What is, versus what could have been .....

By Mike Gibson
One of Al Golden's strengths as Temple University head football coach is the expertise that comes with his sports psychology degree.
After a pair of 62-0 beatdowns, it helps that your head coach has some knowledge of the fragile pysche young people can have.
There are a couple of classic "Golden-isms" already.
"I'm going to build a house of brick, not straw," or "we're going to keep pounding at that rock until it cracks."
Surely, there will be more.
From what Golden says and what he has done so far, it seems pretty apparent that Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw picked the right guy to build that house and pound that rock.
You can't tell by looking at the house or the rock because it's not built or cracked yet.
There's a lot of building and pounding to do.
It'll take time.
If you are looking through the prism of consecutive 62-0 losses, that's probably not the right way.
Yet by looking at what Temple could have had, it seems clear that they got the right guy.
It's hard to imagine, say, a Brian White or a Jerry Glanville having the patience needed to build this house. Or a George Welsh living through a pair of 62-0 losses.
Let's look what happened to some who expressed strong interest in the Temple job last year:
JIM HARBAUGH _ The most intriguing of the late entries 10 months ago, Harbaugh would have been the only Temple coach ever to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Now currently the coach of the 3-0 University of San Diego Torreos, Harbaugh is 19-5 in his three years as head coach. Made strong late push, even was interviewed by search committee but, by the time he threw his hat into the ring, Bradshaw was sold on Golden. Was quoted in the San Diego Union as saying "the Temple job would be a great opportunity."

BRIAN WHITE _ Rumored to have had pre-Bobby Wallace resignation meeting with Bill Bradshaw and that moved him to the top of the last year's wish list early when he was a Wisconsin assistant. For a long time, White was at the top of the list until Bradshaw met Al Golden. White currently is offensive coordinator at Syracuse University, which put up 31 points at Illinois.

JOHN LATINA _ Latina is the assistant head coach at Notre Dame. As a Temple assistant in the 1980s, he helped develop John Rienstra into a first-round NFL pick and a first-team All-American.
JERRY GLANVILLE _ Glanville would have given Temple fans the "name" coach Bradshaw reportedly promised in informal tailgate gatherings. Not sure if he would have been well-received by Temple fans since he is a) old; b) a blowhard; and c) has little or no knowledge of Owl football. Currently defensive coordinator at Hawaii, where they put a 42-14 spanking on UNLV Saturday.
GEORGE WELSH _ The retired Virginia and Navy coach reportedly threw his hat into the ring in November. Problem was the hat was a fedora. Guy was 72 years old and probably a lot less qualified to turn Temple around than Wayne Hardin, who is seven years his elder. Now the head coach of a USA group of collegiate all-stars, who will tour Japan at the end of the season.
TOM CLEMENTS _ Another interesting candidate, like Latina, with Notre Dame ties, like search committee consultant Gene Corrigan. Now quarterbacks' coach with the Green Bay Packers.
RON PRINCE _ The current Kansas State head coach is 3-0. Like Golden, was a former Virginia assistant. Reportedly, Bill Cosby pushed hard for Prince or current Cincinnati Bengals' assistant Hue Jackson to get the Temple job.
TOM BRADLEY _ Current top aide to Joe Paterno was encouraged to apply for the Owls' job. Showed initial strong interest, then backed out late when Paterno talked to Bradley. May have used Temple to get some promises from Paterno.

AL GOLDEN _ Along with Harbaugh, Golden was one of the more intriguing late candidates. Fit the profile of a young, energetic guy who has been a huge success as a recruiter. Virginia fans and insiders seemed to feel Golden had a bigger upside than Prince.
Prince had the good fortune to inherit more talent and a softer schedule than Golden.
It's shown in the records and scores so far. What the records are four years from now will determine the rest of the story.