WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Temple interim coach Ed Foley, sophomore running back Ryquell Armstead, senior quarterback Phillip Walker, senior running back Jahad Thomas redshirt senior tight end Colin Thompson and redshirt senior cornerback Nate Hairston met with reporters Friday at Saint John’s College High School in Washington D.C., where the Owls practiced in preparation for the Dec. 27 Military Bowl against Wake Forest.

The Owls arrived in D.C. Thursday afternoon and practiced for the first time Friday morning. Foley said the Owls will “fine tune” the game plan for Wake Forest during the four bowl practices, including walkthroughs Sunday and Monday.

“We’re going to bang a bit,” said Foley, who started practice with the Oklahoma drill. “Coaches feel like we need to do a little bit of hitting because of some short yardage and goal-line situations. We’ll do a little bit of that. We have a little bit of special teams that we need to cover in terms of the game plan.”

Temple’s complete defensive staff, including the Baylor-bound duo of Mike Siravo (linebackers coach) and Francis Brown (defensive backs coach), arrived in D.C. Thursday and will coach in the bowl game.

“It’s great,” Foley said. “Our defensive staff is the best in the country and to have them here is great.”

“To have them back, it’s like a family thing,” Foley added. “It means a lot to the kids – not just that they’re here because they know that they’re really good, but they want to be here. The kids get a sense that (the defensive coaches) don’t have to come back here. They could be down in Texas right now in the 80-degree weather, chilling out with their families for Christmas and they chose to come back here and finish out the year with me.”

Temple has an advantage in the Military Bowl because of its familiarity with Navy-Marine Corps Stadium and will not have a walkthrough at the game site, Foley said. The Owls beat Navy, 34-10, in the American Athletic Conference championship game in Annapolis, Md. earlier this month.

“The thing that stuck in my mind from when we were down there two weeks ago was the wind and with special teams,” Foley said. “That’s going to be fresh in my mind in terms of how we played that special teams-wise a couple weeks ago.”

Armstead, who was banged up going into the conference championship game, said he will play in the Military Bowl. The Millville, N.J. native leads the team in rushing touchdowns (14) and tied with Thomas for the lead in rushing yards (918).

“I’m feeling good,” Armstead said. “I’m going to play for my seniors one last time. It’s my last time I’m going to play with Jahad, somebody that has taught me a lot in my game and helped me improve.”

The consensus amongst Temple’s players and coaches is that there has been a business-like approach to this year’s bowl game. The Owls, who will have a chance to win a school-record 11 games with a bowl victory, went down to Florida last season and lost to Toledo in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl.

“We had a different urgency about us going into Navy (in the conference championship game) and I think we’ve had a bit of a different urgency now,” Foley said. “Time will tell and we’ll play the game and see how that goes, but I think the loss to Houston last year in the championship game and the loss to Toledo in the Boca Bowl is putting our kids in a different mind frame right now. I like where we are right now. Last night (Thursday), we had a very professional approach to the curfew and getting in this morning (Friday) and looking like we’re ready to go.”

Thompson, who was deemed medically ineligible while at Florida, said Temple did not prepare well enough while in the Sunshine State for last year’s Boca Bowl.

“I think we learned from that,” Thompson said. “Everything happens for a reason. We’re taking a different approach this year and we’re here on a business trip and we’re here to play football. Last year in Boca, I think people had different agendas. Now, the whole team is bought in.”

Thompson, a blocking tight end with only three catches for 43 yards on the season, has created NFL Draft buzz in recent months, Foley said.

“That’s the next step,” Thompson said of the NFL. “To be honest with you, it really hasn’t crossed my mind. I’m really – as much as this might sound cliché – I’m really focused on Wake Forest.”

Hairston, who also has received NFL Draft attention in recent months as Temple’s top boundary cornerback, pointed out that last year was the first bowl appearance for almost the entire Owls’ roster.

“This year we know what it takes to win and we know it’s not all about fun,” Hairston said. “It’s a business trip.”

Hairston will finish his college career in his home state of Maryland. The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back is from Frederick, Md., which is located about 70 miles from Annapolis.

“To be in our backyard is cool,” Hairston said. “Growing up in D.C., it’s cool getting to come here, practicing at Saint John’s and getting to stay at the Renaissance (Hotel) downtown.”

Listen to Friday's interviews with Foley, Thompson, Armstead, Hairston and Thomas here.

Ed Foley

Colin Thompson

Ryquell Armstead

Nate Hairston

Jahad Thomas