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5 Games Temple Football Could Have Benefited From Fewer Time Outs

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5 Games Temple Football Could Have Benefited From Fewer Timeouts

Temple football fans,
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The news Tuesday that the NCAA has reduced the number of basketball timeouts from five to four with only three being allowed to be carried over to the second half might be something the organization should consider for its football teams with the fans of one of those teams keeping their fingers crossed. Temple has been the victim of some bad decisions after calling time, with these five coming to mind.

5. Cincinnati, 2014

Temple football players,
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5. Cincinnati, 2014

Temple football players,
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Owls used two timeouts in the first five minutes of the game and inexplicably called a running play for no gain for RB Jamie Gilmore on one. The Bearcats scored 14 points in the second quarter, taking advantage of a TU timeout in the second quarter. Out of that, the Owls went empty backfield with QB P.J. Walker -- with no protection and no time to throw -- getting hit and fumbling the ball that led to the first score.

4. Houston, 2014

Temple football, Houston football,
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4. Houston, 2014

Temple football, Houston football,
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A 79-yard screen pass to Jahad Thomas set the Owls up with the first-and-goal on the Houston one-yard line and, when the team had problems lining up for the next play, they called a timeout. Once again, after that timeout the Owls were blown out after a horrendous play.

3. SMU, 2013

Matt Rhule, Brandon Noble, Temple,
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3. SMU, 2013

Matt Rhule, Brandon Noble, Temple,
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The Owls, thanks largely to Walker, led 28-7 in the second quarter but their timeouts in the second half gave SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert eight second-half possessions and he led the Mustangs to scores on seven of those. One of the Owls’ timeouts came on fourth-and-27 and they needed a full 60 seconds to think about it before deciding that punting was the right thing to do deep in their own territory. SMU won, 59-49.

2. Idaho, 2013

Kibbie Dome, Idaho,
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2. Idaho, 2013

Kibbie Dome, Idaho,
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Playing the then 126th-ranked (and worst) rushing defense in the nation in the Kibbie Dome (pictured), the Owls called three first-half timeouts. All three led to 50-yard bombs by then quarterback Connor Reilly and all three passes were incomplete. Not surprisingly, the Owls only scored three first-half points on a team that gave up 80 to Florida State and lost, 28-24.

1. Rutgers, 2013

Temple football, Rutgers football,
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1. Rutgers, 2013

Temple football, Rutgers football,
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Faced with a fourth-and-three-inches call that would have won the game with 1:23 left (and RU holding no timeouts), the Owls — instead of getting the four inches with a QB sneak using their two best players, Walker and center Kyle Friend — called a timeout to go shotgun and call a deep handoff to Kenny Harper, who lost three yards. Owls do not play RU again until, appropriately enough, 2020. The QB sneak would have led to three knees and a win.

Mike Gibson is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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