Hurricane Fears Cause Temple To Cancel

So far in 2005, incoming hurricanes have led to numerous reschedulings in college football.  Those actions have been taken primarily by schools near the Gulf Coast.  However, today a northeastern program has added itself to the list.  To avoid certain disaster, Temple has cancelled Saturday’s game versus the Miami Hurricanes.

 

Temple officials referred to the school’s history against Miami in explaining the decision.  A former Big East Conference foe, the Hurricanes won 12 straight lopsided matchups with the Owls, most recently a 52–14 rout in 2003.  Temple currently stands at 0–6, with two losses of more than 60 points.  Staring at the #7 team in the nation, the program faced carnage unimaginable to many.

 

The cancellation puts a damper on the school’s homecoming activities.  However, noted athletic director Bill Bradshaw, most students assumed that scheduling Miami as the homecoming opponent was just a prank.  All football season ticket holders were notified of the cancellation by telephone – a Herculean effort that required three employees to make six calls each.

 

The action comes amid a tumultuous week for the program.  On Monday, head coach Bobby Wallace announced he would not return after this season.  Wallace has faced an uphill climb during his eight seasons with a 19–66 record.  Gaining respect proved to be an insurmountable obstacle.  Particularly frustrating Wallace were the numerous press conferences in which university chancellor Peter Liacouras and other administrators repeatedly chuckled and made quote signs with their fingers when referring to Temple “football.”  Additionally, efforts by FEMA to relieve the program proved to be insufficient.  However, President Bush did assure the coach during a recent disaster relief visit, “Wally, I think you’re doing a heckuva job.”

 

Reached for comment, the president announced that he has called off his scheduled visit to Lincoln Financial Field after Saturday’s game.  However, he encouraged all Americans to donate what they could to the devastated Temple program.  He emphasized that the Owls were in particular need of offense, defense, and special teams.

 

Temple may have avoided the Hurricanes this weekend, but another fierce storm is brewing.  John Chaney starts basketball practice on Saturday.

Temple's National Title Hopes Dashed

Mr. Cosby, I’m afraid I have some bad news. Your Temple football team will not be taking home the national championship this season. The Owls opened their 2005 campaign with a heartbreaking 63–16 loss at Arizona State. The outcome remained in doubt until late in the first quarter.

 

The defeat opens Temple’s first season as an affiliate member of the Mid-American Conference. Fearful of being dominated by the Owls for years to come, the Big East voted to evict Temple after the 2004 season. The move saddened college football fans, who mourned the loss of the legendary Temple-Rutgers rivalry. They can only hope that the Owls start a similar tradition with MAC member Western Michigan, its September 24 opponent.

 

Showing the confidence of a gridiron powerhouse, Temple scheduled eight teams that played in bowls last season. The team’s aggressive defense was particularly up to the task after head coach Bobby Wallace enlisted the assistance of Temple basketball coach John Chaney, who knows how to get his players to hit people. However, the dreams of an undefeated season are now gone. Having spoiled a potential Temple-USC Rose Bowl matchup, Arizona State will likewise hope to derail the Trojans in Tempe on October 1.

 

Next week the Owls stay on the road to take on Wisconsin. The opening loss means that the ESPN GameDay crew will choose not to be in Madison, instead covering the Ohio State-Texas matchup in Columbus. Temple does hope to rebound from the disappointing defeat to achieve a historic double later this season: defeating Miami of Ohio and Miami of Florida. Both must travel to Philly, and after losing 12 consecutive games to their former conference mates from Coral Gables, the Owls feel that they are due.

 

But Thursday’s loss brings more bad news for title-starved Philadelphia sports fans. They can still hope for the best from the other tenant of Lincoln Financial Field. But to die-hard Owls fans, cheering on the Eagles just isn’t the same.