By Mike Gibson
Back on Media Day, Temple quarterback Adam DiMichele said, "we're only a couple of days away from starting special."
DiMichele was talking about a season of headlines.
One of those headlines is in, the Hartford Courant's simple "Temple Routs Army" telling the story of the opening-day 35-7 win over the Cadets slightly better than the Philadelphia Daily News' "Temple Football Opens with a 35-7 Win at Army" or the Philadelphia Inquirer's "Owls Storm West Point in Triumphant Opener."
Those are the headlines that were.
These are the headlines that could be in the coming weeks and months:
Sunday, Sept. 7 _ Owls slog out a 6-0 win in torrential rainstorm _ The UConn fans who returned roughly half of the school's ticket allotment must have known something. Hurricane Hanna made a run right up the East Coast and arrived in Philadelphia just in time for the 8 a.m. pre-game tailgate. Temple abandoned its no-huddle offense and went to a pro-set two-back attack. Backup tailback Ahkeem Smith shined, gaining 167 yards and scoring the Owls' touchdown on a 22-yard run in the first quarter. UConn quarterback Tyler Lorenzen was stopped on fourth down at the Temple 2 as the clocked rolled down to zeros in the final quarter, but Big East officials awarded him the touchdown anyway. As several Temple fans headed toward the replay booth with baseball bats in hand, MAC officials quickly overturned the call. "It used to rain like this in Bethlehem all the time," a beaming Smith said afterward. "I love it." Owls' kicker Jake Brownell slips in the mud and misses the extra point.
"Harper killed us again," UConn coach Randy Edsall said, not knowing Jason Harper is no longer No. 34 for the Owls. Surveying the damage to the field post game, Eagles' owner Jeffrey Lurie was rushed to Thomas Jefferson Hospital with chest pains and did not make the opener with the Rams.
Sunday, Sept. 14 _ Owls exact messure of revenge _ The number 12 was lucky for Owls. With the No. 12 on their helmets, the Owls beat host Buffalo by the same score, 26-14. Afterward, reporters found out why No. 12 was on the helmet. It wasn't to honor redshirt quarterback Vaughn Charlton but to help the Owls remember what Buffalo's No. 12, junior defensive back Kendric Hawkins, said after last year's game. "We punched them in the mouth and they quit," Hawkins said then. Owls ran several sweeps in Hawkins' direction and pulling guard Andre Douglas pancaked him on one Marquise Liverpool touchdown run. Defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio unleashed the dogs of war on Buffalo quarterback Drew Willy, calling for several blindside blitzes that buried Willy. "I never saw them," Willy said. "I don't know about punching them in the mouth," D'Onofrio said. "But I did see him bleeding a couple of times. This is bigger than UConn. Much bigger."
Sunday, Sept. 21 _ Penn State's Season Goes Down the Toilet _ Penn State coach Joe Paterno was seen running off the field four times during Temple's stunning 28-21 win in State College. Remarkably, the Owls scored all four of their touchdowns during Paterno's bathroom breaks. "Guys, I take Flo-Max, OK," the 81-year-old Paterno said. "I forgot to do that this morning and it came back to bite me. I heard some cheers and a whole lot of moans while I was in the head. I figured something was going on. How did Temple score?" Paterno was later told Travis Shelton took the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown and former Penn State recruit Adam DiMichele tossed three more touchdown passes. "We pick up the biggest win in the school's history and I know the headline in the Philadelphia paper is going to be Penn State loses and not us winning," Temple coach Al Golden accurately said afterward.
Sunday, Sept. 28 _ Owls remain unbeaten with 16-3 win over Broncos _ A Homecoming Day crowd of 65,478 greets the Owls after their win over Penn State. Ironically, Jimmy Rollins was honored at halftime for his attendance at Temple basketball games and takes the microphone. Rollins was at the game because he was injured running out a foul ball and could not play for the Phillies. "You guys are front-runners," Rollins said, adding, "just kidding." Everyone laughed. Temple's defense dominated.
Sunday, Oct. 5 _ Owls move one step closer to MAC East title _ In a repeat performance of last year, Temple beat Miami, 24-17. This time, it was closer as the Owls' Eric Reynolds scored on a 67-yard punt return in the fourth quarter to break a tie. "This is why we practice all over the place," Golden said. "I told the guys we have to learn to win anywhere and they've adopted that mindset."
Sunday, Oct. 12 _ Owls hand Central Michigan first loss _ Long touchdown runs by Joey Jones, Marquise Liverpool and Ahkeem Smith gave Temple a 21-0 halftime lead and the Owls coasted past the defending champions, 35-14, before a stunned crowd of 18,568. "Where did those guys come from?" Central Michigan coach Butch Jones said. "I read MAC Report Online and they never said the Temple runners were that good." After the game, Joe Jones legally changes his first name to Joey. "That's in honor of coach," Jones said, pointing to Golden.
Wednesday, Oct. 21 _ Owls hammer Ohio, 41-0 _ ESPN Game Day makes a special trip to the rare Tuesday night game with Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit throwing bouquets at the Owls as several thousand Temple students ham it up for the cameras in the background. Corso interviews former Temple kicker Cap Poklemba, who arrives to the halftime set in a Dr. Suess hat. "You lead the cheers," Corso said. "I understand you led the cheers when no one was here. It must be sweet."
"Lee, you don't know the half of it," Poklemba said. "It's sweeter than sweet."
Owls go to 8-0 and move into the top 20 for the first time since 1979.
Sunday, Nov. 2 _ Owls sink Navy, 21-14 _ Temple uses experience gained from stopping Army's option to stopping the Middies as well. "I don't know how to say this diplomatically, but I think they found out we're not Towson," Golden said. Owls go to 9-0 and Philadelphia radio station WIP announces that it will now take calls on Temple football.
Thursday, Nov. 13 _ Owls sack Kent State, 21-7 _ Temple's defense finds diminutive quarterback Julian Edelman for nine sacks in the win. "Those guys are so tall I couldn't see over them, so I tried to duck for a view downfield and, by then, they had me," Edelman said. "It's frustrating." D'Onofrio: "We weren't going to let a midget beat us." Temple goes to 10-0 and DiMichele and Golden make the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Sunday, Nov. 23 _ Owls give Eastern Michigan an empty feeling, 28-0 _ Before an announced crowd of 5,234 that looked like 534, the Owls coasted to a routine road win. "We're not used to this," DiMichele said. "It was like playing in library but, like coach says, you need to be prepared to win everywhere. Man, I didn't know it was this cold in Michigan." Owls go to 11-0 and clinch the MAC East title by a full game over Bowling Green.
Saturday, Nov. 29 _ Record crowd sends Owls off to MAC title game _ Temple tunes up for the Dec. 5 MAC title game with a 26-7 win over Akron before a record crowd of 71,222. "It's the beginning of a new tradition in Philadelphia," Golden said. "Everybody goes to a Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday and our game on Friday. I saw a lot of turkey sandwiches in the stands." Owls spend two hours going around the stadium and high-fiving the fans afterward. Owls go to 12-0 and are mentioned as a possible BCS Bowl game foe.
Saturday, Dec. 5 _ Owls beat Central Michigan for MAC title _ Using the no-huddle offense Temple last used in the opening game against Army, Temple befuddles Central Michigan in a 35-25 win. "It's my fault," Central Michigan coach Butch Jones said. "In our game against them earlier, they pounded us running the ball. I thought they'd do the same thing so we practiced using an eight-man line. Then they go no-huddle. We got outcoached." Unbeaten Temple named as foe for once-beaten LSU in 2009 Fiesta Bowl.
Saturday, Jan. 10 _ Tigers topple Temple, 22-17, for National Title _ In an eerie end to the game at the Fiesta Bowl, DiMichele finds Bruce Francis in the back of the end zone for an apparent score but he is ruled out of bounds. Fox Replays from several angles show Francis clearly caught the ball but LSU fans insist Francis bobbled the ball. "If he bobbled the ball, why is there no video anywhere of him bobbling the ball?" Golden asks. On ESPN afterward, Corso rips the officials and says both the BCS refs and the BCS replay officials are corrupt.
"As far as I'm concerned, Temple is the national champion," Corso says.

Did you know:

-That Philadelphia's public high school drop out rate is 50%?
-That obesity is an epidemic in teenagers?
-That hundreds of teens are working to win these fights and succeed in life, right here in Philly, by training to run a marathon?

A local non-profit youth program called Students Run Philly Style is currently in the running to win a huge award through the annual American Express Members Project contest (www.membersproject.com), and we need help pulling together some more local support.

Students Run is a mentoring program that takes students from neighborhoods all over the city and prepares them to complete the Philadelphia Marathon. It's not a traditional athletics program -- the kids who participate don't think of themselves as athletes before they begin, and they come from neighborhoods where violence is a problem and access to healthy food is really limited.

Students Run is currently #47 out of 1190 projects located throughout the world, so we actually have a shot at moving on to the next round. Click here to learn more and watch a video about Students Run:

http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/REMW3T

We're trying to get more people in Philly to log-on and support us in this contest. We need lots of people to nominate the project to advance to the next round of judging. If you could help us spread the word, that would be fantastic. The deadline for nominations is September 1. People can vote here: http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/REMW3T

If you have any questions, please let me know. You can also learn more about Students Run on our website: http://www.nncc.us/studentsrun.html

KICKS
(Kiwanis International Charity Kickball Tournament)
These KICKS are for kids!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
12-6 p.m.
Kendrick Recreation Center
Manayunk, PA

Join the fun!
Help to raise money for disadvantaged and physically challenged Philadelphia children by playing kickball! Get a team together (10 person/3 female minimum) and sign up today at http://www.uckiwanis.com The registration deadline is September 5, 2008.

A $12 registration fee (per person) includes at least 2 playoff games, a BBQ, AND an AFTER-PARTY complete with drink specials at Kildare’s in Manayunk!

Prizes will be awarded to the top teams and the team with the most team spirit.
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Variety Children’s Charity of Philadelphia and the Kendrick Recreation Center.

*Tournament will be held rain or shine.

Theatre Exile presents a return engagement of The Philly Fan by Bruce Graham, starring Tom McCarthy, and directed by Joe Canuso. This one-man hit show is a hilarious romp through fifty years of Philly sports history as seen by a hard core fan used to watching sure-thing victories turn into “oh-my-God-they-blew-it” defeats. June 10-15 at The Playground at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street. Tickets are $25 - $50; call (215)922-4462 or visit www.ThePhillyFan.net.

I just got an anonymous tip that supposedly, a major motion picture will be filming extensively on Penn's campus this summer.

Click to find out which film!

Sign up for the Dueling Tampons newsletter!

Join the DuelingTampons Facebook Group!

We have a new site talking about Philly Sports.
It's hard to find a good site where people can read the latest sports news and actually comment back, easily.
We hope everyone will come and chat. Even you New York, New Jersey and even Cowboy fans!
Lets have some fun and feel free to bust on whom ever you like.
Like the Eagles blowing another draft!! LOL

http://www.phillyareasports.com

Please come and join our community, blog away!

Thanks and hope to talk more at http://www.phillyareasports.com

The South Jersey Vikings are a semi-professional football team based in Gibbsboro, New Jersey. The Vikings are currently looking for coaches, players and volunteers to fill their roster for the 2008 season.

The Vikings compete in the Colonial Football Alliance, which currently has teams from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The regular season runs from July 2008 to October 2008.

Open tryouts will be held on the following two dates:
Sunday, March 16th, 2008 from 10:00AM to 2:00PM
Sunday, March 30th, 2008 from 10:00AM to 2:00PM

Location of tryouts will be at the Viking’s home field (Giangiulio Field) on Victor Blvd in Gibbsboro, New Jersey (08026). This field is located between Route 73 and Route 561 in the Voorhees, New Jersey area. This field is an ; artificial turf field.

Tryouts are open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Bring cleats or shoes and dress for the weather. Water will be provided but it is also recommended you bring your own water.

Tryouts will consist of the following drills: 40-yard dash, shuttle run, bench press, position specific drills, physical measurements and player interviews.

If you can not make the above tryout dates contact us and you will still be able to tryout for the team at a future date.

Please call Head Coach Jim MacNeill at 856-373-8520 or e-mail him at info@southjerseyvikings. com to confirm your attendance at tryouts or if you have any questions. More information can also be found at the team’s official website: www.southjerseyvikings.com.

DALLAS, Texas (AFP) — wow gold scored 31 points to lead Houston over the depleted Dallas Mavericks on Thursday as the Rockets stretched their National Basketball Association winning streak to 17 games.

The Rockets beat the cheap wow gold 113-98 to become just the sixth team in league history to post 17 straight victories.

Rafer Alston added a season-high 24 points for the Rockets, wow the Mavericks had to make do without suspended star Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki, the buy wow gold NBA Most Valuable Player, had been banned one game by the NBA for a hard foul he committed during Monday's 116-110 loss to the Utah Jazz, a foul that left Utah's Andrei Kirilenko with a sprained hip.

The Rockets improved to 5-0 google排名 their own post presence, Chinese center Yao Ming, who had NBA season-ending surgery on Monday to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

In my line of work,I meet a wide range of people. Some tell me their profession and others don't when I try to keep the small talk going as I fix their computer. Tonite I hit the jackpot because he was a high school referee. They must have a club or something because when he spoke he seemed to represent the professional refs too. We discussed the Eagles and how Horse collar tackles are only illegal in the NFL. He also touched on how focused they have to be because if they turned to hear the athlete's plead their case,vital plays could be missed. That's why you see on TV the players talking to the refs but never getting eye contact. Funny enough he said he doesn't even pay attention to the coaches unless they call "time out" or call him names other than "SIR", LOL. Now that's being focused. Another good point came up when I asked him why does the refereeing seem different when playoffs roll around? He answered by mentioning how at that phase,only the good teams remain and usually they reached that level because they don't commit too many penalties to begin with. Good Point...

'Nuff said...

Cartoon from Sid in the City

By Mike Gibson
What do Vaughn Carraway and Mike Palys have in common?
They are game-breakers and trailblazers.
Both turned down schools that have a name over a school that has a life and a substance.
Both could have gone anywhere.
Both chose Temple.
Chances are you already know that Carraway committed to Temple University today and that he is the No. 19 prospect in all of the state of Pennsylvania.
A brief refresher course on Palys, though, might be in order.
Palys was the first player who had a solid "offer" and not "interest" on the table from Penn State and picked Temple instead in 1984.
He was lured by the enthusiasm of a young coach named Bruce Arians.
Carraway, too, chose to blaze a trail today when he picked Temple University. At one time, he had a solid offer on the table from Michigan.
Like Palys with Penn State and Walter Washington with Nebraska, Carraway is believed to be the first player to ever pick Temple over Michigan.
Like Palys, a young coach, this time Al Golden, convinced him that Temple was the best place to be.
He joins a stellar group of recent recruits who chose to be a part of something special, the resurgence of Temple football and help bring big-time college football to a major Eastern city like Philadelphia.
All Carraway has to do is keep doing what he's done to get here, work hard, and Temple quarterback Adam DiMichele will get him the ball.
He will get noticed playing in this big city, in its large media market before a fan base starved for a winning team.
Thanks to guys like Carraway, of Muhlenberg High near Reading, this class is shaping up as the best class since Arians lured this group to North Broad Street on Feb. 8, 1984:

• Mike Hinnant _ Of Springarn in Washington D.C., the tight end chose Temple over Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia.
• Auturo Weldon _ Also of Springarn, Weldon picked the Owls over Syracuse and West Virginia.
• Craig King _ a high school All-American lineman from Clifton, N.Y., who picked Temple over Texas A&M.
• Joe Greenwood _ Defensive back from Johnstown who picked the Owls over West Virginia, Pitt and Maryland.
• Mike Palys _From North Pocono High, Palys was the son of former Phillies centerfielder Stan Palys and he caught a pair of long touchdown passes from Matty Baker, both on flea-flickers, in a 45-28 win over Boston College in 1988. Was also a great punt returner for the Owls and a terrific baseball player for Temple.

We bring up that class because they and Arians proved it can be done at Temple.
Now Golden is proving the same thing with a whole other generation of players at a school Arians would not recognize in terms of buildings or facilities.
Carraway is just the latest recruit, but he's a trailblazer much like Palys and Washington were.
If you need more convincing on how big this is for both the Owls and their fans, here are some stories on Carraway:
The Vaughn Carraway Chronicles
Rivals recruiting rankings _ It includes a list of the top 40 players in the fertile state of Pennsylvania and Carraway is listed in the upper half.
The Pittsburgh Preseason Report _ Which confirms the official Michigan offer and ranks him at No. 21 going into the season.
Kicking to Carraway is a bad mistake, you bleepin' dope _ How Carraway's clutch punt return helped keep Muhlenberg unbeaten.
Carraway's 108-yard interception return _ It turns out throwing in his direction is also a bad mistake, IF you happen to be wearing any color not Cherry or White (except at the Penn State game this fall).
Welcome, Vaughn Carraway, and congratulations for making the best decision of your young life, a wise choice that is going to set you up for an outstanding future.
By the way, Mike Palys is now Dr. Michael D. Palys, a very successful and wealthy doctor in Boston, a periodontist on the staff at Harvard University.

www.leaguelineup.com/taconyeagles
Tacony Eagles Semi Pro Football Registration
February 13, 2008 - 07:00 PM -- The Tacony Eagles Semi Pro Football Squad will have their first of Four Registrations starting on Feb 13th 2008. The following Registrations will take place every two weeks until March 26th 2008. Registration will be conducted in the club house at American Legion Field at Torresdale Ave. and Deveraeux St. At 7pm till 8 30pm. The Tacony Eagles are a 1st Year Expansion Team to the 20yr old Philadelphia Area Based Delaware Vally Independence Football League (DVIFL). The Team Will Be Managed By Co Owners Thomas "Shark Boy" Peta & Daniel "Rudy" Hall. We would like to Announce That Offensive Genius Mike Amobos and Coach John Will Join The coaching Staff. We would like to invite Players From The Former Philadelphia Patriots, Northeast Titans, High School & College Grads and any one else who has football experience and can play. There is a 43 man Roster limit and we would like to fill it. Team Dues are due by March 26th 2008 at the Final Registration. Team Dues Are $300.00 per player no exceptions. Any Information needed please contact Tom @215 437 9148 or Rudy 267 622 8899 or email thomaspeta@yahoo.com Thank You

We like to announce that Mike Baxter will join the Tacony Eagles as Middle Linebacker and Defensive Consultant. Thanks Mike for Joining The Team

You can check out a Team Schedule for the Tacony Eagles Preseason by clicking
Calender then selecting Feb from the down arrow and selecting Feb 13th
A break down of Feb 13 through Sept 6th

Team dues include the following:
League Fees
Field Usage including Games and Practices
Authentic Jerseys both Home and Away
Pants
Ref Fees
Field Insurance
Player Insurance
Field Equipment
Face Masks
Helmet Decals

All Team Fees are due by April 30th 2008.
Preseason camp will start on May 4th 2008.
If your team fees are not paid in full by April 30th 2008, you will not practice on May 4th 2008 or any other practices until you are fully paid.
If a player makes a deposit and is not fully paid by May 31st, they will get their deposit back and will be released by the team. A player may join the team at any time until July 31st 2008 with full team dues, when roster and league dues are to be turned into the League.
Once again if you do not pay in full you do not practice or play.
(If you do not pay and/or complete your payments and you show up to practice and walk on the playing field you will be asked to goto the sideline, and practice will not start until the unpaid players leave the field).

Just to Add
Payment Arrangements can be made if you can not pay $300 Up Front.
Depending on the time of your registration, we can make payments of $30 a week for ten weeks, $50 a week for 6 weeks, $60 a week for 5 weeks, $75 a week for 4 weeks, $100 a week for three weeks, $150 a week for two weeks or $300 in full payment. If you agree to a payment plan and you come to practice without your payment you will not practice. If you miss two payments you will be released from the team and you will get your deposit back.

We are looking to fill in the positions as follows:
21 Offensive Players,
21 Defensive Players,
1 Place Kicker/Punter

Offensive Side:
2 QB's (1 Starter - 1 Backup. Backup QB will be used at his secondary Position)
8 Offensive Linemen (1 Center, 2 tackles, 2 Guards, 3 Rotation Backups)
2 Tight Ends (1 Starter, 1Backup/#2Tight End)
5 Wide Receivers (2 Starters, 3rd and forth Receiver 1 Kick/Punt Returner/Secret Weapon
4 Running backs (2Half Backs, 1Fullback, 1 Small Fullback/Large Halfback

Defensive Side
7 Defensive Linemen (2 Defensive Ends, 2 Defensive Tackles, 3 Rotating Backups)
7 Defensive Backs (2 Cornerbacks, 2 Safeties, 3 Rotating Backups
6 Linebackers (3 starters, 3 Rotating Backups)

Maybe this should be the last page of the next coach's contract, signed by both parties, with the understanding that the AD will give no permission for another university to contact said coach.

By Mike Gibson
There's been an Elephant in the room for the past few days.
Elephant with a capital E.
Seems like no one in either Vivacqua Hall or the Edberg-Olson Football Complex wants to look at it, but it is an unwelcome visitor right there in the living room, unexpectedly coming through the sliding glass doors and destroying the brand new furniture and eating all of the peanuts on the dining room table.
Not even the media seems to be addressing it, other than superficially.
Well, today, Dave "Fizzy" Weinraub saw the Elephant, pointed to it and tried to get the trainer to take it out of the living room in an excellent letter to the editor in the sports section of today's Philadelphia Inquirer.
I was privileged to be introduced to Fizzy and have known him from the pre-game tailgating scene at every Temple football game.
He is a terrific storyteller (ask him about Bill Cosby some day), very funny and an all-around great guy.
He shows up at every Temple home game and probably has gone to some long before I started to be a fan as a 10-year-old kid.
If every Temple alumnus did what Fizzy has done, we'd have 250,000 at our games. We only need 69,999 more Fizzies to never have any problems.
His support of the program should never be questioned.
I believe if I tell you
I'm going to build
you a brick house
and sign a contract
to build that house,
I'm not going to leave
when one wall is up
and say, well, the guy down
the street gave
me a better offer
I appreciate everyone who supports Temple football, whether it be the big spenders in the Club Box level or those in section 101 like Fizzy, Cap Poklemba and myself.
Temple invested a lot of money in its current head coach, money it probably couldn't afford to pay because it wanted a taste of what other schools had on the football field for a change.
People like Fizzy, Cap Poklemba and other very hungry supporters deserve that taste.
All they've gotten so far is 1-11 and 4-8 and promises.
That's not tasting. That's not even sniffing. I'm not a great guy like Fizzy, just a good one who, like him, is perplexed by the sight of an Elephant in any place other than a Zoo.
I'm a guy who gets to work on time every day.
I keep my appointments.
People who know me know that when I say I'm going to meet them at a certain place and a certain time, I'm always there.
I believe your word is your bond and that no amount of money can change that.
I believe if I say I'm going to do a certain job by a certain time, I'm going to get it done.
Only then will I move on to the next task.
I believe if I demand integrity, honesty and commitment from my colleagues that I should give no less in return.
I believe if I tell you I'm going to build you a brick house and sign a contract to build that house, I'm not going to leave when just one wall is up and say, well, the guy down the street gave me a better offer.
That doesn't make me better than anybody else. It's just the way I was raised.
Temple should hold its football coach, both current and next, to that same minimum standard.

A songwriter from Kentucky apparently gets our strange sports pessimism, via Blinq:

And this one came along just in time for our latest Sunday afternoon unraveling.