Tavon Young selected by Ravens

Former defensive back Tavon Young was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Young was the sixth pick of the fourth round and No.104 overall.

Last season, Young totaled seven pass defensed and 41 total tackles in 11 games after setting career-highs in interceptions and passes defended as a junior with nine and four, respectively.

The Oxon Hill, Maryland native was an American Athletic Conference honorable mention selection as a junior.

Young, who is the 64th football player to be drafted into the NFL in the program’s history, is the first Owl to be drafted since 2012.

Owls land new coach

The Owls announced Monday that Roman Bussetti is set to become their new coach, replacing Ryan Frain — who resigned in April.

Bussetti, who is the general manager of the Owls’ home rink, Flyers Skate Zone, already has great knowledge about the program.

“He has seen our team play before,” defenseman and team president Patrick Hanrahan said. “He has coached for years on multiple teams. This is his first time coaching at college though. We know he knows the game and we look forward to putting him behind the bench next year.”

Bussetti played hockey with Council Rock High School from 1989 to 1991, where he won a Flyers Cup and a state championship. He went on to play collegiate hockey at the University of New Hampshire from 1991 to 1993 and West Chester University from 1993 to 1995.

After a two-year hiatus, Bussetti returned to hockey in 1997  as the coach at Upper Darby High School. He would later go on to coach at West Chester East High School from 1999 to 2006, Council Rock High School South from 2006 to 2008 and Archbishop Ryan High School from 2008 to 2011.

He was also an assistant coach for Blazers Youth Hockey, Team Comcast and the Philadelphia Junior Flyers.

A panel of Hanrahan, defenseman Jason Lombardi, alumnus Greg Malinowski, general manager Jerry Roberts and Campus Recreation unanimously agreed on Bussetti taking over the team. The factors were Bussetti’s experience, conduct, and his innovativeness toward some of the team’s past problems.

“I think it was just overall his knowledge,” Hanrahan said. “And where we felt like his commitment level would be there.”

Rysheed Jordan chooses St. John’s over Temple

Rysheed Jordan, a five-star basketball recruit from Vaux High School, indicated he would be committing to St. John’s on Thursday morning, choosing the Red Storm over Temple and UCLA.

At approximately 10 a.m., Jordan Tweeted, “IM A JOHNNIE!!!!!! #ichoosestjohns” Jordan’s decision is only a verbal commitment; he’s not eligible to sign a letter of intent until April 17.

Jordan averaged 26 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds per game in his senior season at Vaux. He scored 32 points in Vaux’s 83-63 win against Johnsonburg in the PIAA Class A championship game.

Coach Fran Dunphy, who heavily recruited Jordan, was in attendance at that state championship game. NCAA rules prevent Dunphy from talking about recruits who haven’t signed a letter of intent, so Dunphy couldn’t be reached for comment after Jordan announced.

Addazio accepts position at Boston College

Steve Addazio has accepted the head coaching position at Boston College, a Temple source confirmed.

Addazio went 13-11 in two seasons at Temple. He went 9-4 in his first season in 2011, including the program’s first bowl win since 1979 in a 37-15 victory at the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

“Steve Addazio has done a tremendous job with Temple Football in his two years at the University, and we wish him nothing but the best,” Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw said in a press release. “Temple Football has never been stronger, and I am confident we will be able to attract a high-level pool of candidates for the position and the program will continue its upward momentum.”

Addazio will fill the hole at Boston College left by former coach Frank Spaziani, who was fired after the Eagles’ 2-10 finish this year, his fourth season with the team. Spaziani went 21-29 at Boston College.

Addazio informed the team of his departure personally at a team meeting at approximately 5 p.m. Players were seen walking from the meeting on their phones or huddled in groups talking.

Freshmen linebackers Tyler Matakevich and Rob Dvoracek Tweeted “wow” at 5:18 p.m. and 5:35 p.m., respectively. Junior defensive back Abdul Smith Tweeted “At the end of the day these coaches only look out 4 themselves. They sell you on a lie that only benefits them.”

Redshirt-junior quarterback Chris Coyer Tweeted “Well. Here we go again. 3 coaches in 5 years. Whatever just grinding that much harder to get where we wanna go next year”

A national search for Addazio’s replacement will begin immediately, the press release indicated.

Bradshaw talks conference re-alignment

Temple Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw confirmed the notion that money is what’s driving the recent surge of conference re-alignment in an interview with Harry Donahue of 1210 AM WPHT during halftime of the men’s basketball game Wednesday night.

Bradshaw, speaking to any Temple fans worried about the school’s future prospects in a fractured Big East Conference, said the revenue the Big East draws negates any problems the conference may have with schools leaving.

“If anyone’s confused and frustrated, just know one thing: It’s the color green,” Bradshaw said. “Think of the color green, and that answers all of your questions.”

The Big East admitted Tulane for all sports and East Carolina for football, effective the 2014-15 season, on Tuesday. The moves have come the same week as announcements made by Rutgers and Louisville indicating their intent to leave the Big East before the 2014 season.

While Bradshaw said the recent shifting of teams has been frustrating, he maintains Temple is in a good place in the Big East.

“As soon as you get comfortable, it seems like something pops up,” Bradshaw said. “And as soon as someone makes a statement saying they’re never going to leave the league, look out, something’s coming. We don’t know when it’s going to end, what’s more important is how we react to it.”

Bradshaw said Temple should still feel optimistic about the Big East due to the conference’s access to BCS bowls, the prestige and exposure of Big East basketball and the media rights deal being negotiated for Big East football and basketball.

“I think it’s going to be very lucrative, particularly with the markets being brought into the Big East, such as San Diego, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Orlando, and certainly Philadelphia,” Bradshaw said. “All those markets are going to mean more eyeballs, more exposure and hopefully more revenue.”

Though Bradshaw remained hopeful for Temple, he couldn’t say the same about the state of conference alignment in college football.

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, there’s another big shark sighting out there,” Bradshaw said. “The question is: What does it all mean? It’s going to be very important as we move ahead.”

Football to compete in Big East West in 2013

The football team and other new additions to the Big East Conference will compete in the newly established West Division of the conference next season, Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco announced Tuesday.

The 12 teams set to compete in the Big East next season will be split into two, six-team divisions, where the winner of the divisions will meet in the Big East Championship game. Temple will be in the West Division along with other conference newcomers: Boise State, Houston, Memphis, San Diego State and Southern Methodist University.

“I’m not involved with all these meetings here, but for the beginning part of this thing, we will be on the Western side,” coach Steve Addazio said in a press release. “I’m excited to do that. I think that’ll be good. We’ll still have some of our regional games in here, and I think it’s a great new beginning and I’m excited for it.”

Each Big East team will play eight conference games per season, five within its division. That means Temple will have to head out west for at least two games against Western opponents next season. Home/away breakdowns will be announced after the Big East athletic directors meeting on Dec. 3.

Addazio said playing in western markets opens up new doors for recruiting.

“It’s exciting. You’re talking about some great trips and some great programs,” Addazio said. “You’re playing nationally. It’s a national perspective, and I think the kids will enjoy that. When I was at Notre Dame, we played a national schedule. I know that’s a bit of a difference scenario, but it was a cool deal – going to places you’ve never been. It can be very, very exciting. The future is really exciting. I’m thrilled that we’re a part of I,t and I’m looking forward to bringing this young team into that whole new beginning. I think it’s going to be nothing but growth.”

The conference alignment is likely to be revisited after the 2014 season when Navy will be added to the Big East, among other schools, the press release indicated.