Shopping or football? That's a tough one .... not

"This game is the pivotal game of my career. How do I want to leave my legacy? . . . I'm taking this game as if it's the last game I'm ever going to play." _ Bruce Francis



You could either be waiting in line at some department store (left), or having fun watching the Owls scoring defensive touchdowns by switching to an unrelenting blitzing scheme.


By Mike Gibson
Black Friday.
It's usually noted for long, boring lines at department stores created by phony discounts.
For women, Black Friday is looked forward to like guys look forward to Super Bowl Sunday.
If you really want to be "entertained" though, forget the lines and head to Temple's game against Akron on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m.
If you think you might miss a bargain or two, how about these bargains being offered by the Temple athletic department:

Take advantage of the following "Black Friday" ticket discounts:



Take a Kid to the Game Day! Purchase one regular-priced adult ticket, and receive a kids ticket for only $5!



Bring a canned food item, and receive a ticket for only $5!



Temple Employee Appreciation Day! Show your Temple ID at the Lincoln Financial Field Ticket Office the day of the game, and receive an unlimited number of tickets for only $1 per ticket.

I mean, what school offers its employees an "unlimted number" of tickets for $1?
Temple has 9,789 employees.
If just half of the employees grab four tickets for $1 and sell to it fans for $5, that's a fulfilling afternoon spent at the stadium and at a profit of $20.
At that rate, combined with the usual 20,000 hardcore Temple fans, the Owls should be pushing a big attendance number.
Should be.

My guess
is that it
will be a
blitzing scheme
that sends the
Owls' extremely
athletic linebackers
and safeties
up the middle
and shooting
through gaps
on a combo
of run-and-pass
blitzes designed
to disrupt Akron's
running and
passing games.

Forget that, though, because this is your last chance to support the Owls for nine months and your last chance to see quarterback Adam DiMichele and wide receiver Bruce Francis. I have a funny feeling we will not see the likes of these players ever again at Temple.
That is, unless we can get big-time JUCO QBs like Garrett Barnas (Harper) or Stanley Jennings (Dean) in here before the calendar year ends or players like Vaughn Carraway and Deven Baker live up to their potential.
Plus, don't expect defensive geniuses like Al Golden and Mark D'Onofrio to be fooled two weeks in a row. Golden was a big-time defensive coordinator at Virginia and D'Onofrio has proven to be one of the best defensive minds in the MAC over the last two years, so maybe they'll come up with something Friday.
My guess is that it will be a blitzing scheme that sends the Owls' extremely athletic linebackers and safeties up the middle and shooting through gaps on a combo of run-and-pass blitzes designed to disrupt Akron's running and passing games.
It's just that sort of scheme that can lead to fumbles, interceptions and defensive touchdowns.
That, combined with the Owls' newfound offensive prowess, could lead to a fun afternoon Friday.
Much more fun than shopping.
Imagine just how much you'd be spending at some department store after waiting in line for an hour to buy a couple of things you don't really need.
It's a no-brainer.
See you in Lot K two hours before kickoff.
Or forfeit your man card now.