1987 Temple Owls football team

American college football season

1987 Temple Owls football

Conference| Independent
Record| 3–8
Head coach|

* Bruce Arians (5th season)

Defensive coordinator| Nick Rapone (3rd season)
Home stadium| Veterans Stadium

Seasons

← 1986

1988 →

1987 Major eastern college football independents records

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 4 Syracuse $  | 5  | – | 0  | – | 0 |  |  | 11  | – | 0  | – | 1
Penn State | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 4  | – | 0
Pittsburgh | 3  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 4  | – | 0
West Virginia | 2  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 6  | – | 0
Rutgers | 2  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 5  | – | 0
Boston College | 2  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
Temple | 1  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 8  | – | 0

* $ – Lambert Trophy Winner

Rankings from AP Poll
1987 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 1 Miami (FL) |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 12  | – | 0  | – | 0
No. 4 Syracuse |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 11  | – | 0  | – | 1
No. 2 Florida State |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 11  | – | 1  | – | 0
No. 15 South Carolina |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 8  | – | 4  | – | 0
Pittsburgh |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 8  | – | 4  | – | 0
Penn State |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 8  | – | 4  | – | 0
No. 17 Notre Dame |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 8  | – | 4  | – | 0
Southern Miss |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 6  | – | 5  | – | 0
Rutgers |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 6  | – | 5  | – | 0
Southwestern Louisiana |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 6  | – | 5  | – | 0
Memphis State |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 5  | – | 5  | – | 1
Northern Illinois |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 5  | – | 5  | – | 1
West Virginia |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 6  | – | 6  | – | 0
Tulane |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 6  | – | 6  | – | 0
Army |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
Boston College |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
East Carolina |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
Akron |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 4  | – | 7  | – | 0
Cincinnati |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 4  | – | 7  | – | 0
Louisville |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 1
Temple |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 3  | – | 8  | – | 0
Tulsa |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 3  | – | 8  | – | 0
Virginia Tech |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 2  | – | 9  | – | 0
Navy |   | – |   | – |   |  |  | 2  | – | 9  | – | 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1987 Temple Owls football team was an American football team that represented Temple University as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its fifth season under head coach Bruce Arians, the team compiled a 3–8 record and was outscored by a total of 251 to 154.[1][2] The team played its home games at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

The team's statistical leaders included James Thompson with 985 passing yards, Todd McNair with 1,058 rushing yards, Keith Gloster with 411 receiving yards, and placekicker Bill Wright with 60 points scored.[3]

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Opponent| Site| Result| Attendance| Source

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September 5| at Toledo|

* Glass Bowl
* Toledo, OH

| W 13–12| 18,191| [4]
September 12| at Boston College|

* Alumni Stadium
* Chestnut Hill, MA

| L 7–28| 27,500| [5]
September 19| at No. 16 Pittsburgh|

* Pitt Stadium
* Pittsburgh, PA

| W 24–21| 45,387| [6]
September 24| Akron|

* Veterans Stadium
* Philadelphia, PA

| W 23–3| | [7]
October 3| at No. 14 Penn State|

* Beaver Stadium
* University Park, PA

| L 13–27| 84,000| [8]
October 10| Tulsa|

* Veterans Stadium
* Philadelphia, PA

| L 17–24| 20,008| [9]
October 17| at No. 14 Florida|

* Florida Field
* Gainesville, FL

| L 3–34| 74,286| [10]
October 31| at Army|

* Michie Stadium
* West Point, NY

| L 7–17| 32,053| [11]
November 7| at East Carolina|

* Ficklen Memorial Stadium
* Greenville, NC

| L 26–31| 19,327| [12]
November 14| Houston|

* Veterans Stadium
* Philadelphia, PA

| L 7–37| 12,780| [13]
November 21| Rutgers|

* Veterans Stadium
* Philadelphia, PA

| L 14–17| | [14]

* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "1987 Temple Owls Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
2. ^ "2019 Temple Owls Football Media Guide" (PDF). Temple University. p. 132. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
3. ^ "1987 Temple Owls Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
4. ^ "Temple edges Toledo on McNair's late TD". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 6, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Temple stymied by BC". Gloucester County Times. September 13, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "Temple surprises Pittsburgh". Sunday Press. September 20, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "McNair helps Owls trample Zips". The Birmingham News. September 25, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Penn St. puts cool 27–13 end to old tale". The Pittsburgh Press. October 4, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Tulsa upsets Temple, 24–17". Sapulpa Daily Herald. October 11, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Smith sets mark as Florida routs Temple, 34–3". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 18, 1987. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Sixth-string QB helps lift Army over Owls, 17–7". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 1, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "East Carolina hands Temple fifth loss in row". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 8, 1987. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "Dacus leads Houston past Temple". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 15, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ "Rutgers defeats Temple". The Daily Register. November 22, 1987. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

* v
* t
* e

Temple Owls football

Venues|

* Vernon Park (?–1927)
* Temple Stadium (1928–1977)
* Veterans Stadium (1978–2002)
* Franklin Field (alternate, 1978–2002)
* Lincoln Financial Field (2003–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Villanova: Mayor's Cup

Culture & lore|

* Hooter T. Owl

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number