Happy to be healthy at long last

(78), 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, is eager to play after missing two seasons. DAVID M WARREN / Staff Photographer (Temple center Sean Boyle)

Temple's Sean Boyle has had four shoulder surgeries and missed the last two seasons.

By Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: April 05, 2012

Sean Boyle is finally healthy, and that's a good thing for Temple's football team.

The Owls are counting on Boyle, a 6-foot-5, 324-pound center, and right tackle Martin Wallace to anchor an inexperienced offensive line.

Wallace is the lone returning starting offensive lineman from last season's squad. Boyle, on the other hand, has had four shoulder surgeries and was sidelined the last two seasons.

But you wouldn't know that by his performances at this spring's practices.

"I really like Sean Boyle, a lot," Temple second-year coach Steve Addazio said. "He's really going to be a good football player."

He's also an elated football player.

"The opportunity to get back on the field is awesome to me," Boyle said. "It has been a good time."

He expected to have a good time playing alongside his twin brother, Pat, whey they arrived on campus as freshmen in 2008.

Pat, who will graduate from Temple in May, concluded his playing career this past season as an all-Mid-American Conference selection.

While Pat, the left tackle, made 24 career starts, Sean, the older brother by a minute, couldn't stay out of the operating room.

After playing in every game as a true freshman, he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder at the conclusion of that season. The labrum is cartilage meant to tighten the area where the humerus bone meets the shoulder socket.

Seemingly recovered from the injury, Boyle was the starting center in the 2009 season opener against Villanova but strained his labrum a couple of days later at practice. As a result, Boyle lost his starting position. He managed to participate on special teams and in a reserve role despite the pain.

But the right shoulder couldn't hold up. He suffered another tear in his labrum against UCLA in the season-ending EagleBank Bowl.

That required another surgery.

Then, in the summer before his junior year, while lifting weights, he tore the labrum in his left shoulder. That sidelined him for the entire junior season. Then, he reinjured the labrum in his right shoulder before last season and sat out his second consecutive season.

In October, he had his third surgery on his right shoulder and fourth surgery overall.

Though he hasn't played since 2009, Boyle is a member of a recruiting class that recorded 31 wins, the most by a class in school history.

"You know things just happen for a reason," Boyle said. "Obviously, I get to be here for an extra year."

Homecoming fun. Temple's football game against South Florida at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 6 will have special meaning for Owls alumni.

It addition to being Temple's Big East Conference opener, the matchup will serve as the Owls homecoming game. This will be the first meeting of the schools.

Contact Keith Pompey

at 215-854-2939, kpompey@phillynews.com,

or on Twitter @pompeysgridlock. Read his blog, "Owls Inq,"

at www.philly.com/owlsinq