After Upset Win Over ECU, Short Week For Temple

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- It was a day to remember on Saturday for the Temple Owls and their fans as for the first time since 1998, the Owls beat a ranked opponent. They took care of then #21 East Carolina, 20-10, in the rain at the Linc, forcing five turnovers in the win.

"I thought the players went out and they ignored the weather and they played a really good team and played a great game," Temple head coach Matt Rhule tells KYW Newsradio. "I was really proud of them."

East Carolina was averaging just under 40 points a game before Saturday. Rhule talks about what clicked on defense that allowed them hold such an explosive offense down.

"Our defensive line and linebackers did a great job of stopping the run with not as many people as we normally do," Rhule says. "We devoted a few more people to pass coverage and they got to the quarterback. And then in the back end, whether it was a freshman or senior, we played a whole bunch of kids and they eliminated the big plays and got them off the field."

Listen to Temple coach Matt Rhule with KYW's Matt Leon:

That last win over a ranked opponent for Temple came on October 17th, 1998 against a Virginia Tech team that was ranked 14th in the country at the time. Owls won that game 28-24 down in Blacksburg, Virginia.

So the Owls are now 5-3 for the season (3-2 in the AAC) and they have a short week ahead of them. They will next play on Friday night at the Linc against 5-3 Memphis.

Rhule says a short week is a challenge.

"You have to turn your minds around quickly, get your bodies healthy," Rhule says. "And our kids have played a lot of football, we're a little bit banged up. But I know Friday night's going to come quickly and we'll be ready to play."

They will face a Memphis team that has won two straight and a Memphis offense that has scored at least 40 points in three of its last four games.

"They have a dynamic offense," Rhule says. "A lot of read zone, the quarterback is not afraid to run the football. They are a running team. They took (now #18) UCLA down to the wire, lost 42-35 (on September 6th), they played (now #12) Ole Miss as well as anyone has (lost 24-3 on September 27th). So they're really a good team and a good offense."

Temple and Memphis will kick off at 7:00 pm on Friday night.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.

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