College Sports Established
1894
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
College Name
Temple University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2013 - Present / American Athletic Conference
2005 - 2012 / Mid-American Conference
1951 - 2004 / Big East Conference
1955 - 1996 / Philadelphia Big Five
Nickname
Owls - The Temple Owls are a long-standing member of the NCAA and have been a part of college sports since 1932. But where did their nickname, “Owls,” come from?
The story behind the Temple Owls nickname is an interesting one that dates back to 1934 when Raymond E. Johnson became head coach for the football team at Temple University. Johnson had previously served as an assistant coach at Penn State, whose mascot was then known as “the Nittany Lion,” – which inspired him to create his unique mascot for his new team in Philadelphia.
He wanted something with similar characteristics but different enough to be recognized independently; thus, he chose an owl – representing wisdom and knowledge – as the symbol of his fledgling program. The name was further cemented by local sportswriters who began referring to them simply as ‘the owls’ due to their nighttime practices on campus (which were done so they could avoid traffic).
From there, it wasn't until 1938 that "Temple Owls" officially became its official moniker after being approved by university officials - making them one of only two teams in Division I FBS football still using bird nicknames (alongside Syracuse's Orange). Over time they've become synonymous with excellence both on and off the field - having won 14 conference championships while boasting some impressive alumni, such as former NFL stars Paul Palmer & Raheem Brock, just recently inducted into College Football Hall Fame 2019 class!
So next time you hear someone talk about 'Temple' or 'Owls,' remember: It all started in 1934 when Ray Johnson chose this wise creature to represent what has now become a beloved institution within the collegiate athletics community worldwide!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1938
- 1977
- 2011
- 2013
- 2016
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Owls basketball team became the first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) champions
In 1938: The Temple Owls men’s basketball team became the first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) champions, one year before the inception of the NCAA Tournament. -
Tackling Machine for Temple’s Joe Klecko
Before going to Temple, and playing under Hall of Fame college coach Wayne Hardin (the former Navy coach who coached two Heisman Trophy winners in Joe Bellino ’60 and Roger Staubach ’63), Klecko played semi-pro football for the Aston (Pennsylvania) Knights of the Seaboard Football League and kept his eligibility by playing under the assumed name “Jim Jones” from the ... -
Owls men’s basketball team won its 10th Atlantic 10 Conference tournament title
In 2011: The Temple Owls men’s basketball team won its 10th Atlantic 10 Conference tournament title, the most of any team in the conference history. -
The Temple Owls became a full member of the American Athletic Conference
In 2013: The Temple Owls became a full member of the American Athletic Conference (The American) after the Big East Conference split into two leagues. -
Owls football team won its first conference championship
In 2016: The Temple Owls football team won its first conference championship since 1967 by defeating Navy in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Owls
Temple has competed athletically as one of Philadelphia's oldest universities since its inception in 1884, known as The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It wasn't until 1907 that they adopted the moniker 'Owls' for their athletic teams after being inspired by the nearby Eastern State Penitentiary's giant owl statue outside its walls. In 1916, Temple joined forces with other local schools to form what is now known as the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC). During this period, football became very popular at both the collegiate level and professional levels leading many colleges, such as Temple, to become more competitive on this front than ever before.
Temple would eventually join Division I-A Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) during the 1979 season, where they've remained ever since while also playing basketball at the Division I-A level joining Big East Conference during the 1991–92 season, which saw them reach NCAA Final Four twice between 2001 - 2008 seasons under legendary coaches John Chaney & Fran Dunphy respectively. Their success continued into 2009 when the women’s soccer team won the MAC championship, making them the first program from the university to win the conference title in any sport! This victory marked the beginning of a new era of success for temple owls athletics which included winning the 2017 AAC Men Basketball Championship against Cincinnati Bearcats, securing a spot first in the round March Madness tournament the same year!
Today, the temple owls are considered one top mid-major programs nation boasting some best facilities country, including Liacouras Center, home men's basketball games, and Edberg Oliver Arena hosting Women's Volleyball tournaments. With strong recruiting classes coming out every year and combined experience veteran players returning each season, there is no doubt that the future looks bright for these birds, blue and white!
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