This year was marked by Temple Athletics struggles with Name, Image, and Likeness, struggles with local recruiting and a former cornerback’s search for redemption after almost suffering a career-ending injury.
The Temple News Sports staff has compiled a list of our top 10 most significant stories in 2023:
1. “The outcome is the outcome”: Temple Athletics struggles to financially adapt
By Samuel O’Neal and Declan Landis
Since Name, Image and Likeness was passed in 2021, Temple Athletics has fallen behind many of its counterparts and is now trying to tread above water and find other ways to compete. At the time, the TUFF Fund, Temple’s lone NIL collective, had struggled to receive any donations from former Temple football and basketball players. However, in the days after The Temple News published this piece The TUFF Fund received more donors than it had in the previous three months. It also received its first donation from a former basketball player from guard Shizz Alston.
2. Richardson utilizes family culture to rebuild Women’s Basketball
By Declan Landis
Temple Women’s Basketball head coach Diane Richardson entered her second season as the team’s coach in 2023. Throughout her years in basketball, Richardson has coached many different teams and many different players, but through it all she has found that coaching with love and care is her preferred coaching style.
3. Darrah’s traumatic diagnosis helped shape career
By Nick Gangewere
Edward Darrah, a mental health and performance counselor for Temple Athletics, was diagnosed with a brain tumor that nearly cost him his eyesight in 2015. The diagnosis taught Darrah to find ways to stay motivated, and he uses what he learned through his trauma with his patients to this day.
4. ‘They want to experience more’: Why Philadelphia recruits aren’t staying home
By Samuel O’Neal
Despite a history of success for the local athletes, it’s become increasingly rare to see local high school athletes play basketball at Temple. In 2009, seven of the 15 Owls on the roster were from either Philadelphia or the local surrounding area. In 2023, just two players on Temple’s roster fit that criteria. Local high school athletes have received better financial opportunities from schools outside of Philadelphia that Big 5 schools can not compete with. The recent play on the court from Philadelphia universities have been lackluster, which could also be a deterrent for local athletes to come to play in their hometown.
5. Duffy’s rise from Division I football to the NFL
By Johnny Zawislak
Former Temple football video coordinator, Fran Duffy, took an unprecedented route to achieving a role with his hometown football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Through his hard work, dedication and a little bit of luck, Duffy was awarded a position with the Eagles as a football analyst, despite never playing the sport.
6. From the roots of tragedy, professor gives back to team
By Ryan Mack
Scott Gratson, Temple’s director of communication studies at the Klein College of Media and Communication, recently turned to crew, a sport that his late friend introduced him to. Gratson has attended multiple Temple Crew tournaments and regattas throughout the years. In 2021 Hurricane Ida destroyed the Temple crew team boathouse and the equipment inside. After the incident, Gratson showed his appreciation for the team by donating money for a boat.
7. Cameron Ruiz’s search for redemption
By Rymir Vaughn
In February 2022 former Temple cornerback Cameron Ruiz suffered a hip injury that was similar to former NFL running back Bo Jackson’s injury in 1991. Following open hip surgery, Ruiz used a walker to get around and had to relearn how to walk, run and jump. After not seeing much playing time in the 2022 season, Ruiz was preparing to enter the 2023 NFL Draft in April 2023.
8. Tristen Taylor’s early success leads to new nickname and mentorship
By Colin Schofield
Temple Women’s Basketball freshman guard Tristen Taylor has made an early impression on her teammates and the coaching staff. At the beginning of the 2023 season, Taylor’s playstyle reminded the coaching staff of current starting point guard Aleah Nelson, which led to Taylor’s nickname ‘mini-Aleah’.
9. Temple kicker Camden Price found his purpose in kicking field goals
By Declan Landis
In April, Temple Football kicker Camden Price was introduced to the ALS Hope Foundation, and later that summer Price started a fundraiser that allowed people to pledge and donate toward the patient’s care for every point Price scored in 2023, giving the kicker added incentive to score points for a good cause.
10. Temple guard Stanford chooses home city to “put on” for Philadelphia
By Rymir Vaughn
Temple Men’s Basketball Freshman guard Zion Stanford 11 different college offers, and despite a coaching change for the program, he decided to stay close to home so that he could ‘put on’ for his city. Stanford has already made an early impact on the Owls in the early part of the season, showing an offensive presence and defensive improvements.
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