Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Got a winner in town

Philadelphia fans have got a winner in town and it isn't the Eagles.



'God, you've got to love the grit, I don't care who you are, you've got to love the grit of Philadelphia and the grit in this team. It's just about a damn gritty team that wants to compete and that isn't intimated. I wouldn't trade that team for any other.'
_ Steve Addazio

My guess is if you can use one word to describe Philadelphia Eagles' fans right now it's exasperation.
I know.
I'm one of them.
After watching Michael Vick commit two of his 13 turnovers for the season in a 26-23  loss to Detroit on Sunday, I'm done with any emotional investment in that team. Vick keeps turning it over and seemingly without repercussions.
Fortunately, I have another team to root for who practices four miles north of Lincoln Financial Field and plays in the same stadium.
The Temple Owls.
Unlike the Eagles, the Owls have a winning record (3-2) so, to borrow a quote from former Eagles' coach Buddy Ryan, you've now got a winner in town.

Like the Eagles and Michael Vick, the Owls also have a left-handed quarterback (Chris Coyer).
Unlike Vick, Coyer rarely turns the ball over and is tough as the team that plays around him.
Coyer, the New Mexico Bowl MVP, hit a game-tying pass to Jalen Fitzpatrick with 16 seconds left in regulation that was a thing of beauty at UConn last week. Without a doubt, it was the most clutch throw I've ever seen a Temple quarterback make and I've seen 30 years of clutch throws as a season ticket-holder. With a big-time rush coming at him, Coyer made a throw completely across the field and into Fitzpatrick's breadbasket.
You can get Sixers tickets for 9 cents and TU-Pitt tickets
for $9 but RU-TU seats are a hot item at $40 apiece.
Temple won it in overtime, 17-14, when Brandon McManus, who head coach Steve Addazio calls "the best kicker in the country" nailed a 29-yard field goal straight down the middle.
While the Eagles' defense showed an alarming lack of toughness by allowing a 10-point lead with five minutes left to vanish on Sunday, the Temple defense on Saturday showed a Navy Seal-like toughness in overtime, forcing UConn to a three-point attempt that missed.
The Eagles had to fire their defensive coordinator, Juan Castillo, today and borrowed some Temple TUFF in his replacement, former Owl Todd Bowles.
Temple TUFF, with the spelling of "tough" changed to suit the school's first two initials.
While Andy Reid's post-game press conferences are full of "we've got to do a better job" for about the umpteenth time, Temple head coach Steve Addazio has adopted the Philly mindset and wears his heart on his sleeve just like Philly fans do.
Todd Bowles representing TU.
"God, you've got to love the grit, I don't care who you are, you've got to love the grit of Philadelphia and the grit in this team," Addazio said. "It's just about a damn gritty team that wants to compete and that isn't intimated. I wouldn't trade that team for any other."
I wish I could say the same thing about the Philadelphia Eagles. I can't.
There's a winner in town and it isn't the Eagles. Hopefully, soon the rest of Philly will support it like they do the exasperating other tenants of the stadium.

Tomorrow: TU-RU by the numbers 
Thursday: Throwback Thursday with TU/RU theme