December 05, 2015
Ahead of the biggest game in Temple Football history, head coach Matt Rhule has seemingly quelled the swelling rumors that he may leave North Philly for greener pastures after this season.
Speaking with the Mike and Ike Show on 94.1 WIP Thursday, he said he plans "on being here" and dismissed the idea that he was meeting with the athletic departments of other schools.
He didn't completely rule out the idea of leaving, but did reinforce how Philly has grown on him. More from CBS Philly:
“People think I’m meeting with these people and really I’m sitting in my office working. But I absolutely plan on being here. I don’t ever promise anything. The Edmonton Eskimos could call me and maybe that’s the right thing for me and my family, but my family loves Temple and we love Philadelphia. And I’ll just tell you this, I plan on being here and I plan on being here for a long time because I am honored and privileged to coach these kids and they’re great kids."
Rhule's Owls are 10-2 and ranked 22nd in the nation. They face Houston for the American Athletic Conference title Saturday afternoon.
The success has led to discussions that Rhule might follow in the footsteps of his predeccesors, Al Golden and Steve Addazio, who both left for more established programs (Miami and Boston College) after garnering some success with the Owls, a team with a track record that is known more for futility than consistent winning.
In November, Missouri was rumored to be one of the school's that may be able to steal Rhule away, prompting some to think Temple may have to increase his salary (which is "in the nieghborhood" of $1.3 million, according to OwlScoop's John DiCarlo).
Rhule doesn't appear to view money as his biggest incentive, however, He also told WIP he'd prefer coaching Temple over "selling his soul for $4 million."
