"Their running back is a load," Villanova coach Andy Talley said of the 6-foot, 218-pounder right after the Wildcats got train-wrecked, 42-7, at Lincoln Financial Field. "He's really good . . . a big-time running back."
On a couple of third and 1 and one fourth and 2, everyone in both student sections at the Linc knew Pierce was going to get the ball. Villanova could do nothing about it. In the first half, Pierce had 15 carries and picked up seven first downs, and was 5 for 6 picking up first downs when the Owls needed less than 10 yards. For the night, he ran 20 times for 147 yards. He felt in a rhythm from the start.
This was just one game, against a 'Nova team just beginning to rebuild, with Temple's veteran offensive line taking control quickly. For Pierce, Penn State obviously will be a much more interesting test in two weeks at the Linc, after next weekend's trip to Akron. But Talley knows "really good . . . big-time" talent. He coached the best running back this team has seen in the past two decades. Across the hallway, somebody pointed out to new Temple coach Steve Addazio that at his previous stop at Florida, Addazio coached some pretty good running backs and also coached against some pretty good ones. How would Pierce stack up?
"I've said it - and I'll tell you again - I think he's as talented as any of the backs I've seen in the conferences I've been in," Addazio said. ". . . He's got all that talent. Why? He's big. He's got size. He's got speed. He's got 'make you miss.' He's got those qualities."
Addazio is his coach, though, not his press agent.
