Temple enters “must-win” phase of season

Temple spends a lot of money on football but has gotten little in return.

As a Temple fan you have to ask yourself, “does the season end with a loss?”

At this point, the answer for Saturday’s 2 p.m. game with visiting Utah State (2 p.m., ESPN+) has to be a resounding yes.

Simply, to save Stan Drayton’s job anything other 6-6 season puts his team outside top 80 teams in the country. Since there are only 134 teams, that’s less than mediocre.

After four-straight losing years, Temple will be at a crossroads if that becomes five-straight losing seasons.

Unacceptable.

Maybe acceptable for some lesser schools but certainly not acceptable for a school as large and prestigious as Temple University.

The defense must increase risk (blitzing on passing downs) to generate turnovers. That’s the key over the last nine games.

So while the math is challenging after 0-3, it’s almost impossible after 0-4. Losing the first three games means you have to go 6-3 over the last nine to reach a bowl game which is doable in a watered-down AAC. Losing the first four games, though, means 6-2 over the last eight and that is highly unlikely.

Utah State has to be a win.

Like Temple at Oklahoma, Utah State had a blowout loss to an elite team (USC, 48-0). Utah State also struggled to beat Robert Morris, trailing at the half and leading only 20-14 going into the fourth quarter. Robert Morris then lost to Edinboro, which lost to Kutztown. Utah State scored 16 points in the fourth to win going away, 36-14.

If Temple lets the likes of Utah State beat it, an argument can be made by new President John Fry about Temple even being in the football business. Does Edinboro give Utah State a better game than Temple? Does Kutztown?

If so, Temple is spending a lot of money and getting nothing in return on the investment.

The way to turn it around is to start forcing turnovers and the way to do that is to bring more people that they can block on passing downs, which means getting to the quarterback, strip sacks, fumbles and forced interceptions.

The defense Everett Withers has played the last two seasons is essentially a “bend and break” defense. It needs to be more attacking than it ever has been to up that -40 turnover margin Drayton has had in his nearly three years here.

Withers might not want to change his scheme, but Drayton is still the CEO and a strong leader puts his foot down and dictates policy.

Or the organization gets another leader. Drayton doesn’t have nine games left to make that decision.

He’s got one and it’s coming up in five days.

Friday: Utah State Preview

20 thoughts on “Temple enters “must-win” phase of season

  1. Based on this past Saturday’s improved performance against Coastal Carolina with a change for the better at QB, I am confident a win against Utah State will happen. If I am wrong, and if the university administrators are serious about fielding a football program, then big changes will need to happen. And that starts at the top with the HC.

    • Typically, when a new President comes in, the BOT gives the guy carte blanche when it comes to hiring his own AD right away. If this trend holds true, Arthur is gone and then the new AD picks a new HC right away. Only a bowl game can save Stan’s job so 6-3 has to be the goal. Loss to Navy and Memphis being in the league means Temple ain’t winning the league but no one expected that. 3-9 and 3-9 can’t be followed by another 3-9. You are supposed to get better each year, not flatline.

    • Will also say just from an eye test standpoint, Coastal is a significantly better team than Utah State. Hell, Jacksonville State–a team Coastal scored 55 points on–could be better than Utah State. Stan’s got to tell Everett to get out of that vanilla defense and start forcing turnovers.

      • dunno.., Utah St’s offense will present new challenges for the Temple D.

        What has the best chance for first time occurence on Saturday? Temple’s D gets a turnover, the Temple O scores a rushing TD, or the Owl QB goes the entire game w/o a turnover?

        Amazing questions for the fourth game of the season.

  2. seeing that less than 15000 attended that first home game, my heart sank even lower. This can not continue, what an embarrassment at the national level.

    • I don’t blame the fans. When you go 1-6, 3-9, 3-9, 3-9 that’s when a majority of them find other things to do on Saturdays. Go 6-1, 9-3, 9-3, 9-3 and that 15K turns into 30K but it’s going to take awhile. Too crony buddy hires put us in this position. Can’t say Temple wasn’t warned. After Carey, the last thing Temple needed was another buddy hire. Go out and get the best HC available with Philly and SJ recruiting connections.

      • You are right on the money Mike. If you win they will come. Hire the best HC available. It’s pretty simple really. Maybe current Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden can be lured back to Owl Nation as HC. That would take big $$ I’m sure. Of course that’s a long shot. Be tough to leave a storied program like Notre Dame to take over the helm here at TU.

  3. I would consider this : I think a great, motivated NJ or Pa HS Head Coach with a record of multi winning season would be something to consider. Sure he needs to be aided by a group of experienced college level assistant coaching. It can’t be much worse than today and just maybe he can get some true local HS talent. Plus, he can be bought at 1.1 million per year to start Tell me why not ?

  4. Whoops, did not know that about Mr. Pettine of course. May he RIP.

  5. What’s the difference between 1-11 and 0-12? Not much!

    Rumors have Tulane and Memphis leaving the AAC. The AAC adds Texas St, UMass, or AF as backfills?

    The more college football changes the more I admire the MAC. Arguably it’s the most geographically and culturally sound conference in America.

    • Temple is ideally located where a regional lineup within fairly easy driving distances could provide out-of-conference games: UCONN, UMASS, Buffalo, Rutgers, Maryland, Delaware, Villanova to name a few.

      • And don’t forget about Syracuse, Vir Tech, JMU, Army and Navy as local/regional opponents. As well as Penn, William & Mary and Lafayette. Delaware is moving up (finally). Temple could put together a nice regional schedule as an independent or move down to Div 1-AA. There are possibilities besides dropping football.

    • isn’t UMASS rejoining the MAC as a full member next year? Saw the article about AF today so my assumption would be football only member and if Memphis leaves AAC becomes a weaker basketball conference

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