Experienced Owls dominate depleted Wildcats, 42-7;

Bernard Pierce leads with 147 yards and three TDs

Philadelphia - Collegefootballfan.com started this season with the same rivalry as last season, but what a difference a year can make.  After witnessing the Temple Owls last minute 31-24 victory at Lincoln Financial Field a year ago over the Villanova Wildcats to start our season, the outcome was extremely the opposite as the Owls returned with a good core of experienced players while the Wildcats basically showed up with an entirely new cast on the offensive side of the football.  The one returning mainstay of last year's 9-4 'Nova semi-final FCS team, WR Norman White, showed up on crutches with a cast on his ankle for the coin toss performed by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.  Based on what followed, we doubt White would have had much influence on the final result.  The crew left behind by former Head Coach Al Golden who moved on to take over at rebuilding Miami (F), looked very good and ready to challenge in the Mid American Eastern Division race this season. The offense looked particularly well prepared under new HC Steve Addazio, who stepped up after five years as an offensive coach for the Florida Gators under Urban Meyer.

     After dinner and beers at Ron Jawarski's Sports Pub in the local Holiday Inn on Packer Ave, Guest Game Analyst (GGA) Rich Williams and I walked over the The Linc and watched Villanova QB Dustin Thomas float a pass on his team's first series only to have it picked off by S Kevin Kroboth at his own 25.  Temple's first series went the length of the field with QB Mike Gerardi (14 of 20, 235 yards, 2 TDs) connecting with WR Deon Miller for a 36-yard TD pass.  Brandon McManus converted for the point after, 7-0.

    In the second period, Nova got to the Owl 25 two possessions later on a HB option pass to QB Thomas, but a fumble recovery by LB Tamir Whitehead on the next play started TU's next series from their own 38.  Bernard Pierce finished this possession off with a 19-yard jaunt over left tackle for a 14-0 TU lead.  Quick-footed Matt Brown who saw most of the backfield action last season against the Cats, returned the next VU punt to the Wildcat 34.  Pierce scored again on a 22-yard sweep to the right. The Owls went to the locker room at the half with a 21-0 lead over its Philly rival in the Mayor's Cup Game, appropriately sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts.

     The Temple band performed at halftime for the 32,638 mostly Temple fans in attendance.  If anyone needed an answer as if to whether or not Villanova football should join the Big East, the answer was right here a The Linc.  The faithful VU followers decked out in blue made up few full sections of the entire crowd on hand at the big stadium.  Opening night game, school in session, downtown Philly, cross-town rival, and yet only a few thousand Wildcat fans showed up.  The Wildcats are right where they belong in The Colonial Athletic. They won a national championship two seasons ago, they challenge almost every year for a playoff berth, they have a good FCS fan base for their small, on-campus  stadium, the CAA is most likely going to shift geographically making them one of the northern-most schools in the best FCS conference, and their end of season rivalry with the University of Delaware half an hour away keeps growing in significance to a playoff bid.  Villanova seems to be in a good position financially, geographically, and recruiting-wise to continue its success at the FCS level.  HC Andy Talley will make his current talent better as the season progresses. In the meantime, Temple seems to be making its move up in the FBS.

    The Owl started the second half from their own 28. At VU's 47, Gerardi hooked up with a streaking Rod Streater on his way to the end zone for a dominating lead of 28-0. Later in the third, another floater by Thomas (11 of 29, 109 yards, 3 INTs) resulted in a pick again by Kroboth to start from the 46. Pierce did the honors again on this drive with a 22-yard TD run for a 35-0 lead entering the final period. 

    In the fourth, Nova's next drive came to an end on an incomplete pass on a fourth and twelve at the TU 19.  Three plays later, backup QB Chris Coyer cut off a block over right tackle and raced 68 yards for an Owl TD and a 42-0 lead with 12:20 remaining.  I no longer feel obligated to stay for the entire game if one team can't compete unless I'm adding one to the new Goal to see 124 FBS teams.   GGA Rich Williams and I decided enough was enough.  We both hope to be back later in the season when Temple hosts Miami (O.) in what should be a key MAC match-up for the East Division title.  After we left, Nova put together a 71-yard drive culminating with Thomas taking it in for a TD from the four-yard line to make the final 42-7.

    Temple should get off to a good MAC start next Saturday when it hosts Akron, a 42-0 victim to Ohio State to open the season.  The following week, TU host Penn State at The Linc.  Last season, when The Lions lost to Florida, 37-24, in the Outback Bowl, Temple HC Steve Addazio was the Gators' offensive coordinator.

   Villanova heads down to play Towson at 7 p.m. next Saturday.  These Tigers are not one of the stronger CAA programs in the normally stacked conference.  The following week, the will host Monmouth, whom we will see for the first time this Saturday.

Extra points: Rich and I met "Pete", the bartender who served us at the Sports Pub before the game. Turned out Pete was originally from Newark and played football and baseball at Elizabeth HS in New Jersey where I lived from 1982-1989. He attended EHS in the mid-90s. Pete and Rich had a connections even better. When Rich played for Somerville HS in the 80s, he played for NJ Hall of Fame HS Coach Jerry Moore. So did Pete.  Both played for Moore on state championship teams. Both loved playing for the tough coach who had a reputation over the years as a "no-nonsense" guy and evidently a very good golfer as he now plays on the Senior Tour.   Pete ended up in Philly after playing baseball for LaSalle.  Hopefully Rich and I can catch up with him again prior to the Miami game we plan to attend. 

We came away from the game knowing that Dustin Thomas is going to have to take some air out from under his passes if the Wildcats want to have any success this year.  His passes were ripe for the picking.  His third INT came at the hands of the other Safety Justin Gildea.  Gildea was the one who returned the VU lateral on the last play of the game during the Cats ' kickoff return to change the 25-24 margin to the final score of 31-24.