By Bill Franques
LSU Associate SID
Sleep is not often high on Collis Temple’s list of priorities. When you’re a Division I college basketball player who has earned bachelors and master’s degrees in just over four years, every hour of every day is precious in working to attain your goals.
“I have a motto, ‘You can’t get ahead staying in the bed,'” said Temple, who will receive his master’s degree in sports administration Friday at LSU’s commencement ceremonies. “I get up at 4:45 every morning and do the things most people don’t do in order to be successful. I plan to enter a doctoral program next semester, and my goal is to be an NBA player with a doctoral degree.”
When Temple arrived on the LSU campus in the fall of 1998, few would have taken his ambitious aspirations seriously. He was not one of the Tigers’ more highly touted recruits, though he did enjoy a stellar career at University High in Baton Rouge. Characterized as a role player when he began his career — Temple, whose father, Collis Jr., was an all-SEC player at LSU in the early ’70s — exceeded expectations and developed into a full-time scoring and rebounding threat.
While emerging as a force on the floor, Temple also thrived in the classroom, and the 6-7 guard earned a bachelors degree in only three years, receiving his general business diploma in July 2001.
And, just over a year later, Temple, a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, holds a master’s degree with an opportunity to earn a Ph.D.
Temple and the LSU Tigers will be on the court of the Maravich Assembly Center Saturday night at 7 p.m. against the No. 1 college basketball team in America, Arizona. The game will be televised on ESPN2 with Dan Shulman and Dick Vitale announcing. Tickets are available for $10 at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office (225-578-2184) and on the Internet at www.LSUsports.net. One fan will have the chance at halftime to make a half-court shot and win $10,000 in the Eagle 98.1 FM Shot Contest.
The demands of school and sports would consume most student-athletes, yet Temple is also a frequent participant in community-service projects in local schools and hospitals.
“The way I look at it, God has given me great gifts, and it’s only right to take advantage of those by helping other people,” Temple, said. “The fact of the matter is, athletes are role models, college or pro. We need to do all we can do to be nice role models, to be good role models, to be role models parents would like their kids to emulate.”
When speaking to young people, Temple espouses a philosophy that has served him well.
“The thing I stress is everybody is not going to be an NBA basketball player, everybody is not going to be an NFL football player, everybody is not going to be Bill Gates and make $50 million a day,” he explained. “But, everybody can be successful in his or her own way. I tell students that being successful doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a millionaire and you’re making a lot of money. It’s you being able to deal with obstacles in a positive manner. You set goals, and things will turn out well for you.”
Temple also is in his second year as president of LSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board, which acts as a support group when an athlete encounters a difficult obstacle.
“There are times when an athlete may not feel comfortable telling a coach about a problem he or she might have,” Temple said. “So, they may come to us, and we can help them deal with the problem as a group. We’re all coming from the same body, instead of one person just out there by themselves.”
As a redshirt freshman, Temple helped the 1999-2000 Tigers, led by NBA draft selections Stromile Swift and Jabari Smith, win 28 games, capture the SEC title and advance to the NCAA Sweet 16. Now, as a seasoned veteran, Temple sees similarities between that championship club and LSU’s 2002-03 unit.
“I think this is a team that is still coming together, still finding our identity, still meshing,” Temple said. “We are extremely talented and deep; we don’t have the No. 2 pick in the draft (Swift), but from top to bottom, we’re more talented than the 2000 team that won all those games. If we can come together as a collective unit, we can accomplish the same types of things that team accomplished.”
As Collis Temple’s LSU playing career concludes this season, he can reflect on a college experience that, while never relaxing, was extremely rewarding.
“When I first came in, most people doubted me, but I think I have evolved into a player who, because of my size and because of my basketball knowledge, has a chance to play at the next level,” he said. “But, I’m also a person who doesn’t need the NBA to be successful. I think that’s the most important thing that I have accomplished since I’ve been at LSU.”