Jones hitting stride at Temple

Belleville's Maurice Jones was all business when talking at Temple football Media Day recently about the upcoming season. He talked about his new coach, being ready for the season opener and what strengths he brought to the football field that earned him the starting cornerback spot for the Owls this season.

But it was only after being asked about his family getting to see him play that he cracked a smile. And it wasn't a little one.

"My mother is here for every game," the junior said. " I wanted to be (at Temple) because it was close, convenient and everyone in my family could travel to see me if they wanted. I chose to be here."

And so far that selection is paying off. Jones has played in all but three games since arriving on the Philiadelphia campus in 2009. In his freshman year, he started the last four games of the season, including Temple's first bowl game in 30 seasons, when it played in the Garden State Bowl. Also a special teams contributor, he finished that year with 24 tackles.

The next season he again finished strong. The highlight of his sophomore year was a six-tackle, two-sack performance in a win over Akron in Week 9. But this time there was no bowl game, despite the team's 8-4 record. Losses in their last two games, both on national television, dropped Temple's standing among bowl selection committees.

"It ate away at us at the moment. I think we thought we were entitled to go to a bowl," Jones said." But it's all in how people see us. We lost our last few games and even though we did enough to qualify, you've got to beat the teams that you need to beat and we just came up short."

With back-to-back winning seasons, head coach Al Golden became a hot commodity in the college football ranks. He was hired in December to turn around the storied University of Miami program. The Owls hired University of Florida assistant Steve Addazio as their new coach, which means there are now a whole new group of coaches to impress.

Jones, however, says that doesn't factor into his thinking. His focus is on learning in the practice rooms and executing that on the field. Whether it's in the academic or football classroom, his goal is to prepared for anything.

"You always have to try out. I came here wanting to separate myself," Jones said. "My strength as a defensive back is my preparation. Every day in the classroom at practice, whatever coach says I write down everything that comes out of his mouth. If you act out what they tell you and perform that way on the field, you remember a lot."

On the field, defensive coordinator Chuck Heater believes "Mo" should have a big season.

"Mo's is one of the quicker, more physical guys we have at corner. It means something to him. He could play a little at nickelback as well and someone we can move around and get a lot out of him," Heater said.

Jones, a criminal justice major looking into a career in law enforcement once he graduates, believes his work ethic takes roots in what he brought to Philadelphia with him from Belleville. After a one-year stint at at Fork Union Military Academy upon graduating high school in 2007, he's tasting the fruits of some of that dedication.

"Belleville taught me how to work hard and be accountable for myself. People (at Belleville High School) were always on me, telling me 'you're going to need this in college,' " Jones says. "You have to learn to say no to stuff that's not necessary. All the partying, chasing girls ... you get that out of your system during your freshman year. You got to get your school work done and you got to get your football work done. That's the balance you need and after three years I think I'm doing well with that."