Thursday, 25 September 2008

It's time to let the Dogs out

By Mike Gibson
The Temple football season so many of us had waited so long for and looked forward to so much has reached a crossroads.
Many of us, me included, feel with any breaks at all or at least the breaks the Owls should have received, this team should be 3-1.
In reality, it's 1-3.
Prior to Penn State, a deserved loss, Temple trailed for a grand total of 1 minute, 49 seconds the entire season.
The refs took away the UConn game and even Penn State coach Joe Paterno said as much on his radio show last week.
"Temple threw a bubble screen on the first play of overtime and got down to the 3 an it was called back," Paterno said of the UConn game. "It was called back for a hold and it was a bad, bad, bad call. Temple should have won that game."
That's three bads from Paterno, who was obviously watching the film closely.
The Owls' own stupidity was responsible for the inexplicable Buffalo loss.
First, they allowed quarterback Drew Willy all the time in the world to throw the final dagger, a Hail Mary pass. Then they compounded that stupidity by going to tackle the wide receiver, rather than knock the ball down.
In my mind, if Al Golden really wants to beat Western Michigan this week, he will throw caution to the wind and turn his bend-but-don't-break defense into an attacking one.
Blitz.
That's this week's buzzword.
Sneak into the locker room down the Lincoln Financial Field tunnel and steal a chapter from Eagles' coordinator Jimmy Johnson's playbook.
It's a rather large chapter entitled "Blitz."
Utilize Temple's strength _ athletes on defense _ to make plays, force turnovers, dictate field position.
Help give first-time starter Chester Stewart a short field in his first start.
Play eight guys up on the line.
Get into Western Michigan quarterback Tim Hiller's head.
Take the play to them, not let them dictate to us.
Get that big Homecoming crowd involved.
Play to win, not avoid to lose.
Al Golden and Mark D'Onofrio, it's time to unleash the Dogs of War, Temple's Pit Bulls, and tell them to sick the quarterback.

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