Robby Anderson brings ‘energy' to Temple in homecoming win

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Temple’s first two possessions Saturday against Tulane were not pretty. The Owls had two fumbles and minus-4 yards to show for them.

And then, as he has done so often in his career, senior wide receiver Robby Anderson made a play.

With Temple's offense again sputtering on its third possession and facing a 3rd-and-12, Anderson reeled in a 23-yard pass on a tipped ball and kept his feet in bounds to ignite the Owls.

“I gotta bring that energy,” Anderson said after TU's 49-10 win over Tulane (see story). “It gets the team going. It gets myself going.”

Three plays later, Anderson ran a perfect stop-and-go route and beat his man in the end zone to put Temple up 7-3 in the first quarter.

“He’s a playmaker,” head coach Matt Rhule said. “It’s nice to have a guy that can go and make that play when you need it.”

Anderson's return has been welcomed by the Owls’ offense, as he leads Temple in receptions (19), receiving yards (220) and receiving touchdowns (4).   

And he wasn’t even on the team last year.

Coming off his season in 2013 in which he led the Owls in every receiving category, the wide receiver was ruled academically ineligible for the 2014 season. In fact, Anderson was not even enrolled at Temple following his dismissal from the team for academic reasons.

But after missing the entire season, and seeing his former team struggle to a 6-6 record, Anderson wanted back on the field.

The Melrose Park, Florida, native received his associate’s degree from Valencia College in Orlando and returned to Temple this past summer to catch up on the necessary classwork to again play football for the Owls.

And through hard work and perseverance, Anderson took the field in Week 1 to help the Owls defeat Penn State for the first time in 74 years.

“The first couple of games," Anderson said, "I was getting adjusted to be back in the flow of things, but now I feel way more comfortable.”

Anderson’s TD provided the spark Temple needed Saturday. The offense came alive afterward, scoring on its next two possessions and the defense followed suit, forcing a turnover on downs and a fumble late in the half.

In the Owls' win, their best start since 1974 — the last time they started 5-0 — Anderson finished with four catches for 73 yards and a TD. 

Anderson was silenced in the second half partly because Temple' strong run game took over and the starters resting the fourth quarter as the Owls were up big, but the damage was already done.

With that one drive to get the Owls going, Anderson’s journey came full circle. From leading receiver to off the team, Anderson has made it back to being Temple's go-to receiver. 

“I feel back, really like myself,” Anderson said. “I’m excited to be out there.”

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