Temple vs. Penn State: One day later

Joe Paterno on the practice field,
prior to the 1950 Temple game.

The last time Temple walked off the field not a loser to Penn State, an assistant coach shook the hand of Temple coach Albert P. Kawal congratulating him on a good game at then Beaver Field, a 7-7 tie.
The assistant coach was Joe Paterno, then a 23-year-old assistant to Rip Engle.
The year was 1950 and the city of Philadelphia was giddy over a team called the Phillies, who had just won a National League pennant. They were known as the Whiz Kids.
After a sleepless night of tossing and turning over the Penn State sanctions, I've come to a different conclusion than a day ago. I really don't care much for Penn State, but I do care a lot about Temple.
Yesterday, I hoped that if Penn State players transfer they would consider nearby Temple as a landing spot.
Today, I hope none of them transfer and that they win the Big 10 championship.
Most of all, I hope that Temple beats them fair and square on the football field and that the win carries all of the prestige a win over PSU would have last year.
I predicted as much on Black Shoe Diaries, a Penn State blog, last week. I thought Temple would win, 17-7, based on having the entire defensive line back and some good replacement talent on the back end of the defense coached by the best coordinator in the country and a playmaking quarterback on the other side of the ball. I was called overly optimistic in the comments below the story.

Al Kawal, Temple coach (1950)

If, for example, Penn State was to open this season losing to Ohio University and then follow that up with a loss to Temple a couple of weeks later, that would be viewed as the beginning of the end of Penn State football.
No big deal, PSU fans, Joe Philly fans, the nation, would say.
I want that end to come next year, not this year.
On the other hand, if Temple were to beat the eventual Big 10 champion or even a Big 10 contender ALONG with winning the Big East, that WOULD be a big deal. That's the scenario I want.
At the top of my bucket list, I want to be alive and present when Temple beats Penn State in football.
 Penn State players knew they were in a game when they played Temple a year ago. They have the bumps and bruises to prove it. I want them to experience Temple tough (or, TUFF) again, this time with the Owls coming out on top.
I don't want that win to be diminished in any way.
So,  for now at least, go Lions and, more importantly, go Owls.

Temple could benefit most from Penn State sanctions

Not Penn State wins anymore, but not Temple's, either.

Forget the fact that Penn State's seven wins over Temple  since 1998 have been "vacated."
The Penn State sanctions announced this morning by the NCAA are staggering and there are no winners, just losers, in this case.
Still, an institution like Temple, with none of the Penn State baggage, could be a landing spot for some of these Penn State players.
The NCAA vacated all of Penn State's wins from 1998 through 2011.
I don't take any satisfaction in any of that. I will take my satisfaction on Sept. 22 when the Owls pick up a real win at Beaver Stadium. Nothing less.
Forget all that, though.
Temple stands to benefit in more tangible ways from Penn State's sanctions today.
Perhaps more, or at least as much, as any other school.
Penn State players are eligible to transfer today and play at any school tomorrow.
Why not Temple?
Temple is in the same state as many of the current Penn State players.
Temple, like Penn State, plays in a BCS conference.
Temple, unlike Penn State, is located in a major media market.
Temple, unlike Penn State, is eligible to play in bowls for the next four years.
Temple, unlike Penn State, gets to use its full complement of 25 scholarships for the next four years.
Temple, unlike Penn State and even Pitt (which had four head coaches in a little over a calendar year) offers the most stability of any program in Pennsylvania.
Why not Temple, indeed?
If I were a Penn State football player or current verbal, I would be on the phone with Steve Addazio today.

Father's Day tradition continues at TU

Newspaper clipping chronicling Jim Cooper's heroics in Temple's win over West Virginia.

"My dad could have gone to USC or Florida or Alabama and I still would be going to Temple. I know it's where I want to be."
_Jim Cooper

Appropriate that Jim Cooper Jr. committed to Temple around Father's Day this year because, if the name Jim Cooper rings a bell, it should.
Jim Cooper Sr. used to kick for Temple in the Bruce Arians' years. Cooper even kicked a field goal to beat West Virginia at Veterans Stadium.
Jim Cooper will kick for Temple again in name only as junior is the son of the senior.
The son also gave the coolest quote so far of any Temple recruit:
"My dad could have gone to USC or Florida or Alabama and I still would be going to Temple," said Cooper. "I know it's where I want to be."
The Mainland (N.J.) Regional kicker enters his senior season with 24 career field goals, just six shy of the all-time New Jersey record for field goals. He should break that this season.
I don't know if any other school has as many father/son connections as Temple University.
Some just off the top of my head:

Dan Klecko

Joe Klecko/Dan Klecko: Joe was an All-American at Temple, but made his fame as the anchor of the New York Jets' fabled "sack exchange." Joe should be in the NFL Hall of Fame. Dan was Big East defensive player of the year at Temple and has three Super Bowl rings as a role player with the Patriots and Colts (three more than his dad). Dan is now a sports talk radio host in Philadelphia.
Zach Dixon/Hassan Dixon: Zach was a 1,000-yard rusher for Wayne Hardin's 1978 team which went 7-3-1. Hassan Dixon is his son and currently listed as a DB for the Owls.

Raheem Brock: representing 

Zach Dixon/Raheem Brock: Yes, the same father of Hassan is also the father of Super Bowl champion DE Raheem Brock and they both played at Temple. Brock was an outstanding TE and DE at Temple and currently looking for another NFL opportunity. He is a successful restaurateur in Philadelphia.

Mark Bright follows his blockers.

Jim Bright/Mark Bright: Jim Bright was a fullback for the Owls in the 1950s. Mark Bright was also a fullback for the Owls, but in the 1970s. Mark was named MVP in Temple's 28-17 win over California in the Garden State Bowl. Mark was one of Hardin's last recruits one year. Jim was the long-time principal at New Hope-Solebury High School. "His dad was a fullback at Temple," Hardin said. "I told him, 'At Temple, we take care of our own.' So I took a chance on Mark. I'm glad I did."

Not a father/son connection, but certainly one worth noting is that current starting Temple quarterback (and New Mexico Bowl MVP) Chris Coyer also has a family tie to Temple. A great uncle, Harry Cochran, was Dean of the Business School at Temple in 1959. Chris is majoring in business.

Now the Jim Coopers become part of the Temple football family once again. It's a nice Father's Day trend worth mentioning.

A couple of vaguely related football items

As you know, the only non-football related link in my blog is to Dave Barry's column in the Miami Herald. He has recently scouted the Miami Dolphins.

Key quote:"The Dolphins lost 15 games and won only one, which I believe was against Princeton."

In what the rest of the world wrongly calls football, Austria beat Germany 10-5 in girls soccer game----topless. Sorry guys, link is totally work safe.

UMass History--- 1973 Scans

As related in Monday's post, Ed Hajdusek was kind enough to send us some scans of UMass historical material. The two posts below are scans from 1973. Right Click and Blogger displays a larger view.

In '73 UMass finished 6-5 and 4-2 in the Yankee Conference.

Captains were John Jones and Peil Pennington.

A milestone that year was UMass' 300th win, over Villanova 21-20 on Sept. 15, 1973.

I've blogged before about Dick MacPherson and Bob Pickett, but was not able to get any hits on the assistant coaches. Anyone have any information they wish to share with us?

UMass History----1973 Team Photo

UMass History 1971

A former UMass player Ed Hajdusek, who played for UMass 1971-'73, was kind enough to send us scans of some UMass historical material.

The following are scans of the 1971 team photo and the 1971 football roster. Right click and Blogger displays a larger view.

1971 was Dick MacPherson's first year as UMass coach. The 1971 UMass squad went 4-4-1 and 3-1-1 in the Yankee Conference. That was UMass' 7th Yankee Conference championship.

Special thanks to Ed for taking the time to provide us with these scans. I don't have any material earlier than 1976.

UMass History---1971 Football Roster