by By JEFFREY A. JOHNSON The York Dispatch , The York Dispatch

How about dissecting a fetal pig? Or eye balls? Or the belly of a frog?

This is the kind of biology classwork that makes pancaking a defensive tackle seem like child's play.

And so far, Tribue, 19 -- an athletic director's honor roll student considering a future in medicine -- has proven quite valuable on and off the football field at Temple.

Expecting to redshirt as a freshman last season, the former Central York star did quite a bit more. Tribue played in all 12 games, making nine starts -- tops among Owl freshmen -- and helped Temple garner its most wins in 18 years.

The Owls finished 5-7 overall, 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference, and lost three games on the final play. Those results have led some college football experts to predict big things from Temple this season.

And expect Tribue, entrenched as a starter at left guard, to be right in the thick of things on a team that returns 21 starters. Temple opens the season Thursday at 7 p.m. against Villanova at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

"I think there were a lot of (freshmen) that were contributing a lot," Tribue said of his freshman season. "The nice thing is that now we're all older with better technique."

See that? You'll often find Tribue focusing on improvement -- something he's accomplished rather steadily after anchoring the Panthers' offensive line in high school and earning a spot on the Big 33 team.

Tribue now stands at 6-foot-31/2, 320 pounds -- maybe 30 or so pounds more than his high school weight -- and he's made those physical adjustments without losing any of his trademark speed.

The Temple coaching staff thought so highly of Tribue that they suggested a move on the offensive line to center -- where All-MAC performer Alex Derenthal started 47 consecutive games before graduating.

But Tribue has proven most adept at guard, where he can use his speed to spring free for blocks downfield. Not bad for a kid who was told he was too small by Army, according to his father, Cyrus.

"He's extremely strong for an offensive lineman -- and for a human being," Temple offensive line coach Andrew Dees said. "The kid is very smart. You only have to tell him something one time. ... The questions he asks are good questions, too. He's extremely bright."

Along with that intellect, one of the intriguing parts of Tribue's rise to NCAA Division I football prominence is how unexpected it was. Tribue was never considered a dominant force until late in high school (he started for the first time in 10th grade).

Then, when the college search started, some big schools -- Penn State being one -- never offered. Talk of Ivy League destinations started to percolate.

But Tribue found a home with an under-the-radar D-I program -- one that saw the potential he had. He's one of three players from York County on the Temple roster, joining Spring Grove's Matt Brookhart (a freshman wide receiver/tight end) and Matt Duncan (a redshirt freshman defensive back).

"We never thought it would get to the level it did last year," Cyrus Tribue said of his son's immediate playing time. "The coaches at Temple really have shown a lot of confidence in all their young players."

Plus, there will be a big chance for Tribue to showcase his skills for central Pennsylvania football fans this year. The Owls travel to Happy Valley on Sept. 19 for a showdown with Penn State in Beaver Stadium.

It will give fans an up-close-and-personal view of the progress Tribue has made. Maybe, though, it's just another game for the guy thinking about a potential future as a doctor.

"It's so different because now I really know what I'm doing (on the field)," Tribue said. "I'm physically bigger. And I feel a lot more confident."

-- Reach Jeffrey A. Johnson at jjohnson@york dispatch.com or 505-5406.

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