Opening a C9 template using C8

Hello all, should I be able to open a C9 template using C8?  We have hired two Instructional Designers that have C9, however we (as existing users) still have C8.  We are unable to open the template they have created.  The steps we are using are: File - New project - Project from Template - locate the template (which I put on my desktop) and open.  There are no errors, it just never opens.