Season looks promising for Temple
Published Aug. 28, 2007
For his first two years at Missouri, senior tailback Tony Temple did nothing to show Tigers fans why he was one of the nation's most heavily recruited tailbacks after his legendary prep career at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., ended in 2003.
But in one season, and to an extent in one game — MU's 39-38 loss to Oregon State in the Brut Sun Bowl, in which Temple ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns — Temple evolved into one of the best and most reliable backs in the Big 12.
Standing in the lobby of the Missouri Athletic Training Complex Monday, Temple paused and smiled when asked if the 1,063 yards he gained in 2006 vindicated him.
"I think it was more a relief," he said. "More of a relief that the people around me gave me the opportunity to succeed. They made me feel confident."
Senior tight end Martin Rucker, who has played with Temple his whole collegiate career, said the Tony Temple of 2007 is vastly different from the one who ran for just 13 yards in 2004 before getting injured.
"He's matured a whole lot," Rucker said.
Temple who, during his junior year at Rockhurst ran for 2,054 yards and 32 touchdowns, was rated by Rivals.com as the No. 2 running back prospect in the country in 2004. He said going from being called "The Chosen One" to an oft-injured backup in college changed him and made him better.
"I knew my abilities were there," Temple said. "But I got hurt a couple of times and struggled. But I got another shot and it really does feel good."
Even though 2006 was his breakout season, it wasn't perfect. After fumbling against Oklahoma, he was replaced in the next game by then-sophomore Earl Goldsmith and didn't get a single carry at Nebraska. But he got the start against Oregon State three games later, and that performance gave him a firm grip on the No. 1 tailback job. Temple is also the conference's leading returning rusher going in to the 2007 season.
With that security in hand, coach Gary Pinkel said Temple has grown over this past offseason.
"He's matured mentally and physically," he said. "He's just become a physical runner."
Pinkel said he hopes that Temple is not just a one-game wonder, and that he'll find that out immediately Saturday against Illinois in St. Louis.
"The bowl game was great," he said. "But now we need to see that carry over. And with the way he's worked this off-season, there's no reason to think he won't."
Senior left tackle Tyler Luellen, who has blocked for Temple his whole career, said he has tremendous vision as a runner.
"Tony has incredible instinct," Luellen said. "He knows where to cut, where to move. Tony can make things happen that few other running backs in the country can."
Junior quarterback Chase Daniel said Temple might be the most important offensive player on the Tigers.
"He's the catalyst," Daniel said. "When he's going we can beat anyone. You can't win without a great running back. We ask a lot of him and he does a great job doing everything we need."