Griffin added that the Owls (7-4, 4-3 Mid-American) don't want to experience last season's heartbreak.
Back then, Temple, despite finishing 8-4 and being bowl-eligible, wasn't invited to an end-of-season game.
At the time, there were 72 teams that had at least six victories to become bowl-eligible for the 35 bowl games. The Owls were one of the two squads that didn't receive an invitation.
A team's ability to sell tickets often determines who gets the bowl bids.
A year later, Temple heads into Friday's game one of 65 teams already bowl-eligible.
"Hopefully, winning this game will solidify a spot," Griffin said, "and we can get to a bowl."
With a win, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, or the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl could become a possible destination for the Owls.
ESPN's Mark Schlabach predicts Temple will face Arizona State in the Fight Hunger Bowl on Dec. 31 in San Francisco.
A Temple source added that New Mexico and Idaho Potato Bowl officials are also interested.
The New Mexico game will be played in Albuquerque on Dec. 17. The Idaho Potato game will be played in Boise on the same day.
Kent State has extra motivation to spoil Temple's dream.
That's because the Golden Flashes (5-6, 4-3) need a victory to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2006.
But like the Owls last season, the Golden Flashes didn't receive an invitation five seasons ago.
"We want to finish pretty strong here on Friday," Temple coach Steve Addazio said. "But it's probably going to take our best game of the season to do that."
Riding a four-game winning streak, Kent State is the MAC's hottest team behind division champion Ohio.
The Golden Flashes boast the conference's second-best total defense (326.2 yards per game) behind Temple (311.2).
"I'm telling you, eye-to-eye, man-to-man, this is the best defensive team next to Penn State that we play all year long," Addazio said. "That's a fact."
As a result, the Owls plan to show much more than their trademark running game. There's been talk that quarterback Chris Coyer could finish with 25 to 30 pass attempts.
"We are going to have to have balance in this game," Addazio said. "This game will truly be balanced."
Kent State at Temple
When: Friday at noon, Lincoln Financial Field
Radio: WPHT-AM (1210)
Records: Kent State, 5-6 overall, 4-3 Mid-American Conference; Temple, 7-4, 4-3.
Coaches: Kent State, Darrell Hazell (first season, 5-6); Temple, Steve Addazio (first season, 7-4).
Series: Temple leads, 3-2. The Owls won the last two meetings by a combined 52 points.
THINGS TO WATCH
Can Temple contain Kent State's Tyshon Goode? The wideout had five receptions for 129 yards in last week's 28-22 victory over Eastern Michigan.
Can Temple quarterback Chris Coyer connect on the deep passes? That will open up things for the Owls and force the Golden Flashes to stop crowding the line of scrimmage.
Will Temple score on its opening drive? The Owls have scored on the opening drive in eight of their 11 games.
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW
Friday's game will be a homecoming for Hazell and Kent State redshirt freshman running back Rob Hollomon. Hazell is a native of Cinnaminson, while Hollomon is a West Catholic High product.
Hazell and Temple outside linebackers coach Ben Albert coached together at Rutgers in 2001. Hazell was the wideouts coach, while Albert coached the defensive line.
Temple holds the MAC's best home record (16-4) since joining the league in 2007.
- Keith Pompey
Contact staff writer Keith Pompey at 215-854-2939, kpompey@phillynews.com, or @pompeysgridlock on Twitter. Read his blog, "Owls Inq," at www.philly.com/owlsinq. View "Owls Insider With Steve Addazio" at www.philly.com/owlsinsider
