 Temple junior RB Jahad Thomas eyes the pitch from QB P.J. Walker before racing into the end zone with the TD that broke Penn State's back during the Owls' season-opening, 27-10 victory at sold-out Lincoln Financial Field.  In the end, it was a disappointment. Not so much bitter as numbing. Just suck-the-life-outta-ya, pockets-empty numbing. Nothing more than a game-ending, check-swing strikeout that followed a potential game-winning home run that drifted just foul. Or, in sticking with the correct sport, a failed two-point conversion with no time remaining after a Hail Mary pass had pulled your team within one. Yes, Temple Football 2015 … we know you. We know you all too well. Granted, there is plenty of merit to all the well-wishing and thank you’s directed at the Owls for their 10-4 campaign, an effort that yielded a victory against Penn State, a berth in the inaugural American Athletic Conference title game, a spot, for quite some time, mind you, in the Top 25, and a trip to Florida for the postseason. But, really, with all that has been said and done now, following – let’s face it – a pretty lackluster showing earlier this week in the Boca Raton Bowl, what did it all mean? Frankly, the “participation award” police were out in full force almost instantly following Tuesday night’s no-win situation ended in a 32-17 loss to Toledo, a quality team and program, but not one recognized as such by the masses, which, sadly, includes those determining the “haves” and “have-nots” in college football. It was as if all the parents didn’t want poor little Temple to feel badly, that, aww shucks, it had everything to be proud of, because it really went out there and tried hard this season. It had been involved. Wow, imagine that. Obligatory pat on the helmet, and “good job” to you, Temple. Ugh, gimme a break. The reality is, the Owls had a chance to really break through this season, to steal the spotlight from some “name” teams, to show it not only could hang with the best, but had the potential to be among the elite in the future – even if true fan support would be a long ways off in pro-centric Philly, its home base – and they, well, they did NOT do that. Not any of it. Sorry, they didn’t. The schedule set up wonderfully. Luck, good luck at that, was not a distant cousin, either, never to be seen as it had been previously. Running back Jahad Thomas emerged into a star, if only for half a season and probably at a position he is ill-suited for at this level in a power ground attack. Quarterback P.J. Walker proved much more efficient. Tyler Matakevich … well, he was his usual self: productive, constant, National Defensive Player of the Year impactful. Oh, no doubt, the Owls had some great experiences, obviously highlighted by knocking off the Nittany Lions for the first time in 74 years and selling out Lincoln Financial Field twice, for that game and the Halloween evening affair against Notre Dame, and, for a time, they mastered the art of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat (see: Cincinnati, Massachusetts, East Carolina and, geez, even winless Central Florida). They also were the only team to shut down Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch in an all-around, dominating late-season effort to top any other by the Cherry & White in 2015. As noted above, they also reached the AAC championship, achieved national rankings and earned a bowl bid. But they did nothing, or next to that, with any of those. So, labeling this season a slam-dunk success, as so many concerned citizens out there are, all worried about the delicate egos of Matt Rhule and his players … well, that’s more of an insult to the head coach and his Owls than anything else. Any athlete, or leader or athletes, worth their salt is not going to be satisfied with wasting opportunities, especially ones that were within their grasp.
All were attainable, and none were attained. Twice the Owls were embarrassed. First against South Florida, as the Bulls’ superior team speed proved too much for a team still kinda unsettled after seeing an unbeaten season end two weeks prior to Notre Dame. In between, Temple was able to sleepwalk its way past Southern Methodist. But that wasn’t happening in Tampa, Fla., against a USF squad that had turned red hot and would torch preseason AAC favorite Cincinnati a week later. In a way, that loss was almost acceptable. The Bulls have some serious talent, and, barring any unforeseen injuries or transfers, they’re going to be the conference’s best team next season. The second undressing came against Toledo, and, no, that wasn’t along the same acceptable lines. Not when you had an extra week to prepare, even if all that time was spent getting over the letdown of receiving the worst bowl bid offered to an AAC squad out of the eight that were handed out. Temple didn’t even show up the other night. It had checked out long before kickoff, probably the moment reality set in that it would be playing a team from the conference it had escaped, Mid-American, in order to get closer to the big time while seven fellow AAC members, including those it had beaten or proved to be superior than, got to play in better venues and against bigger “name” programs this bowl season. The Owls performed accordingly, and the resulting defeat was appropriate, if not earned, capping a 3-4 fall from 7-0 grace to complete the season. My apologies to the PC and positive-light crowd out there, but there is no reason – NONE – to celebrate Temple Football 2015 right now. Yes, of course, it was a good season overall. But it could have been so, so much more. It was, ultimately, disappointing. - Jack Kerwin | [email protected] | SAY WHAT?Frankly, the 'participation award' police were out in full force almost instantly following Tuesday night's no-win situation ended in a 32-17 loss to Toledo, a quality team and program, but not one recognized as such by the masses, which, sadly, includes those determining the "haves" and have-nots" in college football. It was as if all the parents didn't want poor little Temple to feel badly, that, aww shucks, it had everything to be proud of, because it really went out there and tried hard this season. It had been involved. Wow, imagine that. Obligatory pat on the helmet, and 'good job' to you, Temple ... Ugh, gimme a break. BREAKING DOWN 2015GAME 1: Penn State Preview | Recap Jahad Thomas 133 yards rushing GAME 2: Cincinnati Preview | Recap T. Matakevich 2 INT, 13 tackles GAME 3: Massachusetts Preview | Recap P.J. Walker 391 yards passing GAME 4: Charlotte Preview | Recap Nate L. Smith punt block TD GAME 5: Tulane Preview | Recap Ryquell Armstead 2 TD rushing GAME 6: Central Florida Preview | Recap Thomas 199 yards, 3 TD rushing GAME 7: East Carolina Preview | Recap R. Anderson 126 yards receiving GAME 8: Notre Dame Preview | Recap Owls took lead with 4:45 left GAME 9: Southern Methodist Preview | Recap Jager Gardner 94-yard TD run GAME 10: South Florida Preview | Recap Gave up 326 yards on ground GAME 11: Memphis Preview | Recap Walker 261 yards, 2 TD passing GAME 12: Connecticut Preview | Recap Clinched AAC East title with win GAME 13: Houston AAC Championship Preview | Recap Anderson 150 yards receiving GAME 14: Toledo Boca Raton Bowl Preview | Recap Matakevich 12 tackles  Tyler Matakevich became Temple's all-time tackles leader with 493 career stops. |
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