Steve Addazio talks Temple football on ESPN Wednesday.
Perception versus reality.
You hear the concept all the time.
I like to read what other people think about Temple football, both the experts in the field and those with lesser knowledge in the stands.
If one theme has carried the day for the past six months or so, it's this:
"Temple has lost Al Golden. The Owls will take a step back."
That's THEIR perception and the perception of most of the country.
Whoa, Nellie, as that great college football philosopher Keith Jackson used to say.
OUR reality, at least those enough close to the program with knowledge to comment is this:
"Temple has 19 starters back from teams that went 9-3 and 8-4. The Owls have potential legendary caliber coordinators in Chuck Heater and Scot Loeffler. They have a motivator in CEO Steve Addazio who would put even Al Golden's considerable ability in that area to shame. The Owls are not taking a step back."
I'm a lot more comfortable in the second statement than the first.
Father forgive that first group because they do not know of what they speak.
They will find out soon enough.
Addazio went on ESPN today and tried to break down the perception and I think he did a pretty good job of that.
"We really feel that Temple can be the Boise of the East..."
_Steve Addazio
People will believe what they want to believe but facts are facts._Steve Addazio
The Temple media guide will list 13 returning starters but when you break down the game sheet, ESPN got it right. Nineteen (that's right, 19) guys who started at least six games return.
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Add in the fact that guys like Bernard Pierce will play more (please, God) then they did last year and this is a formidable group that Addazio and a battle-tested SEC and national championship staff go to war with on Sept. 1.
As one father of an offensive lineman told me on Cherry and White Day:
"Mike, these guys are from the SEC. My kid told me, 'Dad, these guys really know what they are doing.' When these MAC coaches try to go up against them, their heads will be spinning. They won't be able to deal with it."
I have a lot of respect for Villanova coach Andy Talley, but I feel sorry for him (just him, not Villanova) on Sept. 1.
It should be fun to watch beginning in just 72 nights. Hopefully, that night will be the beginning of a dozen dates that change the perception of Temple football everywhere.
