If this is the next banner to don Temple’s campus Monday morning, no one will really be surprised. But hey, maybe they won’t be so humiliated. Hell, if Temple wins I think it should go up in State College. It would be well deserved for the Owls.

After all let’s go back to September 15th when Temple really did beat Connecticut (currently ranked 16). Thanks to the Big East refs for this call. Temple was a 30 point underdog in that game and battled through it and made an incredible 4th down reverse play. Unless you are clinically blind you can see the replay shows Bruce Francis’ left foot in bounds.

So why then, can’t Temple do it again this week versus Penn State? Is it because the Philadelphia area is flooded with Nittany Lions fans in their ridiculous blue and white? Penn State fans are so caught up in the fact that they have a “prestigious” football program and Joe Paterno who has been coaching since the turn of last century, they won’t even see Temple coming.

QB Anthony Morelli has eight interceptions so far this season and has been sacked 19 times. If Temple pressures him regularly they can stop the bleeding before it gets out of control. Penn State’s leading rusher, Rodney Kinlaw, has nearly 900 rushing yards thus far so the D-line will have to keep an eye out for him as well.

On the other side of the ball Temple is without their starting QB Adam DiMichele. Backup Vaughn Charlton has a better completion percentage than DiMichele since he took over two weeks ago. If he plays well he could be the spark that Temple needs to send Bruce Francis down the field and go for the deep threat. Something that the Owls have been able to pride themselves on all season has been the run. Nate Harper has run for over 400 yards and has shown he can plow through the pile.

Yes, this all seems very hard to imagine. Temple has given up 24 consecutive games to Penn State which shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Al Golden really has Temple students (and players) beginning to believe in the program now. In a season that has been blanketed with upset victories week after week, why can’t Temple do it too?