Delaware: Schedule them and beat them

Temple not only got Delaware’s best current player but stole its best recruit as well.

When a first-year Temple head coach named Wayne Hardin was asked about scheduling Villanova, he came up with his succinct response:

“I’m all for scheduling them and beating them.”

Another first-year Temple coach, K.C. Keeler, would be wise to adopt the same policy in the near future about not only the Wildcats, but his alma mater.

Temple puts fannies in the seats in Delaware and the Blue Hens would do the same in Philly.

Hardin pretty much did both in his 13-year Temple career. He also believed in scheduling smaller school power Delaware and doing the same.

Temple hasn’t scheduled Delaware since Bruce Arians ended that series by saying: “I’m all for scheduling smaller schools but not when you are the biggest game of their season.”

Now, with a former Delaware head coach and the Blue Hens moving up to FBS, it’s time to renew this longstanding rivalry.

There are a couple of reasons for that.

Wayne Hardin’s record against Delaware and legendary coach Tubby Raymond was 8-4, proving that when both teams have a legendary head coach, Temple is the better football school.

One, the storyline.

Former Delaware player and legendary head coach K.C. Keeler is now the head coach of Temple. Keeler stole not only the best Delaware player in the transfer portal but the Blue Hens’ best recruit this year so there’s that.

Two, fannies in the seats.

What visiting team STILL holds the Delaware single-game attendance record?

Temple.

Delaware hailed the acquisition of RB Keveun Mason. He is now at Temple.

That was set when a Joe Klecko-led Owls’ team spanked the Blue Hens, 31-8, before a record crowd.

Temple needs fannies in the seats and visiting Delaware would bring a significant amount (maybe 30-40 percent) of a crowd that could exceed 30,000 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Delaware has asked to play Temple before but the Owls (rightly) demanded a 2-for-1 deal. Delaware wanted a 1-for-1. Temple said thanks but no thanks.

Now that Delaware has joined FBS, maybe the Owls can relent and settle for a home-and-home.

That’s a deal that makes sense for both ballclubs.

Kind of like the Eagles sending Nolan Smith to Cleveland for Myles Garrett. Cleveland gets younger at the same position without losing a whole lot of talent and Philly gets a possible two- and three-peat.

Monday: Football Season is Here (Kinda/Sorta)

8 thoughts on “Delaware: Schedule them and beat them

  1. Rutgers plays Ohio, Miami of Ohio, and Norfolk St out of conference. Meanwhile Temple plays Oklahoma and at Ga Tech…, Delaware makes plenty sense

  2. I loved those Temple – Delaware games at the Vet and at Delaware Stadium. One of my daughters is a Delaware alum – me a TU alum. Some good games. We were their “big game”. But it was a good series which drew nice crowds from both schools. I say get them back on the schedule. Jim Graham, BS ’78

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    • Temple should play a minimum of three games each year against regional teams like Delaware, Nova, UMass, UConn, Rutgers, Maryland, PSU, and Pitt.

      Temple is an outlier in the AAC. The majority of conference away games are out of our regional footprint.

      In this new era of college football the AD still has choices. He should choose to lessen the travel burden for student athletes and promote regional rivalries.

      Play out of conference games in our regional footprint.

      • 6, half of Temple’s 25 schedule is within a “regional” footprint. Add some of the ones you mentioned and there’s a whole schedule closer to home.

      • How does Temple get those regional schools to agree to a series against Temple?

      • Delaware has wanted to play Temple for years but Temple has said 2-1 only. Now that Delaware is FBS Temple should just pick up the phone and offer the 1-1 deal UD always wanted. That’s a trade that benefits both ballclubs. UConn and UMass also want to play. Rutgers will be a harder get, as will Maryland, but Temple should try both. The days of scheduling the Oklahomas of the world should be over. They have too much money and too many resources that Temple can’t match.

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