Another year, one foot closer to the invariable end all of us face.

For me, the number is shocking because I outlived a lot of damn close good friends, like fellow Temple fan John Belli and the great Daily News high school writer Ted Silary.

Belli, I had many “Belli” laughs with at Temple games and tailgates and Ted I had many “belly” laughs with covering Philadelphia high school games together. They were both about my age.

On Tuesday, I learned that the best damn copy editor I ever had at The Philadelphia Inquirer—Al “Moose” Campbell–(nobody called him Al) passed. He was only a couple years older than me.

Everybody wishes for good things on their birthday but sharing Juneteenth with one of the greatest days in U.S. history–the official freeing of the slaves in Texas, ending slavery in the country–makes it a memorable day not just for me but for eternity.

As a Temple fan, though, I’m realistic.

It would be nice to hit tonight’s Mega Millions and get the $452 million, forward $400 million of it to Temple football and scrape by with the few years I have left on $52 million. Not a damn penny to Temple basketball because I’m sick of the mindset online that says Temple football is holding back Temple basketball. Get one of those fans to win the next $452 million.

That way, Temple wins the next four national titles and proves to the rest of the world how flawed this current college football system is and they got back to room, board and tuition. Even I, who loves to win more than anyone, will feel a little guilt for Temple winning under those parameters.

If an even college football playing field means no fifth-straight natty for Temple, that’s a price I’m willing to pay.

That’s not realistic, though, but what is gives Temple an advantage and I will take that wrapped up in a box with a nice bow on it.

For the Keelers–K.C. and Janice–to keep their promise and make Temple their last coaching stop.

That would give Temple the kind of stability no other university–either P4 or G5–has.

We’ve seen coaches promise fealty to Temple before. On the day Steve Addazio was hired by Temple he called it his “dream job.” Two years later, he said the same thing about Boston College.

Two DAYS, not two years, before Matt Rhule was hired by Baylor he said he wouldn’t sell his soul to another school for $4 million because “I’d rather coach these (Temple) kids.”

One day after winning a title for the Temple kids, he sold his soul for the $4 million.

This promise, though, has a different feel.

One, Keeler is the winningest active Division I college head football coach. Two, everybody else not named Keeler leaves for so-called greener pastures.

Keeler is a special case. He’s from here. His kids are living here. His grandkids are rooted here. There is a real anchor to Philadelphia for the Keelers that did not exist in the past for other Temple coaches.

Given that, what a tremendous recruiting tool in an era where the kids know full well the coach who recruits them is not likely to be the same guy who is there at the end of their college careers–or even halfway through–that exists now.

Temple offers stability.

Nobody else does.

That sets Temple apart from everyone else and by association, every Temple fan apart from a fan of any other college football school.

Failing a financial windfall that is probably not forthcoming, that’s a birthday present any Temple fan (not just me) can’t top.

Monday: Speed Kills