Dr. M. Moshe Porat, Dean of Temple University’s Fox School of Business and School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM), recently met with six Temple football student-athletes to congratulate them on the team’s early successes.

Porat stopped by Chodoff Field at Edberg-Olsen Hall, the football team’s practice facility, on Oct. 6 to shake hands with a number of players who are pursuing their undergraduate degrees at Fox or STHM.

The Owls have opened their season with five consecutive wins for the first time since 1974, and are on the cusp of national rankings in the Associated Press and USA Today polls.

“Engaging with our students one-on-one is an enjoyable experience, and doing so with football players from Fox and STHM was no exception,” Porat said. “I spoke candidly with Kareem Ali, a freshman, and when he told me why he is studying finance, his answer struck me as inspiring. He said, ‘Because I want to be able to manage my own money.’ I have great admiration for a young person with such strong convictions.”

Porat shared a brief conversation with five players from the Fox School and one from STHM: Ali; junior Business Management major Sharif Finch; sophomore Finance major Jared Folks; senior Business Management major Kyle Friend; freshman Sport Management major Jager Gardner; and sophomore Accounting major Frank Nutile. Porat also greeted head coach Matt Rhule.

In all, players from Fox and STHM account for 37 of the players on Rhule’s roster.

“As someone who’s made the Dean’s List twice, it was a pleasure to meet the dean,” said Friend, the team’s starting center. “He seems like a great man and someone who’s incredibly genuine.”

Porat spoke glowingly of the players’ impressive performances to open their 2015 season. Then, he turned the conversation toward the players’ academic careers. Porat reminded the students to visit Fox’s and STHM’s Centers for Student Professional Development (CSPD), which prepare students for entry into the professional business environment through workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities.

“He told us about the resources at our disposal, especially with the CSPD,” said Nutile, the Owls’ backup quarterback. “He told us to start planning for the future, because you always need to have a plan ready in case we don’t end up playing football professionally.”