The headline in the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sports section on Sunday, May 14, 1995 exclaimed "Michigan makes a triumphant return to Dad Vail Regatta." But although the headline belonged to the Wolverines, the weekend belonged, like it had 12 of the previous 13 years before, to the Temple Owls.
The 1995 varsity eight boat had the misfortune of trying to follow in the footsteps of what some have called one of the fastest crews in Temple history. The 1994 boat had cruised to a sixth-straight Dad Vail title and then with short rest, captured the Champion International Regatta title.