Temple Owls: Behind the Music

When I first started writing for this website, our managing editor, Tyler Waddell, told me that he wanted the content of the website to be “different.” I probably took that too literally.

I may not have used the best grammar or found the most intriguing stats. And yeah, maybe I was wrong here and there about Temple’s abilities. Before the season, I said the Owls’ weakest point was defense (it turned out to be their strongest). At another point, I said they were poised to win the conference (they didn’t even make a bowl). But you can’t fault my creativity. I always had fresh take every week.

So when I sat down to write this column, my last, I was out of ideas. I had no material left.

Instead, I decided it’s time to give something back to the AAC fans.

Throughout the season, I’ve been in contact with Temple’s head coach, Matt Rhule, and quarterback, PJ Walker. Usually it was just friendly banter about things I had written or decisions they had made. I wanted to take a portion of those emails and share them with you to give you an inside look at the lifestyles and real personalities of these guys.

So here you have a few randomly selected, 100% definitely real, entirely not fake emails between myself and Matt Rhule, PJ Walker, and Tyler Waddell. Enjoy.

To: “Matt Rhule” <[email protected]>
From: Joe Scarpone
Subject: Rivalry with Rutgers

Coach,

For a little over a month now, I’ve been using my outlet to start a rivalry: Temple vs. Rutgers. I’ve decided I wouldn’t stop until it happened.

I’ve thought of some really good nicknames for the rivalry: The Delaware River Rivalry (traditional), The Ben Franklin Brawl (modern), and the Will Smith Shootout (hipster).

Let me know which one you like best and I’ll go with that.

Joe

P.S. Did you like my plug in the column on Temple’s possible new stadium? “The House That Rhule Built” …that has a little jingle to it, huh? You’re welcome!

To: Joe Scarpone
From: Matt Rhule
Subject: Re: Rivalry with Rutgers

Joe,

That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Temple and Rutgers aren’t even in the same conference. They don’t play each other.

And the whole “on-campus stadium” thing was a smokescreen. It was a bluff. You think they would let us build a stadium? Please. We just need [Lincoln Financial Field owner Jeffrey] Lurie to bring down the rent price. He’s a punk. He’ll crack.

Thanks for wasting my time. Come back to me when you have something real.

Matt

To: PJ Walker
From: Joe Scarpone
Subject: Pressure

PJ,

What’s up, man? I want you to read my latest column on AACFootballFever.com. I wrote about how you got sacked less in your second year than in your first, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Listen—you threw the ball into coverage more, leading to your other numbers dropping. Look at the game against Penn State: You only took one sack, but their defense was all over you. You threw four picks. Also, are you any good at kicking? Temple could really use a kicker.

Joe

To: Joe Scarpone
From: PJ Walker
Subject: Re: Pressure

Joe,

I just finished reading your article. I found it to be caustic and charismatic but a bit kitsch and overzealous for my taste…. You see, simpleton, the equanimity of a quarterback is much more esoteric than the typical faux pas. Please consider my abilities in a different light: a hedonist with a certain… je ne sais quoi.

L’amour est tout c qu’il faut.

Bon voyage,
Philippe J. Walker

To: Tyler Waddell
From: Joe Scarpone
Subject: Next Temple column

Tyler,

For my next column about the Owls, I wanted to declare them the best team in the nation going into 2015. I know I’ve been kind of a homer this year, but they really do have a good defense. Did you know their D ranked fourth in the nation last year in scoring? And that none of the starters on defense graduated? That the Owls went undefeated against both ranked and SEC teams last season? Sure, it’s all a silver lining, but I’ll just make up some stats. I doubt anybody will look them up.

Joe

From: Tyler Waddell
To: Joe Scarpone
Subject: Re: Next Temple column

Who are you and how do you keep finding out our WordPress password?

Farewell, AAC Football Fever. It’s been a hoot.