Temple Football Is Breathing Rare Air

Damon Young by Contributor Written on November 01, 2009
ANNAPOLIS, MD - NOVEMBER 19:  In this handout from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman full back Adam Ballard #22 is tackled by Temple Owls defender Justin Johnson #4 during the 1st quarter of play on November 19, 2005 at Navy Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.  (Photo by Damon J. Moritz/U.S. Navy via Getty Images) U.S. Navy/Getty Images

They were booted from the Big East in 2004.

The Owls were 0-11 in 2005 and that losing streak went a dismal 20 games.

There hasn't been a winning season at Temple since 1990 and the last bowl appearance was in 1979 in The Garden State Bowl.

Temple has become synonymous with losing, but things are changing. 

With a hard fought 27-24 win over Navy the Temple Owls have won six straight and improved to 6-2 and has made themselves bowl eligible and guarantees at least a non losing season.

Even if you live in Philadelphia you probably aren't hearing much about this team. The city of brotherly love is wrapped up in another World Series and the big football draw is of course, The Eagles.

Still, I think it's time for people to take notice of this team. A team for the first time in a long time is getting used to winning.

A lot of folks, including myself, thought last year would be the season in which Temple turned the corner, but they sadly dropped five games by six points or less and finished 5-7. 

This season they are winning those close games and if it wasn't for an opening season hiccup against Villanova this team's only loss would be at Penn State.

Head coach Al Golden has turned this program around and that has been no small feat. Temple was rock bottom and a true laughing stock in the world of college football. Some may still feel that way, but folks in the MAC are taking notice.

Of the four remaining games on Temple's schedule, only two of those teams, Kent State and Ohio, have winning records. In fact, both of those teams sit right behind Temple in the MAC's east division with one loss. Temple is 4-0 in conference play.

All four of these games are ones that Temple can win. They, of course, are games they could lose too. Can you imagine Temple winning 10 games and possibly winning a conference title? 

You always want your team in the hunt when the calender changes from October to November and that's right where the Owls are for the first time in a long time. They deserve to be noticed and Al Golden, if this winning keeps up, needs to be looked at hard for coach of the year honors.

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written on November 01, 2009 Opinion

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