween 1918 and 1921 due to the war. In the years that The Temple University football program will play White. For many years, the football team had no offi - followed, Temple grew to have the second largest en - its 113th season in 2011. For more than 35 years, the cial home field. Eventually it settled into Vernon Park, a rollment in the Philadelphia area. University President Owls have been the only major college football team in spacious green located on the city limits beyond Ger - Charles F. Beury made a strong commitment at that the Philadelphia region. That was not the case at the mantown. time to greater success in intercollegiate athletics. turn of the century. The most notable person associated with the Football at Temple first planted its roots in 1894, Temple football program prior to World War I was El - The Modern Era a decade after Russell Conwell founded the night wood Geiges, who was supposed to coach the varsity school on North Broad Street. Nearly every college in team in 1917. But the Owls forfeited every regular What might be called the modern era of Temple and around Philadelphia had some sort of football squad game on the schedule that season because of the war. football began in 1925 with the hiring of Henry J. Miller at that time, though it may be a stretch to call them or - Late that fall, the varsity squad matched up with the as head coach. “Heinie” Miller had been a star player ganized. The serious football powers of the east in - freshman squad in a game to benefit the war effort. The at Penn, earning All-America honors in 1917. His much- cluded Pennsylvania, Princeton, Harvard and Yale. contest finished in a 6-6 tie. hailed arrival promised great success against a much Temple's 11-man squad was technically a part of Geiges began his career as a college football of - tougher level of competition. the school's Physical Education Department. The 1894 ficial the following season. He officiated games for 27 Miller's Owls did well in 1925 and 1926, compil - team was organized by physical education instructor years, advancing to the head of the profession. Geiges ing a record of 10-5-2, the best two-year stretch in the Charles M. Williams, who also coached the basketball is credited with inventing the signals for holding, off - school's short history. Things were about to get much team. The Owls won their first game that fall against sides, illegal shift and timeout. He was elected to the better. Several outstanding players joined the roster in Philadelphia Dental College, 14-6. National Football Foundation College Football Hall of 1927, including future Temple Hall of Famers Tucker There is almost no record of the first two decades Fame in 1984. “Swede” Hanson, Grover Wearshing and Jack Bonner. of Temple football. The games were rarely reported in The Temple football program was administered The Owls opened the season with a home game the newspapers, and the opposition usually consisted by the Physical Education Department until well into against Blue Ridge College, a small school located in of small schools such as Pratt Institute or Pennsylvania the 20th century. For many years, the department was New Windsor, Md. The mismatch was apparent from Military College (now Widener University). After the headed by Dr. Charles Prohaska, who was largely re - the opening kickoff. Temple held a 27-0 lead at the end turn of the century, the Owls began playing regularly sponsible for the expansion of the intercollegiate ath - of the first quarter, and then scored eight touchdowns against city schools La Salle and Saint Joseph’s. letic program following World War I. in the second quarter to establish a 78-0 lead at the 172 2011 Temple Football Media Guide Temple UFF. History The 1928 campaign was another great success, as the Owls finished 7-1-2, losing only to Schuylkill Col - lege and posting ties against Bucknell and Villanova. Temple was dominant in the new stadium, winning its first six games by shutout. The only team to score against the Owls was Washington College, which man - aged a single touchdown in a 73-7 rout. Wearshing and Hanson scored three times apiece in that contest. The battle against Villanova—a scoreless tie— also marked the beginning of a long rivalry (though the teams had played one another in 1908). The Owls and the Wildcats were both developing strong national rep - utations, and this was the big game on their schedules for the next 15 years. Miller continued to field successful teams through the Depression Era, tutoring a new set of future Hall of Famers in Hank Reese, Tony Dougal and Leon Whit - tock. All three played key roles in 1931, another mile - stone year for the program. The Owls finished with a record of 8-1-1 that season, setting a school record for wins Franklin Field, November 19, 1927: that stood for 42 years. Along the way, Temple The first game of a 44-year series between the schools recorded a 12-0 victory over developing regional and the battle for the “Old Shoe” trophy (right). power Penn State. It was considered the school's most notable victory to date. The Owls half. Unable to move the ball on offense, Blue Ridge ac - also scored their first-ever victory over Villanova tually began punting on first down. The coaches agreed by the score of 13-7. Reese had an 80-yard in - at halftime to shorten the third quarter to eight minutes terception return for a touchdown and Cornelius and later shortened the fourth quarter to six minutes. By Bonner scored on a five-yard run to secure the the end of the game, three Temple players had victory. The Wildcats were coached by Harry switched jerseys to fill in for Blue Ridge. The Owls won Stuhldreher, who had gained fame as one of by a final score of 110-0. Hanson scored five touch - Notre Dame's “Four Horsemen.” downs and Wearshing scored three. Several other one-sided results from the 1927 campaign, against Juniata (58-0), Gallaudet (62-0) and Washington College (75-0), indicated that the Owls were ready for a new level of competition. That com - to be completed in time for the 1928 football sea - petition came from Dartmouth, Brown and Bucknell. son. Temple finished 7-1 that season, losing only to Temple Stadium was first referred to as Dartmouth, while posting notable victories against Beury Stadium, and for many years was known Brown (7-0) and Bucknell (19-13). The Bucknell game as Owl Stadium. The structure was designed by marked the beginning of a long rivalry with the school Philadelphia architect Clarence E. Wunder and located in Lewisburg, Pa. The Owls and the Bison was built by Erny's development firm. The total played every year for the next 44 years, often in the cost of construction was $350,000, with a seat - last game of the season. Some years later, “The Old ing capacity of 34,200, including mobile field Shoe” was dedicated as a prize for the winner of the seats. Temple-Bucknell contest. The bronze statue of a foot - The Owls made their debut in the new sta - ball shoe was awarded to the winning school, which dium on Sept. 29, 1928, against St. Thomas Col - held it until the following year's game. lege of Scranton. Team captain Howard James Russell The 1927 season finale against Bucknell was “Barney” Gugel made it a successful debut, 1935 Team Captain played at Franklin Field, marking Temple's first appear - scoring on a 66-yard fumble recovery and a 38- ance on the home field of the Pennsylvania Quakers. yard interception return for a 12-0 Temple vic - The Owls would not need to borrow the facility the fol - tory witnessed by 10,000 fans. lowing season. The stadium's official dedication game came two Temple closed the 1931 campaign with its first In December of 1927, President Beury announced weeks later against Eastern power Western Maryland. extended road trip, traveling by train across the Mid - that the University had received a gift of $100,000 from The Owls won that game, 7-0, thanks to a touchdown west and the Plains to face Denver College and the Uni - Philadelphia land developer Charles G. Erny for the con - pass from Wearshing to Hanson. The contest drew versity of Missouri. The Owls built their national struction of a football stadium at Vernon Park. The sta - 25,000 fans, including several dignitaries from the city reputation with an 18-0 victory over Denver and a 38- dium was to seat between 20,000 and 25,000 and was of Philadelphia. 6 triumph over Missouri. 2011 Temple Football Media Guide 173 Philly Proud. History Temple Foo ball Hall of Fame DHAMIRI ABAYOMI / ANTHONY ANDERSON BILL BERNARDO DON BITTERLICH JACK BONNER TODD BOWLES DON COUNCIL (1975-78) (1946, 1948-49) (1973-75) (1927-30) (1982-85) (1960-62) Third-leading ground-gainer Top ground-gainer in The nation’s top kicker in 1975, All-around athlete who All-America defensive Leading ground-gainer in 1960, all-time, 1949, earned All-East set six NCAA records while earned 11 letters back that went on to play netting 465 yards 1976 All-America and honors as a senior booting the longest field goal (four in football), eight seasons on 84 carries All-East honors in Temple history 1930 team captain in the NFL By this time, the University's athletic programs for a touchdown.