Tony Temple

Tony Temple (born September 13, 1985) is a former starting running back for the Missouri Tigers football team representing the University of Missouri. Temple played for the Tigers from 2004 to 2007. He entered the 2008 NFL draft, but was not chosen and was signed after the draft as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns.

High school career
Temple attended Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri, and participated in both track and field and football for the Hawklets. Temple was on two Missouri 6A High School undefeated state championship football teams in 2000 and 2002. Temple finished his high school career in football with 6,295 rushing yards and 85 total touchdowns, good for a #8 ranking by Rivals and #2 by ESPN as a running back prospect in the 2004 collegiate recruiting class.

Collegiate career
In his final collegiate game, Temple set a Cotton Bowl Classic record with 281 yards rushing in Missouri's 38-7 win over Arkansas on New Year's Day 2008, breaking a mark that Dicky Maegle first set with a memorable performance in 1954. On his final carry of the game, Temple broke loose for a spinning, tackle-breaking 40-yard touchdown run and then rode to the bench on the arms of teammates Chase Daniel and lineman Tyler Luellen because he had tweaked a hamstring injury. Temple's rushing mark (281 yards) and total touchdowns (4) remain Cotton Bowl Classic records; his rushing total was also the second most rushing yards in a bowl game in college football history at the time, but is now the third most.

After the 2007 season Temple applied to get the 2008 year of eligibility back by appeal to the NCAA. Temple played in one game for 2004 as a true freshman, but due to an injury, he missed the remainder of the year. The appeal was turned down initially by the Big 12, and before the NCAA could review it, Temple decided to withdraw the appeal and prepare for the NFL draft.

In 2009, Temple was charged with assaulting his former girlfriend and breaking her $4,000 television set. According to court reports, Temple allegedly grabbed her throat and hair, hit her ankle in a door and dug his fingernails into her after getting angry asking where she had been the night before.

It is also alleged that Temple threw her shoes at her big screen TV, shattering the screen. The woman said Temple moved out the week before and she didn’t want to be with him. She also claimed he kicked in a door, punched a wall and broke glass.

Temple’s side of the story was that he went over to her place to let her dog out and she started throwing items and said she would set him up if he left the house. Bond was set at $40,000.

Post-college
Temple was signed with the Cleveland Browns, and released after a short stint in the NFL which led to a dynamic career as a wellness provider. Temple established Temple Made Fitness in 2016, a wellness company that has evolved into a premiere sports performance training provider and community wellness advocate which provides holistic wellness to children through schools and community centers.

In 2020 Temple co-authored a wellness workbook with his daughter Stori, Animal Movements Wellness Workbook. The Animal Movement Wellness Workbook has been a catalyst for introducing and deepening the understanding of movement, healthy eating, and family bonding through imaginary animal activities.