American college football season
The 1983 Temple Owls football team was an American football team that represented Temple University as an independent during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season . In its first season under head coach Bruce Arians , the team compiled a 4–7 record and was outscored by a total of 241 to 170.[ 1] [ 2] The team played its home games at Veterans Stadium and Franklin Field in Philadelphia .
The team's statistical leaders included Tim Riordan with 1,732 passing yards, Paul Palmer with 628 rushing yards and 48 points scored, and Russell Carter with 482 receiving yards.[ 3]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 2 Syracuse W 17–611,549 [ 4]
September 10 at Pittsburgh L 0–3545,713 [ 5]
September 24 Penn State L 18–2335,760 [ 6]
October 1 Boston College Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA L 15–187,033 [ 7]
October 8 at Cincinnati L 16–3118,272 [ 8]
October 15 East Carolina Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA L 11–245,461 [ 9]
October 22 at Delaware W 23–1618,096 [ 10]
October 28 at No. 6 Georgia L 14–3181,822 [ 11]
November 5 at No. 17 West Virginia L 9–2750,514 [ 12]
November 12 Louisville Veterans Stadium Philadelphia, PA W 24–73,021 [ 13]
November 19 at Rutgers W 24–2314,261 [ 14]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
^ "1983 Temple Owls Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 29, 2020 .
^ "2019 Temple Owls Football Media Guide" (PDF) . Temple University. p. 132. Retrieved May 29, 2020 .
^ "1983 Temple Owls Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 29, 2020 .
^ "Temple stymies Syracuse" . The Sacramento Bee . September 3, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Congemi drives Pitt by Temple" . The Pittsburgh Press . September 11, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Finally, Penn St. 'gets one' " . The Akron Beacon Journal . September 25, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Flutie 'pitches in' as Boston College turns back Temple" . Courier-Post . October 2, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Cincinnati sends Temple reeling to fourth loss, 31–16" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . October 9, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Temple losing streak reaches five after 24–11 loss to East Carolina" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . October 16, 1983. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Temple outlasts 'loose' Delaware 23–16" . Sunday News Journal . October 23, 1983. Retrieved February 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Temple hounds Bulldogs but takes 31–14 loss" . The Philadelphia Inquirer . October 30, 1983. Retrieved November 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "West Virginia topples Temple, breaks two-game losing streak" . Star Tribune . November 6, 1983. Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Louisville falls, 24–7, to Temple" . The Patriot-News . November 13, 1983. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Rutgers nipped by Temple, 24–23" . The Home News . November 20, 1983. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
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