Temple beats Penn State

By Mike Gibson
Uh, no.
Just wanted to get your attention with that headline.
Penn State is just too big, too deep and too fast for the Owls.
This year at least.
Yet this won't be a 62-0 game.
Or even a 63-9 game.
You can book it.
Not that Penn State isn't every bit as good as Louisville, Minnesota or Clemson.
The Nittany Lions just might be.
It's just that the Owls were, in Temple coach Al Golden's words, "trying to find our way" for much of this first season of his regime.
The Owls haven't found their way just yet, but at least are pointed in the right direction.
The Owls can at least be competitive and very competitive if they depart from their "motis operandi" established in games against Kent State and Bowling Green.
In those games, the Owls played two tight ends, power-I, and pounded Tim Brown to set up the play-action passes of Adam DiMichele.
That won't work this time, because of the physical line on the defensive side of the ball Penn State has.
However, if DiMichele can roll away from the pocket and buy himself just enough time to find Brown on screens or Mike Holley on quick slants, he can set up a deeper post to Travis Shelton.
If Shelton can break a kick return or two, the Owls might be able to score points.
If the Owls can break on top, their defense _ almost passive against Central Michigan _ might start to believe and themselves play physical.
Penn State's offense has had some documented trouble scoring.
Temple isn't Michigan or Ohio State or Wisconsin, but consider this:

• The newspaper headline factor. Temple kids know they can get immediate respect with a solid performance against State. In Philadelphia, Penn State is always a front-page story. Temple usually can be found on page 8 of the sports section. Temple kids see that every week.
  
• Adam DiMichele. The Temple sophomore gets a chance to prove he's better than anything Penn State has at that position and he just might be.
  
• The Al Golden factor. Joe Paterno, if he's able to coach from the booth, is likely to call off the dogs early against an Owl staff that has four ex-Penn Staters.
  
• The opportunistic Owl defense. Two picks in key situations in the win over Bowling Green proved they COULD do it. Georg Coleman knows if he gets another chance, he must take it to the house.
  

I can see State scoring no more than four touchdowns against the Owls this time.
I think DiMichele and company can put up at least two.
And maybe the Owls will be in the game in the fourth quarter.
Penn State 28, Temple 14.
Win?
Uh, no.
Maybe some day, maybe sooner than you think.