I want to first let you know that Coach Stan Drayton is back in the office after being sidelined for practice and last week’s game at Navy with a viral infection and thank our Coordinators and Chief of Staff Everett Withers for stepping in and leading the team. Although we were not successful, our Owls fought valiantly in an overtime loss to the Midshipmen. Coach Drayton returned to the office Sunday and is scheduled to return to the sideline for Saturday’s home game against South Florida.

Speaking of Navy, it was an honor to be in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to witness the tradition of the Brigade of Midshipmen march into the stadium and the flyover prior to kickoff. As Veterans Day approaches later this month, I want to THANK the men and women who have served/sacrificed and are currently serving/sacrificing while in the United States Armed Forces.

This Saturday we will also present our Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 at halftime of our Football game. It is a tremendous class represented by six sports, three All-Americans, two All-Region honorees, school record holders, a National Champion and one of the longest Temple Athletics staffers in school history. Please join me Saturday in recognizing field hockey All-Americans Deb Brown Townsend and Lori Warneka O’Donnell, field hockey all-Region and women's lacrosse All-American Jill Marple, softball two-time all-Region and Academic All-American Adrienne Repsher Kashner, men’s basketball 2000-point scorer David Hawkins, football honorable mention All-American wide receiver Willie Marshall, baseball standout pitcher Ed Molush and longtime men’s basketball administrator Essie Davis.

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Basketball season is upon us, and our men’s and women’s basketball teams debuted in front of our student crowd at Cherry and White Night on Oct. 25. Our men’s team hosts Wagner in its home opener Monday (Nov. 7) at 7 pm before Big 5 rival Villanova comes to the Liacouras Center on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 pm. Head coach Diane Richardson makes her Liacouras Center debut on Saturday, Nov. 12 against Georgetown (4 pm).

Speaking of Women’s Basketball, Temple will broadcast all its games this season. Listen in on the Varsity Network with Temple graduate Ray Dunne on the call for all the action during the 2022-23 season.

Another week, another honor for our beloved former fencing coach Dr. Nikki Franke as she was honored with the David P. Montgomery Lifetime Achievement Award at the Wanamaker Luncheon on October 26.

Coach Franke will receive another honor this week as she will be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 3.

Field Hockey led the way this past week, defeating #13 UConn, 3-2, on the road to clinch a berth in the four-team BIG EAST Championship and then celebrated Senior Day with a 4-0 win over Lock Haven on Sunday. We play the #1 seed and tournament host Old Dominion on Friday at 1 p.m. Our Owls are now 13-5 overall and 4-3 in conference play. The game can be watched on the BIG EAST Digital Network, available on FloSports.

Congrats to our tennis duo of Jamie Wei and Maiko Uchijima for winning the ITA Super Regional. They now advance to the ITA National Championship in San Diego starting this Wednesday.

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country competed at the AAC Championships last week in Tulsa with the men placing sixth and the women 10th.

Women’s Rowing won three medals at the Head of the Schuylkill while the men garnered two medals.

Volleyball split a pair of road matches this weekend, losing at #23 Houston before rebounding to defeat Tulane.

Women’s Soccer ended their season with a road loss at Houston while the men tied UAB on the road.

Finally, the Jennie Salmon era of Temple Fencing started well with epeeist Margherita Calderaro taking home a silver medal at the Temple Open Saturday.

It was another good week for our alums in the NFL highlighted by Carolina's PJ Walker's 62-yard TD pass to DJ Moore to tie game with 12 seconds left. His TD throw has been the talk of social media.

Special Shoutout to our Athletes of the Week since our last edition of From The Nest: Field Hockey - Tess Muller, BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (11/1), Molly Frey named OwlSports Athlete of the Week (10/24); Men's Soccer - Chaim Roserie, Soccer Six Player of the Week (10/23); Women's Tennis Jamie Wei and Maiko Uchijima, OwlSports Athletes of the Week (10/31) and OwlSports Athletes of the Month (October).

Please come out and continue to support all our Temple Athletics teams. Below is a link to our composite schedule.

In closing, good luck to our Phillies as they look to win the World Series and to the Union as they look to capture the MLS Cup on Saturday! And of course, our Eagles. It is great to share Lincoln Financial Field with the NFL’s only undefeated team!!

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