12.29.23
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Kurt Warner admits E.J. blew it (kinda sorta)

“Those opps did not come, UNFORTUNATELY.”

_ Kurt Warner, talking about E.J. Warner’s “opportunities” after transferring from Temple

E.J. Warner blew it.

Without saying so, Kurt Warner pretty much said it in as many words the other day.

The word “unfortunately” (our emphasis) says it all.

It looks as though from that one-sentence quote above that Warner was looking for a Power 5 opportunity and had to “settle” for another team in conference, Rice, with the same goals and aspirations as the team he left, Temple.

If it was unfortunate to Kurt that “opps” did not come you’ve got to think that if that information was known before transfer portal time Warner might have remained put.

At best, it’s a lateral move because Temple has had much more success in the sport over the last 15 years than Rice has had. E.J. probably didn’t care.

Unfortunately is a very good word because unfortunately Temple took a huge public relations hit by Warner landing at a fellow conference team at least perceived to be no better than the one he left.

The website Crossing Broad said it was embarrassed for Temple that Warner left for Rice. Long-time college writer Mike Jensen also publicly scratched his head over the move.

Since ultimately the kid (and maybe not the dad) made the final decision, it’s on him. In his mind, Rice was better than Temple and maybe this bowl season backs him up.

You can tell a lot about the state of Temple football by watching these bowl games, even though the Philadelphia Owls haven’t been a participant in a bowl since four years and two days ago. The Houston Owls have been in bowl games the last two seasons.

On Thursday, 6-6 Boston College, the same team that squeaked by Bob Chesney and Holy Cross, 31-28, hammered a team that destroyed Temple, 55-0.

Just goes to show you how far Temple has fallen.

We as fans have seen it.

So apparently has E.J. Warner.

The same people who put a roster together capable of losing 55-0 to a conference foe are still in charge of putting the 2024 roster together.

The defensive coordinator who was in charge of the FIU defense when it allowed 39 points a game and the Temple defense when it allowed 38.7 ppg is still in charge.

Evan Simon is still the projected starting quarterback even though both Matt Sluka and Reece Poffenbarger are still in the portal and remained unclaimed.

Can’t give anyone the warm and fuzzies about TU’s 2024 chances.

Let’s hope E.J. didn’t make the right decision. Hell, I hope A.J. Padgett beats him out for the starting job and E.J. rides the pine for the rest of his career. It won’t make Temple look any better if E.J. shines there.

Right now, though, unfortunately, E.J. looks like he’s made the right decision. It’s up to Drayton to prove him wrong by bringing in a lot more talent than he already has. This current roster is about one dynamite quarterback and a half-dozen starters short of, say, Rice.

Monday: What’s The Holdup?

19 thoughts on “Kurt Warner admits E.J. blew it (kinda sorta)”

  1. Why would anyone wish this kid (or any kid) anything but success. Whether it was a good or bad decision for him to leave, he deserves to make the choice. I hope he at least has better protection than he had here. I’ll always root for TU, but will wish those who leave the very best.

    Reply

    • Susan because as was said in The Godfather, “It’s just business”. I look at transfers the same as NFL free agents once you leave my team I could care less about you. I totally agree with the John Chaney sentiment Mike posted

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      • Not suggesting we should all follow, or be fans of our players after they leave, but I still wish them well. And I won’t waste my energy hoping they do poorly so we can look better. As someone who has seen the good, bad, and ugly, the only kids I’m willing to judge a bit harshly are the ones who don’t give it their all while they’re here.

      • It’s not wasting any energy to not be upset (double negative there, I know) if A.J. Padgett, someone loyal to Rice over the last three years, beats out the carpetbagger.

      • Granted. I’m just not invested in what happens elsewhere/after someone leaves. And again, my personal perspective causes me to wish all of them the best wherever they land. I am well acquainted with the grind of college football. While my experience was before NIL and mass portal influence, the stress that these kids are under is far greater than college sports in my day. Also, lest we not forget, these kids are there to get an education in addition to sports and there is more pressure there to excel than in the past. This is all about players learning how to “adult” and living with whatever the consequences may be. All of that takes precedence over our need to be entertained.

  2. Mike, kind of feel the same way regarding Padgett keeping the starting job at Rice and EJ riding the pine for a year before transferring again to another G5 or FCS program to finish his college career. Part of my reason for that is just reading the comments from Kurt I really get the feeling this may have been the game plan all along but as out of HS the P5 interest still wasn’t there for EJ. I mean Kurt Warner has to know how bad TUFB had fallen and with his connections I’m sure had a good idea of what kind of coach Drayton is. Just get the feeling they read “the audience” wrong and Rice was the best they could do, plus EJ is now closer to Arizona. Unlike a lot of folks on the other TUFB blogs I could care less it EJ sets Rice records, I doubt it or is successful there. I just don’t care since IMO his situation was not what the transfer portal was designed. Also saw another vaunted single digit, McMurray, has hit the portal. Is it just me or is this program still bleeding as badly in the portal as under Carey, just that Carey had more talent who could leave.

    Reply

    • Jalen Brunson left Temple for a few days and was rumored to transfer to BC. Chaney told the press that Brunson was history: “Once you tell me, you don’t love me, it’s over.” (Brunson came back to Temple and he and Chaney patched it up.) That Chaney feeling is pretty much how I feel about every single player who leaves Temple. What good does it do Temple if E.J. goes to Rice and lights it up? None.

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  3. Drayton threw a Hail Mary w/the JUCOs and Simon. IMHO, he’s gone. TUFB won’t go to a bowl next year. And, they may set a another program record. Enter as the underdog for every game.
    3 yrs seems about the going rate these years for a turnaround, even for programs like TU.

    The single digit drama is all on Drayton. He picks the single digits, absent of player input. The aftermath is a stunning statement on his judgement and ability to read the room.

    I told Coach Fish he’s the face of TU Athletics when the team was in Hawaii last week. The BB team is well coached, just short on talent.

    Reply

    • Your first sentence sums up my entire feeling about the program now. Why are we wasting another year with this coaching staff? If Lew Katz was here, the entire staff would have been let go the morning after a 55-0 loss to SMU. That was a stain on Temple. It’s one thing to lose to a national champion team 76-0 but to a conference foe? No. Why is Withers still here? Great comment above about this being business. If you don’t get it done, you SHOULD BE gone (unless, of course, you are a friend of Drayton). That should be a business decision. To say this defense didn’t get it done is a massive understatement. Also, the roster needed to be upgraded and we go for JUCOs? JUCOs when FCS guys are available? That’s a coaching philosophy rooted in minds 20 years ago, not today. That’s Bobby Wallace thinking but this is the type of mindset guys like Drayton and Withers were brought up on. It’s not going to work. Even Stevie Wonder can see that.

      Reply

      • I’m ok with a couple of JUCO players a year if they fill an immediate need. With the current environment I think the bulk of recruiting should be focused on top FCS players and P5 players with 1-2 years eligibility left and no more than a dozen HS recruits. A TUFB staff needs to get a mindset of building within a 2 year window, need to realize very few players that show a P5 level of talent after a year or 2 here at TU will be gone.

    • I love the way he was upset with those two Hawaii losses. You could tell it didn’t sit well with him. I don’t get the same vibe from Drayton visa vee his relationship with Withers. Plus, Fisher gets players from places like Howard (a Division I school) and rarely has to dip into the JUCO ranks.

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  4. Rooting for Temple to lose-it’s the only path to hit the reset button and fire the coaching staff. It’s painful but necessary. Rooting for Evan Simon to succeed because he was a class act teammate at Rutgers and wants to be at Temple. Why blame the kid for the weakness of the program.

    Reply

    • Can’t do it because I think the more likely scenario is that the BOT will pull the plug on the program. Also, much more talented QBs left in the portal than Simon and the “root” here is for these Temple dummies on the coaching staff to recognize that fact.

      Reply

      • From what we’ve seen from this staff over the past 2 years I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that

  5. Stoffel, another single digit, just hit the portal. You are what your record says you are, 3-9. And, your best players on that 3-9 team are gone. You replace your best players with lesser talent. So what are the expectations for 2024? smh

    This Drayton’s last year. The question is what coach in their right mind will answer a call from Arthur Johnson next year?

    “Then came some coaching advice gold from Rhule.
    Don’t take a job – now hear me when I say this because this is deep – where the expectations don’t meet the commitment.”

    Reply

    • Are there any single digits left on the roster? This program is no better at all under Drayton than it was under Carey and we seem to be back to Bobby Wallace recruiting.
      Don’t know where this program goes from here. Seem incapable of being competitive even at the current AAC level. The “home field” situation at the Linc isn’t changing, don’t see student apathy improving nor better alumni support beyond what is there now. As crazy as it sounds, almost not too concerned with all the JUCO recruits since any new coach after Drayton will need to do a complete tear down and rebuild. My guess is the only coach answering Johnson’s call will be another “buddy”

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  6. Inability to read the room. Drayton is worse than Carey. The dramatic departure of single digits started when Drayton publicly denounced Cobbs for his late hit in the USF BEFORE he spoke to Cobbs personally, one on one.

    Yes, the penalty was deplorable. More deplorable was Drayton denouncing the student athlete before he even spoke to Cobbs personally. These are still kids, and they make mistakes. How do you as adults handle their mistakes?

    Withers had the worst defense in the conference. Did Drayton denounce Withers in public? Withers is a grown ass man.

    Reply

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