This move is not surprising as there had been rumblings fore months now that Bradshaw would likely be out as Athletic Director one way or the other.

Here’s the release that Temple put out a few minutes ago:

PHILADELPHIA – Temple University President Neil Theobald announced today that Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bill Bradshaw is retiring after 11 years, effective June 30, 2013 to give full attention to personal issues within his family. Bradshaw’s tenure was marked by numerous highlights, including the announcement in March 2012 that Temple would join the new American Athletic Conference for all sports in July 2013.

“Bill was the right person at the right time for Temple athletics, and we are grateful for his commitment to excellence and dedication to our student-athletes,” Theobald said.

“I want to thank Bill for the dedication that he has given Temple as director of intercollegiate athletics over his tenure here. Bill leaves a strong foundation in place for his successor. We are grateful for his efforts and wish him the very best,” stated the president.

Bradshaw will take a personal leave beginning May 3, at which time Kevin Clark will take over as interim director of intercollegiate athletics. Clark, who came to Temple from Indiana University, has served as senior advisor to President Theobald since Nov. 1, 2012. He will serve as interim director of intercollegiate athletics until a national search for a permanent successor is completed.

“My 11 years at Temple University were among the most rewarding of my 36 years as an Athletic Director,” said Bradshaw. “I will miss working with our exceptional staff and elite coaches, talented student-athletes, the campus community and the many friends of Temple Athletics who supported our vision and helped create a program poised for unprecedented success.”

President Theobald noted that Kevin Clark’s interim appointment is a good fit. “I worked with Kevin at Indiana University where he was senior associate athletic director. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead the Temple University Athletics Department during this transition period,” said Theobald.

I would not be shocked at all if Kevin Clark eventually has the interim removed from his title. This athletic department needs a huge kick in the ass and Theobald knows it. What better way to do so then by putting one of his guys – someone who understands big time college athletics – in a position of power.

Neil Theobald: agent of change.

The post Temple Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw Set To Retire appeared first on OwlsBlog.com.

“I love Philly and Temple,” Jordan said. “Coach Dunphy is great, but I wanted to go away from home but decided not too far, so UCLA was out. I have been in Philly my whole life and I want to experience new things.”

“I really like their style of play, pick and roll and how coach Lavin lets their guards play,” Jordan said of St. John’s. “On my visit I also built a great relationship with Chris Obekpa and Phil Greene. I liked New York City, and coach [Steve] Lavin is a great coach, just awesome.”

“Saying no to hometown Temple was tough and very emotional for Rysheed,” said Jordan’s travel team director, Kamal Yard of the Philly Pride program. “They recruited him extremely hard. They were where they needed to be when they needed to be there.”

Any enthusiasm I had for the direction of this program is gone. Who is left for Temple? Martez Walker is nice. I’ve never heard of Mark Williams but apparently he can shoot the ball a little bit. Transfers like Jaylen Bond or possibly another local guy who might look to come home like Rakeem Christmas? We all know they’ll both end up at La Salle (Transfer U) so no need to speculate.

This is going to come across like an overreaction but I’m legitimately more excited for the future of Temple Football than the basketball program right now. Sure, Dunphy might find a way to keep winning 20 games a year and getting this team to the tournament but is that really good enough anymore? The program has plateaued.

If and when Dwayne Killings decides to leave then this staff is up a creek (Quick: who was the last recruit that Shawn Trice signed?). You can recruit impact players by preaching hard work and defense and that’s what is still being done right now.

There is a sea of gritty two-star recruits out there, though. Or maybe there is a kid in the high-level intramural at the Pav that they can bring in and coach up.

OwlsCast episode 1 tonight at 11pm. Call in and vent.

The post Rysheed Jordan abdicates his throne or Temple stinks at recruiting appeared first on OwlsBlog.com.

It comes down to this: Will Cummings, Jake O’Brien and Scootie Randall were a combined 0-for-21. The fact that they only lost by six points is a minor miracle.

And now we wait on Rysheed Jordan to make his college choice a little less than a month from now.

The post MARCH SADNESS: Temple loses to Indiana 58-52 appeared first on OwlsBlog.com.

Feels so good. In fact, I almost forgot what this feels like. A win in March??!

Khalif Wyatt is a hero.

Jake O’Brien is a hero.

Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson is a hero.

Fran Dunphy is a hero.

Up next is the winner of Indiana and JMU so…Indiana. Keep it rolling.

The post TEMPLE 76, NC State 72 appeared first on OwlsBlog.com.

Keith Pompey first reported the news on Saturday but it really didn’t start to spread until the school released a statement yesterday:

“While this was a difficult decision to make, I feel it is the right one for me at this time,” Bond said. “I want to thank everyone who played a part in allowing me the privilege to attend The University of Texas. This starts with the coaching staff, my fellow teammates and the educational staff who have helped me during the past two years. They have taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this program.

“It wouldn’t be right for me to continue playing in the postseason and take minutes away from my teammates who are returning,” Bond continued. “Once again, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me while I was here.”

Bond played in 54 games for the Longhorns and averaged 3.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per contest. This season he averaged 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.1 minutes per game. He played in 20 of Texas’ 33 games this season, starting two of them. He missed a significant amount of time early on due to an ankle injury.

Bond, a three star recruit out of Plymouth Whitemarsh, originally committed to Pitt but he backed out when it became clear that playing time would be at a premium early in his collegiate career. He was expected to go to prep school and reopen his recruitment as a member of the class of 2012 but when Rick Barnes reached out to him it was enough for Bond to sign with Texas.

Before the Longhorns came around he was linked with a possible move to North Broad Street. Needless to say, with the lack of size and relative inexperience that next year’s incarnation of the Owls will possess, landing a player like Bond on the transfer market would be a coup for the staff. While NCAA rules dictate that he would have to sit out for a year I would like to think that the staff would go to bat to try and get a waiver for him. At 6-foot-7, 225 pounds, Bond would look pretty good at the four or as an undersized center in a four guard offense.

Do yourself a favor and check out Bond’s highlights on YouTube.

The post Jaylen Bond to transfer out of Texas; Temple in the mix? appeared first on OwlsBlog.com.

NC State holds a 6-1 edge in the all-time series. The Owls emerged victorious the last time the two teams met back on Feb. 15, 2003 by a score of 76-54 at the Liacouras Center.

Plenty more coming in the next few days.

The post No. 8 NC State vs. No. 9 Temple appeared first on OwlsBlog.com.

Via ESPN.com’s Andera Adelson:

“Chris and Juice are the top two going in, and they’ll rep with the first team and then everyone else will get their opportunities with the second team until they prove otherwise,” Rhule said. “Those guys coming in, based off the offseason and what they’ve done in the past, will get first crack at running with the starters.”

If those two are unimpressive then Rhule has another familiar name in mind: former Nittany Lion Kevin Newsome.

“He wants an opportunity to show what he can do at quarterback, so I’m going to start him there, and if he’s the best player, he’ll play,” Rhule said. “I’ve assured him of that. How we go into spring is based off the offseason and their effort and performance in the offseason, and that would put Chris and Juice with the first group.”

Coyer threw for 946 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions and rushed for 444 yards and two touchdowns. Granger had 370 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions with 206 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Newsome attempted just one pass (an incompletion) and ran for 57 yards on five rushes last season.

The post Temple’s quarterback situation is unsettled appeared first on OwlsBlog.com.

(Click for full size view.)

Mark it down. Lock it up. Go to Atlantic City and put some money down. Do whatever you have to do because this is how I see the Atlantic 10 Tournament playing out.

Losing to Butler in the finals is nothing to sneeze at. Brad Stevens’ squad knows how to turn it on in March and I think that they are poised to make a run since it looks like that embarrassing loss to VCU has brought out the best in them.

Obviously no one knows what will happen but the one truly bold prediction I will make is that Saint Louis will not make it to the finals. They’re good - really good – but I also think that they are beatable in Brooklyn.

To be completely and totally honest, the Atlantic 10 is so wide open this season that I can see any one of a number of possibilities playing out this weekend. I can see Temple winning just as easily as I can see them getting bounced unceremoniously. While I believe that the Owls are firmly locked in, a quarterfinals loss to George Washington would be detrimental.

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