Just before Temple football kicked off their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 14, James Adams, CLA ’86, walked onto the gridiron to call the coin toss as the team’s honorary captain. Adams, a longtime Temple security officer and Temple Made, called tails. While the coin landed on heads, the opposing team deferred, giving Temple the ball first.

“I was so excited. I’ve worked at Temple for 37 years, and I never expected to be the Owls’ honorary captain! It was surreal to be there and standing just feet from my son,” he said.

Adams’ son, John Adams, is a wide receiver for the Owls. The senior earned a full scholarship with the team after making a full recovery from a broken leg, which happened during a game in November 2023. 

“I’m so proud of him due to the fact that he was determined to become a better athlete than he was before his injury,” Adams said of his son. “I couldn’t imagine someone who endured that type of setback. But as soon as he recovered, he worked hard and earned a full scholarship.”

Adams said that his son rose above the odds, even after doctors had to put a permanent titanium rod in his leg with screws attached in it for his bones to heal. 

“Thank goodness he’s 20 years old and his body could do that,” Adams said. “He missed spring training, which was a major setback, because he wanted to get back into it, but he was still able to persevere.” 

Despite his son’s success, Adams being named honorary captain for the home opener was about his own commitment to Temple, according to Arthur Johnson, vice president and athletic director of the Temple Owls.

“Both Adams and his son are the epitome of Temple’s motto, Perseverance Conquers. His son has certainly proved that to be true after making a full recovery from a terrible injury and truly earning his scholarship. As for his father, he has dedicated more than half of his life to serving students and staff at the university, and that has not gone unnoticed. They are both Temple Tuff,” Johnson said.

Adams has served the Temple community for nearly four decades. He worked as a Temple security officer from 1987 until 1997. Then, he decided he wanted to serve the university in a different way and went to the police academy to become a Temple police officer. He served the university in that role for 27 years, until this year, when he made the decision to go back to being a security officer. 

“In both positions, my number one job was always students’ safety. That includes my child, John; however, I treat all students like they are my child. I want to make sure they know that they’re protected,” Adams said. 

Adams is also Temple Made and graduated from the nest in 1986 with a degree in criminal justice, which prepared him for his career with the university.

“As a former police officer, I am equipped with a lot of skills to serve the Temple community. I’m proud to serve the community because I get to experience people who come from all walks of life,” he said.

While a student, he was also a left-handed pitcher for the university’s baseball team. Now, with his son on the football team, he said his time at the university has come full circle. That was especially true at the home opener, when his son scored the Owls a touchdown.    

“We are so proud of Security Officer Adams representing the Department of Public Safety on the gridiron,” said Jennifer Griffin, Temple’s police chief and vice president for public safety. “I’m not surprised that his son made the great comeback he did, because his father continues to prove to be a great example of what hard work and dedication look like. Here at Temple, Perseverance Conquers!”