KC Keelers speaking to the media prior to Temple's Week 3 game against Oklahoma Photo Credit: Temple Sports Network
By Reice Shipley on

It’s no secret that the Temple Owls are going into their Week 3 game against the No. 13 ranked Oklahoma Sooners as heavy underdogs that nobody expects to win. But now, Temple head coach KC Keeler has some added motivation from some Oklahoma reporters who were captured ragging on his team on a hot mic moments prior to a press conference earlier this week.

On Tuesday, two reporters were heard having a conversation about the upcoming game, both largely downplaying the kind of fan support Temple would likely bring in. And one of the reporters went as far as to say that the game would be more like a high school football game than a college football game due to the perceived lack of a home crowd.

It seems like Keeler heard this comment loud and clear, which he made clear during an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic on Wednesday.

“There was a hot mic out there a couple of days ago,” said Keeler. I explained to some of our players because some of the media people mentioned, ‘Oh, 30,000 or 25,000 people, it’s gonna be like a high school game for them.’ You don’t understand, there is a different energy in our building right now. Just real positive, let’s go at these guys, we can do this sort of mentality. The energy they are getting is one of, ‘Where is Temple again? What level of football do they play?

“And it’s not the kids’ fault. I thought their coach did a great job at the press conference talking about Temple. But after his press conference, there wasn’t a single question about Temple. This press conference is usually about what you just did and moving forward. And nobody asked a question about the Temple Owls. We always talk about, ‘Don’t let the outside sources affect what’s going on in the building. And sometimes it’s almost impossible. Because you have a lot of people in your ear. Again, they have a hot mic there, I’m sure they have all heard about that. Again, their coach does a great job of talking about Temple. But not a single media person asked about the game against Temple. I just think there will be a different energy, especially since they have Auburn next week, than what we have going on in our building.

“We’ll take all those things into considering and take them as a win for us. We obviously are going to be playing a very talented team that has made huge investments in their program. A team that is a blue blood that aspires to win a National Championship. So there is high expectations there. I think when people went through their schedule, looking at the number of wins, I’m sure Temple was just a simple, ‘Check that one off.’ I don’t think we see it that way.”

Clearly, Keeler expects his team to give a good account of themselves on Saturday. Even if the current spread on the game is lopsided in favor of the far more talented team on paper in Oklahoma.

Currently, Oklahoma is favored by over three touchdowns on the majority of sportsbooks over Temple. So it will certainly be a task for Keeler to keep this game close and make it feel far more like a high-level college football game than a high school football game, as the Oklahoma reporters suggested.

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

View all posts by Reice Shipley