For a start, Owls' lineup is unsettled
Tue, Aug. 21, 2007
Battles continue at most positions going into Temple's last scrimmage.
Adam DiMichele started nine games at quarterback for Temple in 2006, but like most of his teammates, the native of McKees Rocks, Pa., will go into the Owls' last preseason scrimmage today still looking to nail down a spot on the first team.
"Competition brings out the best in everyone, and the best players are going to play," said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound DiMichele. "Whatever the coach's decision is, is what's going to happen. I feel real good - not real comfortable - about where I'm at right now. "
The Owls, who won only one game last year, return eight starters on offense and seven on defense, but coach Al Golden said before practice Sunday that only junior center Alex Derenthal and sophomore defensive tackle Andre Neblett were assured of holding on to their starting positions.
The depth chart for Temple's Aug. 31 opener against Navy at Lincoln Financial Field will be set today. It will be unveiled tomorrow at the Owls' media day and fan festival, which also will be held at the Linc.
"The guys know," said Golden, who in his second season as Owls coach has recruited two highly regarded classes. "This is a meritocracy. Nobody is entitled to a position. The positions are owned by Temple University."
Golden said today's scrimmage would pit the Owls' offense against the defense instead of a split-squad affair. The kicking game will be included.
Also looking to make a big impression at quarterback will be sophomore Vaughn Charlton, who is pressing DiMichele.
While DiMichele completed 135 of 220 pass attempts for 1,518 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, Charlton made three starts and finished with 417 yards through the air on 47-for-85 passing.
DiMichele was intercepted 12 times. Charlton, a 6-4, 226-pound product of Avon Grove High, was picked off twice.
"I'm trying to get my mental part of the game down," said Charlton, who got a jump on studying the Temple offense by showing up for meetings and workouts the spring of his senior year. "I love the competition. Every day, we compete with one another, and we're always positive about it. We talk and communicate with each other. We correct each other."
Charlton, who said he gained 14 pounds and got faster since last fall, has a strong arm and is more of a prototypical quarterback than DiMichele, who is more mobile. Charlton had the better game on Cherry and White Day last spring.
"I don't think I'm set right now," Charlton said. "It's still up in the air."
DiMichele, who signed with Penn State out of high school and then changed his mind, came to Temple after playing baseball for two years at a Florida junior college. He had decided to pursue a career in that sport after being drafted in the 38th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2005 draft.
Befitting an athlete who was all-state in football, basketball and baseball at Okaloosa-Walton High - he was the state player of the year in football and basketball - DiMichele showed himself to be a playmaker in his first year with the Owls.
His best game was the 322-yard, three-touchdown day DiMichele turned in on 20-for-29 passing during a 43-21 loss at Northern Illinois. When the Owls registered their only win (28-14) in a 1-11 season against Bowling Green the next week, he went 10 for 13 with 43- and 45-yard touchdown passes, and a pair of interceptions.
With Temple set to begin play as a full member of the Mid-American Conference this fall, DiMichele has the experience of having completed 95 of 145 pass attempts for 1,053 yards and nine scores in the Owls' six outings against MAC teams in '06.
"You just have to go out and lead the team," DiMichele said about vying to be the starter. "I just want to go out there and do what I've been doing all camp. I'm going out there competing to be the quarterback here, and my goal is to lead us to a MAC championship."
