What They’re Saying About Bernard Pierce …

“They are very different in contrasting styles, but both have really amazing production. Pierce and Brown are both little nightmares."
- Rich Ellerson, Army head coach

“His ability to make big plays is huge. Powerful, slashing kind of runner, but then when he gets to linebacker depth he can make the big cut and out run secondary angles."
- Frank Solich, Ohio head coach

“He is a guy who, if you put a South Florida or Oklahoma uniform on him, you would not know the difference between the guys we played against on those teams and Bernard Pierce."
- Pete Lembo, Ball State head coach

“He's absolutely natural at what he does. He has the ability to make cuts that you don't see. He has a great feel for when to bounce a play, when to up-cut, when to jump-cut, how to find the holes.”
- Scot Loeffler, Temple offensive coordinator

“We really tried to throw it in his face, put pressure in his face. Pierce is a beast. That is a big kid who can run.”
- Frank Piraino, Temple strength coach

“Bernard is a year older and a year more mature and with age he's developed a certain toughness. Knock on wood, he's been pretty healthy.”
- Steve Addazio, September 27, 2011

“He's working on sustaining that level of play throughout the season. There's a lot of football left to play. He takes a lot of shots, so he needs to fight through [that]. His legs yesterday and today are banged up. They really are. That's hard, to learn how to kind of get through all that.”
- Steve Addazio, September 27, 2011

“We've faced some great running backs these last four weeks, and Pierce definitely rates up there with them.  He makes a break and [a running lane] might not be there and then he bounces it outside, it's as good as I've seen. He's definitely going to be a challenge for us."
- Tim Beckman, Toledo head coach

“It's always good to have him. He takes a lot of pressure off me. First off, you hand him the ball and then sit there and watch him go off."
- Chester Stewart, Temple quarterback

“Pierce is a powerful guy. He can make you miss. He's a guy who runs extremely hard."
- Randy Edsall, Maryland head coach

“I don’t think people realize how good of a running back he is. He’s a hell of a running back."
- Joe Paterno, Penn State head coach

“Bernard holds a very special place in my heart. He’s a kid who came here with issues in his life, changed his life around, worked very hard to get a scholarship and has worked hard at Temple … We’re very proud to have him as a Glen Mills alumnus."
- Kevin Owens, Glen Mills HS head coach

“He’s tough and has great acceleration and good eyes, he anticipates things. As soon as he has an opportunity and he’s ready to break through a hole or go outside, he has enough speed to do it. He’s a tough kid, not the fastest guy in the world, but he sure uses his eyes and courage to his advantage. He’s been big-time for two years now."
- Joe Paterno, Penn State head coach

“He’s a different player this year, different mindset running the ball. He’s so much more mature now knowing he’s the guy. He’s got the toughness. I’m excited to see him play."
- Mike Gerardi, Temple quarterback

“Pierce is a good, very good back, one of the best backs we will play against."
- Rob Ianello, Akron head coach

“He’s as talented as any of the backs I’ve seen in the conferences I’ve been in and the last stop I was at is a tremendous conference and he’s got all that talent. He’s big, he’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s going to make you miss … he has all those qualities and Bernard’s working on playing through these physical games and learning to finish and work through injuries. He is absolutely one of the best running backs in the country, no question.”
- Steve Addazio, September 1, 2011

“Bernard, mentally this season, is completely different. He realizes he's the guy, with a lot to live up to. He does it with his play. That's the way he shows it."
- Mike Gerardi, Temple quarterback

“Pierce is a load. He's really good . . . a big-time running back."
- Andy Talley, Villanova head coach

“He's had a great winter, great spring and he's had a great training camp this summer. His attitude is phenomenal, not that that was ever in question. His work ethic, he's become stronger. I think he's got a little different approach mentally right now. He's older. He's a junior. He's not a sophomore anymore. I think he's enjoying just going about his business without all these expectations. Which is all very normal. I would expect that he would have a great start to the season. I'd be surprised if it was different.”
- Steve Addazio, August 24, 2011

“Obviously, Bernard has to stay healthy and that’s all part of the physical and mental toughness. Football is a grind and that’s what he’s got to learn as he grows up and gets older here. He has to learn how to play through some of those things. That’s his goal.”
- Steve Addazio, August 8, 2011

“One guy that really stood out to me when I watched Temple the past two years was Pierce.  Pierce was sidelined for good portions of 2010 with injury, but looked brilliant in 2009. If he’s healthy again, and puts up 1,300+ yards again, I think he could be a major sleeper.”
- Andrew Corcker, Columnist, Arrowhead Addict, May 16, 2011

“Bernard Pierce is as good as any back I saw in the SEC.”
- Steve Addazio, April 5, 2011

“I think he's a heck of a player, and he's had a great offseason. He jumps out at you on the field. He's got tremendous ability, and part of our plan to win is to run the football. Obviously, he's going to give us that.”
- Steve Addazio, March 23, 2011

* * *

2010 Season

"It's a sick joke, to be honest with you. The whole year, for Bernard. It's like a sick joke, so I don't know even know what to tell you. He's carried the ball three times against Northern (Illinois) and Ohio for 115 yards, and those are his only three plays ...

“I feel bad for the kid, and I feel bad for the coaches,because he's in and out of the lineup constantly. So when we try to change some things around to gear the running game to him,like we have the last month, he's been in and out, and it's tough. And he knows that dependability and durability are a big factor in being a great running back. He knows that. And he's fighting like heck to make that part of his resume right now.”
- Al Golden, Nov. 19, 2010     

“He’s an extremely good player; there is no doubt about it.”
- Frank Solich, Ohio head coach, Nov. 16, 2010

“Pierce had a super game against Connecticut. He's very deceptive. He's a lot quicker than people realize. He plays hard. He does everything well. He's a good inside runner, a good outside runner, and he's a great receiver. He's really a good football player.”
- Joe Paterno, Penn State head coach, Sept. 21 2010

“I think he’s an outstanding running back. He’s one of the best in the country that I’ve seen right now. It will be a great challenge for us. We won’t see anybody better.”
- Andy Talley, Villanova head coach, August 25, 2010

“'There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Bernard Pierce is a special player. He's unique.”
- Al Golden, July 2010

“All signs are that he's handling it well. He's been humble. He's the type of guy who is always complimentary of the offensive line and his coaches and understands that it's not just about him. I think his teammates respect that.”
- Al Golden, July 2010

“The (nation’s) leading rusher is a tough one; if Temple's Bernard Pierce stays healthy, he's my pick. He ran for 1,361 yards last season, and in almost half his games (six of 13) he carried the ball 12 or fewer times. In fact, Pierce carried it seven or fewer times in four games … If he's healthy, expect huge numbers from Pierce.”
- Mike Huguenin, Rivals.com College Sports Editor, May 16, 2010

“In the offseason program, we have what we call black shirts. That’s the best guys in their group. He had 10 opportunities to get a black shirt and got nine. That’s the top five percent of the team. That shows a lot of mental and competitive toughness. It’s not easy. It’s very hard to do. He has responded there and in the weight room.”
- Al Golden, April 2010

“Bernard is one of the best running backs in the country.”
- Matt Brown, Temple running back

“It’s awesome to have a running back like Bernard. It just makes our job so much easier. When he makes big runs, it’s all him, and he’s unbelievable. We haven’t had somebody like this in a while.”
- Steve Caputo, Temple offensive lineman

“It’s a great feeling, you just hand off the ball, and there’s always a possibility he’s going to score.”
- Chester Stewart, Temple quarterback

“Pierce is really good. But at the same time his offensive line is very good. They do a good job of coming off the football and just physically trying to maul you. The bottom line is we’re going to have to stop the run to win the football game.”
- Michael Haywood, Miami (Ohio) head coach

“I don’t think you can describe what Pierce does, and what he has meant to this team. He just goes out and puts his body on the line for us.”
- James Nixon, Temple wide receiver

“He’s very task oriented and you don’t need to hold his hand. When it’s time to go to the weight room, he’s in the weight room. When it’s time to go to treatment, he goes to treatment. You don’t really have to repeat things twice. He’s the same way with football. He has a very professional approach, which is incredible for someone his age. He’s one of the most special backs I’ve ever been around, to be quite honest. He’s so talented.”
- Al Golden, November 2009

“Pierce was a big running back. He's strong. He broke a lot of tackles and had good vision.”
- Wyatt Middleton, Navy safety

“Pierce is big, he's fast, has great vision and makes great cuts. He has the power to get the tough yards inside and the speed to hurt you on the perimeter.”
- Buddy Green, Navy defensive coordinator

“He's powerful. He's a downhill runner. And I guess you would call it deceptive speed. He's getting to the corner, and he doesn't look like it, just because that's the way he runs. He can make people miss or he can run them over, which is unique.”
- Al Golden, October 2009

“He’s strong. He wants the ball, and he loves playing when it’s physical. He gets stronger as the game goes on.”
- Al Golden, October 2009

“He's starting to feel it. He's getting stronger as the game goes on. He's giving us a glimpse of what he can be. He's got to continue to work hard and become an all-around player, but right now he's doing a good job in the running game.”
- Al Golden, October 2009

“He's a big back. I've been anxious to get a big back and get somebody that can do the things he can do. He uses his stiff arm well. He's always moving forward.”
- Al Golden, September 2009