by Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Man, have times changed in short order …

Just 12 months ago, Temple University football fans, and, believe it or not, many existed, were reveling in the manifestation of their ultimate dream and desire. Embarrassed and abused, mentally, physically and, most of all, emotionally, by Keystone State big brother to the northwest Penn State and its legion of minion-minded followers for the previous seven decades and change, finally, mercifully, their Owls delivered a sliver of payback.

In rather dominating style. Before a full house at Lincoln Financial Field.

It was sweet, it was inspiring, and, after so much suffering, it was just. The day it happened, the next day, the day after that and for many more days, weeks and months.

What it wasn’t, though, was the definitive attitude-altering, perception-changing victory that would serve as the basis for building a consistent, major-college winner in Philly.

Not for nothing, but it wasn’t even the turning point for some shaky play. Immediately after the 2015 season opener, head coach Matt Rhule’s club began an incredible run of escapes by the hair of its chinny- chin-chin the likes of which has rarely been seen in these, or any other, parts.

The Owls had to rally late to beat Cincinnati, Massachusetts, winless Central Florida and East Carolina. Even in eventual scoreboard blowouts, trailed American Athletic Conference lightweight Tulane in the second quarter and got outgained by Charlotte.

It wasn’t until Halloween night, with No. 9 Notre Dame visiting Lincoln Financial Field, that the Owls’ luck ran out … and, really, it hasn’t returned since.

For all the talk about an on-campus stadium, improved recruiting prospects and inroads made in our pro sports-centric region, the reality is that, beginning with the kickoff to the that nationally televised game against the Irish, Temple has won just three of its last eight contests … and looked bad more often than not.

South Florida, Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl … and now, last Friday night, Army. All ugly losses. Real ugly.

This is not what a win against Penn State 74 years in the making was expected, or at least hoped, to yield.

Once-ballyhooed quarterback Phillip Walker had regressed so much since his freshman year that you have to wonder if a switch at the starting position wouldn’t be in the program’s best interests, short- and long-term. The defense, if the mauling endured at the hands of Army’s ground game, is in shambles. The offensive line. The program in general. Both pretty big question marks.

With FCS-level Stony Brook the opponent this Saturday, you’d figure the Owls have a decent shot at getting back on the winning track for the first time in four games.

Then, ironically enough, looms the Nittany Lions. This time on the road.

Pretty certain none of those moronic, beer-fueled “Eff you, Penn State” chants will make the trip. Would be nice, though, if the Owls we saw the last time the two squared off did.
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by Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Pure luck. Sheer genius. Does it even matter?

Seriously, when it comes to redirecting the Eagles back to their rightful place in Philly fandom, that being atop all else when it comes to sports and the first thing on everyone’s mind in the morning, noon and night, reinvented GM Howie Roseman has a magic touch … and whether you like him or not, that’s good for the franchise, and, frankly, for a city seemingly forever intertwined with the fortunes of its NFL franchise – even when it doesn’t appear to care.

Honestly can’t think of a fall looming with so little interest about the Birds. Ever since the ouster of Chip Kelly as head coach prior to the final game of 2015’s regular season, it’s been an uphill battle for owner Jeffrey Lurie and Co. to keep their head above water, publicity and public perception wise. Heck, even the Phillies and Sixers stole hearts around here for several months while the Eagles languished in rebuild-or-reload uncertainty.

Reinstated to his pre-Kelly implosion post, Roseman has risen to the occasion time and again with getting Lurie’s team back in the headlines and airwaves. Re-signing Sam Bradford. Signing Chase Daniel. Wheeling and dealing his way up to the No. 2 pick in April’s draft and then selecting wildly ballyhooed and barely known Carson Wentz. Inking defensive stalwart Fletcher Cox, seen as a must among those who bleed midnight green, didn’t hurt, either.

But even with all that, things were, well, kinda flat entering summer camp. Especially with it being widely acknowledged that Wentz would be encased in bubble wrap once things got real in 2016 … and then even moreso when the rookie quarterback was sidelined for the rest of the preseason after suffering a rib injury in exhibition game No. 1.

That left a rather boring and listless immediate future for fans, with Bradford firmly entrenched to work his mediocrity into a mediocre campaign, steering the club away from the embarrassment of falling into the gutter but unable to get it into legit contention for anything.

Then lightning struck in Minnesota. Vikings starting QB went down with a season-ending injury … and lurking in the shadows was Roseman, holding in his hand a viable option worthy of quality compensation should the Vikes believe they really, truly were on the cusp of being NFC elite – if only they could find a suitable plug-in behind center.

Faster than you could say first-round and fourth-rounder, Bradford was shipped off … and, even more enticing to most, Wentz was named the starter here. Rib issue be damned.

Gotta say, Roseman comes across almost diabolically brilliant. Every time the Birds seem ready to disappear into the abyss, buried under an avalanche of given-up hopes and dreams, he pulls another move to put all eyes back on them.

Tuesday’s dealing of cornerback Eric Rowe may have been a bit overkill, and perhaps a bad decision for the long haul. Who knows, maybe they all will be.

But the interest is back in the Eagles, courtesy of Roseman. Dude is doing his job.

Be it through pure luck or sheer genius.

1. Better than advertised
Can’t read too much into beating up on a middling FCS level opponent, but the Lovie Smith Era at Illinois started in style Saturday. In fact, it went even better than most had hoped. From efficiency on offense to domination on defense to almost 50,000 showing up at Memorial Stadium on a beautiful sunny afternoon, it was about as ideal as ideal gets. In particular, it was good to see Hardy Nickerson, the ballyhooed MLB transfer from Cal, live up to expectations, if not surpass them, right out of the chute with 11 tackles and a sack, and it was, well, kinda spine-tingling to see what backup RB Kendrick Foster has to offer. Umm, not only were those two 56-yard scoring jaunts exactly four minutes apart in the second quarter the fatal blows in this one, but they give future opponents reason for concern. Not bad, considering the kid wanted to transfer less than 10 months ago.

2. May be a payoff after all
When QB Wes Lunt transferred in from Oklahoma State three years ago, the idea of a homegrown talent sparking a resurgence for the Illini football program didn’t seem too far-fetched. The kid had the tools, the rep and even the college experience courtesy of starting for the Cowboys to warrant such thoughts. But, then, the reality of others’ weaknesses, not to mention Lunt’s own, particularly in the “wheels” department, hit home the past two seasons. Now, though, his skill set appears to fit what OC Garrett McGhee wants to do – which should take advantage of that wonderful right arm belonging to Lunt. Against the Racers, he needed just 21 passing attempts to account for 226 yards and three TDs. He completed 15 aerials, and spread things around to nine different receivers. Could be the start of something special.

3. Not for nothing
Even with adding the grain of salt “level of competition” disclaimer, Illini fans almost have to pinch themselves while wondering if new AD Josh Whitman’s “We Will Win” plan is coming together – even faster than anyone could imagine. Yeah, Illinois has had early-season blowout wins to raise eyebrows in the past and then fallen off the planet, and yesterday wasn’t perfect. The search party is still out for All-American DE candidate Dawuane Smoot. But this deal isn’t just an on-field thing. It’s about attitude, atmosphere, buying into what Whitman and Smith are selling, all in order to make winning, big-time winning, possible … and from all indications, including Saturday’s effort all around, that already exists. Also helps that Smith and Co. get it. Opting for the orange-blue-orange unis – you know, c’mon. That is spot-on “money” right there.

​- Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com
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515
​Total offensive yards gained by Illinois

165
​Total offensive yards allowed by Illinois

​68
​Longest pass play of the day, between Illini QB Wes Lunt and WR Malik Turner

56
​Longest run of the day of the day, done twice by Illini RB Kendrick Foster

11
​Tackles for losses registered by Illinois defense

2
​Sacks for Illinois graduate transfer DT Gimel President