Boston College coach Steve Addazio reflects glowingly on his time at Temple

Boston College's Steve Addazio is a tough-as-nails football coach, demanding a lot from his players and himself.

He usually isn't one prone to moments of sentimentality, especially while preparing for a game, but Addazio allowed himself a brief moment of reflection when a subject dear to his heart was broached: Temple football.

It was Temple where Addazio earned his first college head-coaching job, guiding the Owls in 2011 and 2012 before taking his current position.

On Saturday, Addazio's Eagles will host Temple at noon in a nonconference game. It will be the first time he faces Temple as a head coach. Will there be any extra emotion?

"Well, I just think that you reflect back a little bit, and I'm very appreciative to Temple and the people at Temple that gave me an opportunity," Addazio said Wednesday during the Atlantic Coast Conference media call. "I loved my experience and my time there. I really embraced and loved the city."

He said he cherished the friendships.

"The great people like George Moore, who's passed away, and Lewis Katz, who's passed away — just guys that I had a chance to work with. [Bill] Mills. And we were able to build a brand new building, and I was very involved with everything right into the upholstering of the chairs," Addazio said.

The building is Temple's current practice facility.

During his first season at Temple, Addazio guided the Owls to a 9-4 record while they were in the Mid-American Conference. The Owls beat Wyoming, 37-15, in the New Mexico Bowl for their first bowl win in 32 years.

The next year, 2012, Temple joined the Big East, which transitioned to the American Athletic Conference the next year. Addazio went 4-7 in 2012, with three of the losses by four points or fewer. He then departed for Boston College. Addazio said he felt he left his stamp on the program despite being there just two years.

"We were able to get into the Big East Conference, which I had a strong relationship with the senior associate commissioner and a direct relationship that led to that," he said.

Despite coming off a 30-13 loss at Purdue, and looking for his 3-1 team to rebound, Addazio has allowed himself a little time this week to reflect on his Temple days. Before coming to Temple, he was the associate head coach/offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Florida.

"Yeah, I mean, playing this week made me think about a lot of really great people — [former Temple athletic director] Bill Bradshaw, guys that were really good to me and my family — and so you can't help but think about that, especially those couple of guys that are no longer with us," Addazio said. "I don't mean to drivel on about it, but I really love those guys. It made me just think about it, and at times you get a little emotional about that. Those guys really banded together to continue to build that program."

In short, Addazio practically couldn't say enough good things about Temple.

"Outside of this week, I'm a real huge fan and always root for Temple because I really love the place," he said.