Matt Rhule

Temple head coach Matt Rhule said Tuesday he "couldn't be prouder to be the head coach at Temple." (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

As the program's first 7-0 start and the buzz around Saturday's primetime matchup with Notre Dame has thrust Temple football into the national consciousness, Owls third-year coach Matt Rhule has followed into the spotlight.

It's not that he wants to be there. Rhule repeated time and again during a news conference Tuesday that Temple's success is "about the players," but any young, charismatic coach would have trouble sidestepping hefty praise after leading a team into the national rankings for the first time in 36 years.

It isn't avoiding rumors about other job openings, either.

Several media outlets have tabbed Rhule as a candidate for the Maryland coaching position that opened this month, while Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel expects him to be in the mix for a few jobs that aren't even open yet.

Plus, as a former Penn State linebacker and State College native, Rhule's name has been tossed around by Nittany Lions fans looking beyond the James Franklin era.

Tuesday, Rhule responded to the speculation, saying he hasn't received any calls about jobs elsewhere and won't look into anything until after the season.

"I don't make promises I can't keep -- I'm not one of those guys," Rhule said, "but I love it here, I really love it here, and my family loves it here."

Rhule said his son, Bryant, is planning to dress up as Temple cornerback Tavon Young for halloween to illustrate just how comfortable he is at the helm of the Owls program.

The 40-year-old served on Temple's staff from 2006 to 2011 before spending one year with the New York Giants and then returned to Philadelphia as the Owls head coach in 2013. Rhule signed a four-year extension with Temple this offseason.

"I've been here for nine years," Rhule said. "It's not like I just got here two years ago and was like, 'Hey, let's come here and try to win and get out.'"

Still, Rhule might be faced with a difficult decision in the offseason. Maryland is in the process of building a new football facility, has strong financial backing and could offer big money to pry away an energetic coach like Rhule.

Many also expect Virginia and Virginia Tech to be in the market for coaches this fall, and both schools would offer Rhule a shot to head a Power 5 conference team and stay on the east coast.

But for now, none of that matters.

"I couldn't be prouder to be the head coach at Temple," Rhule said. "No one's called me about anything, and I'm pretty focused on this. We've got a good team."

-- @AaronKazreports