Look, we’re realistic here at AACFootballFever.com. Temple is Temple and Penn State is Penn State. But college football is also college football. The overwhelming favorite can gain 20 more first downs and 300 more yards than the underdog but also lose five fumbles and the game, like ECU did against Temple two weeks ago.
I’m not saying an Owl win at University Park is probable. In fact, my fingers repel like magnets when I even try to type the word “possible.”
I’m just saying if they did steal another win, the ramifications could range from exciting to … drastic. Allow me to explain.
The Cliché
Confidence.
Most of these guys came into camp having no idea where they’d be on the depth chart. When I say “most of these guys,” I’m not overshooting it. I really mean hardly anybody knew whether or not they’d be playing this year.
The Owls already beat ECU, the closest thing to a powerhouse this year in the AAC. But they couldn’t build off the momentum by winning their next game, a loss to Memphis on a last-second field goal.
One problem with this team has been quarterback P.J. Walker’s incompetence in pressure situations. With five minutes left in the game against Memphis, Walker went 3-of-7 and the Owls settled for a field goal.
Memphis followed that with a 66-yard game-winning drive.
Walker is still just a sophomore, so he can get by with the youth excuse for now. But a strong performance and a win at Penn State could quell those notions.
The Obvious
If they win, they’re in. That is, Temple becomes bowl eligible for the first time since 2010 and just the fourth time since 1979. The last bowl it went to, the New Mexico Bowl, was a domination of Wyoming. Needless to say, that was a completely different team under former coach Steve Addazio. In fact, we’ll come back to him later.
In ’79, the Owls defeated Cal in the Garden State Bowl, the only other bowl they won in their rich, illustrious history. Okay, their history isn’t that rich or illustrious. I don’t know why I just said that. But, fun fact about ’79 and ’10: The Owls blew late leads against Penn State in both of these seasons. Now, Temple gets another try to upset a like-minded PSU team.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VawLnTBKXVY?list=UUFC2zFM8DcNjfCDEARBME_A]The Slightly Less Obvious
After going 1-4 in its last five, Penn State needs this game as bad, if not worse, than Temple does. The Nittany Lions are looking to become bowl eligible too. After the game against Temple, their remaining schedule is at Illinois (not an easy win) and vs. Michigan State (probably not a win, period). The Temple game could be their last chance. And they know this.
The Even Less Obvious
Start the Matt Rhule rumors.
If Temple beats Penn State, it would be bowl eligible with two games left (Cincinnati and at Tulane). Both of those games could both honestly go either way. Rhule, who has professional coaching experience, mind you, took a depleted team Temple team and made them relevant in his second season. They’re still one of the youngest teams (two starting seniors) in the country and they’re good enough to make a bowl right now?
Other schools in need of a coach will take notice, especially if they win the bowl game. And for what it’s worth, according to CoachesHotSeat.com, Rhule is the third-lowest paid coach in the AAC.
The last coach that took Temple bowling, Steve Addazio, left for Boston College after the New Mexico Bowl. That’s the unfortunate reality for the Owls—sometimes, people will upgrade to Eagles.
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