Temple is optimistic that Matt Brown will play in next week's game at Connecticut.
The Owls tailback injured his left ankle in Saturday's 37-28 Big East victory over South Florida at Lincoln Financial Field.
The injury occurred when Brown carried the ball for no gain at the Bulls' 33-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The 5-foot-5, 165-pound senior immediately grabbed his left knee as a sharp pain went up his leg.
Despite his eagerness to reenter the game, Brown's day was finished.
Tests showed no ligament damage. The 23-year-old, who begins treatment Sunday, wasn't made available to the media.
"We really don't talk about injuries," Temple tailback Montel Harris said, "but he'll be ready to go next week."
Brown had 12 carries for 59 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown run. He also caught two passes for 26 yards. On special teams, Brown had two kickoff returns for 38 yards and returned a punt 14 yards.
Freshman linebacker Tyler Matakevich got his first career start Saturday because outside linebacker Olaniyi Adewole was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Temple might want to consider keeping Matakevich in the starting lineup.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder finished with a career- and game-high 15 tackles. Twelve were solo stops.
"The coaches set up an excellent game plan," he said, "and everybody just sticks to their job. We just executed as a team.
"So there wasn't really much I had to do."
Temple coach Steve Addazio presented athletic director Bill Bradshaw the game ball. Bradshaw helped to get the Owls back in the conference after they were kicked out after the 2004 season. Saturday's game marked Temple's first Big East game since rejoining the conference in July.
"Guys like Bill Bradshaw and other administration members here at Temple brought this program back from the ashes," Addazio said.
Six former Owls and the 1988 NCAA women's lacrosse championship team were inducted into Temple's Hall of Fame on Saturday.
The individuals were Lance Johnstone (football), Marc Jackson (basketball), Danny Akerman (men's gymnastics), Peter Moore (baseball), JR Read (men's crew) and Doug Shobert (football).
This was an extremely special moment for the Johnstones. Ike Johnstone, Lance's father, is currently in Temple Hospital due to numerous aliments. However, hospital caregivers transported him to the Linc in order to attend his son's ceremony.
Contact Keith Pompey at 215-854-2939, or kpompey@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @pompeysgridlock. Read his blog, "Owls Inq," at www.philly.com/OwlsInq
