OT: D1

[IUPNation]

Temple's lack of success in football historically really goes back to two things:

1) A lack of institutional support for football

2) A lack of fan support, including from alumni, related to the nature of the school (and item #1)

With the former, Temple generally speaking has not provided significant financial support for the program. That is less of an issue than it was prior to the mid-2000s, but it is still an issue.

With the latter, Temple was founded as a night school for what I'll call non-traditional (i.e., adult) students. (Incidentally, this is why Temple's nickname is the Owls.) For many, many years, a high percentage of Temple students did not live on campus and were commuters. For most of those students, this created less of a bond to the school compared to students living on/near campus.

The net result of these two factors is that 1) Temple has historically not been successful in football and 2) most of their alumni are not strong supporters of the athletic program.

I'll note that for many years Temple DID have its own stadium, Temple Stadium, which was built in the 1920s and used until the 1970s. But even with that venue, Temple Stadium was located a few miles from (north of) campus, just inside the Philadelphia city limits. The area where Temple's main campus is located was already built up when the school was founded in 1884.

Temple Stadium was even harder for students on campus to get to and looks just about if not further from campus than The Linc. At least now they just get on the subway. To get up to where the old stadium was located would probably require a few bus transfers. Temple just is not a sports school. Basketball was about it and now it’s not much of a program.

[IUPNation]

Is Brian Kelly walking the plank in Baton Rouge?

He’s forever 1-6 vs IUP.

[CHIP72]

On the other side of the state here but why is that job so difficult? Not sarcasm. Interested in the answer.

I don't overly (at all) pay attention to Temple but haven't they been awful for like 40 years now (with an exception here or there)?

I understand being in a big city. The pro teams will always rule the roost.

It just seems like a graveyard of coaches.

Temple's lack of success in football historically really goes back to two things:

1) A lack of institutional support for football

2) A lack of fan support, including from alumni, related to the nature of the school (and item #1)

With the former, Temple generally speaking has not provided significant financial support for the program. That is less of an issue than it was prior to the mid-2000s, but it is still an issue.

With the latter, Temple was founded as a night school for what I'll call non-traditional (i.e., adult) students. (Incidentally, this is why Temple's nickname is the Owls.) For many, many years, a high percentage of Temple students did not live on campus and were commuters. For most of those students, this created less of a bond to the school compared to students living on/near campus.

The net result of these two factors is that 1) Temple has historically not been successful in football and 2) most of their alumni are not strong supporters of the athletic program.

I'll note that for many years Temple DID have its own stadium, Temple Stadium, which was built in the 1920s and used until the 1970s. But even with that venue, Temple Stadium was located a few miles from (north of) campus, just inside the Philadelphia city limits. The area where Temple's main campus is located was already built up when the school was founded in 1884.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Especially after a mediocre Nebraska team gave them a beatdown earlier in the season.

You'll see this some in the Portal era (within mercenary programs). If it works it takes time to learn to play together.

That said having two (high) Round 1 guys on offense helps, too.

[IUPNation]

On the other side of the state here but why is that job so difficult? Not sarcasm. Interested in the answer.

I don't overly (at all) pay attention to Temple but haven't they been awful for like 40 years now (with an exception here or there)?

I understand being in a big city. The pro teams will always rule the roost.

It just seems like a graveyard of coaches.

It’s a stepping stone program. The Linc is further from the Temple campus than Areyousure Stadium is from The Oakland Remedial Academy for The Coloring Book Arts…despite a straight shot down Broad in the subway. So students could care less.

It’s just not an Athletic Dept that seems interested in putting in the effort to compete. They are in a mish mash of a conference. It’s just there.

[Ship69]

Deion has a real shot at having the Heisman winner and making the playoff. Imagine the number of heads that would explode.

Especially after a mediocre Nebraska team gave them a beatdown earlier in the season.

[iupgroundhog]

Also, I would add, that Philly has a different mentality regarding college sports than Pittsburgh. Historically, the biggest college sports rivalry in Philadelphia was the Big Five in basketball. This goes back to 1955. It's comprised of Penn, Temple, Villanova, St. Joe's, and Lasalle. Today, it also includes Drexel but it's still The Big Five by name. The championship was always held at the Palestra on Penn campus and a major Philly sports event. It's lost some of its lustre in recent years. It used to be a huge thing.

So, my point is that local colleges don't have that link to football that exists elsewhere. While the local college basketball scene has always been very important, only 3 of the aforementioned schools even have a football team. Drexel, St. Joe's, and LaSalle do not even have a college football team. La Salle discontinued football in 2007.

[iupgroundhog]

On the other side of the state here but why is that job so difficult? Not sarcasm. Interested in the answer.

I don't overly (at all) pay attention to Temple but haven't they been awful for like 40 years now (with an exception here or there)?

I understand being in a big city. The pro teams will always rule the roost.

It just seems like a graveyard of coaches.

That's an age-old question. My take is that a lot has to do with history. For whatever reasons, Temple has never been a strong football presence (understatement).

They don't have their own stadium on or near campus, although building one has certainly been discussed. Temple is located in a poverty-stricken, crime-ridden location in North Philly.

Not having their own stadium and playing at the Linc in South Philly isn't like Pitt playing their games at other venues off campus and near downtown Pgh. It just doesn't draw the local interest like Pitt does. There are probably more UPenn and Villanova football fans than Temple fans. It's just that Temple is a big school so one would expect more from it.

There was some rebuilding a while back, though. Things started to look up when Al Golden was the HC but then it fizzled. The best years were about a decade ago when Matt Ruhle was the HC. In 2015, Temple was 10-4, beat PSU and won a Bowl game. Of course, Ruhle moved on and the program has declined once again. Few people care.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Temple has fired Stan Drayton, who posted a 9-25 record as the Owls' head coach.

As a Temple fan, all I can say is thank goodness.

On the other side of the state here but why is that job so difficult? Not sarcasm. Interested in the answer.

I don't overly (at all) pay attention to Temple but haven't they been awful for like 40 years now (with an exception here or there)?

I understand being in a big city. The pro teams will always rule the roost.

It just seems like a graveyard of coaches.

[CHIP72]

Temple has fired Stan Drayton, who posted a 9-25 record as the Owls' head coach.

As a Temple fan, all I can say is thank goodness.

[Chuck Norris]

Deion has a real shot at having the Heisman winner and making the playoff. Imagine the number of heads that would explode.

[KU_2014]

Kansas pulled off the upset.

[ctrabs74]

Kind of a letdown week as a few hopeful upset attempts fell short (looking at you Boston College, Wisconsin and Tennessee). Maybe next week can bring some chaos (unless Kansas pulls off an amazing upset of BYU in Provo).

[ctrabs74]

Is Brian Kelly walking the plank in Baton Rouge?

After losing to the debacle in Gainesville that is the University of Florida Man? I'd say not yet, but he's perilously close...

[cwfenn]

Is Brian Kelly walking the plank in Baton Rouge?

The way he’s imploding down there, he may end up back in D2 next year.