by Mike Gibson

There’s the real world and there’s Temple

The real world coaching hot seat. You can take Matt Rhule off that list.

In the real world, an employee who shows gross incompetence gets a period of about two months, not a year or years to evaluate his performance.

It’s called a probationary period.

Matt Rhule’s probationary period has come and gone and, in the long and storied history Temple football employees, he deserves a longer look.

In the real world, the boss calls Rhule in after a performance like Saturday night (and a lot of Saturday days before that) and says, “Matt, you’re a good guy, but you are not cut out for this job. The guy who hired you wasn’t my guy. I now have my own guy as athletic director I want to have my own guy as head football coach. After watching Pete Lembo beat Indiana with Ball State talent every year, I decided he’s my guy. I want to be able to beat Penn State with Temple talent next year and I think he’s better suited to do that than you are. That’s why I’m bringing in Pete Lembo from Muncie, Ind. to replace you at the end of the season. You can coach the final game. Good luck, Matt. Here’s your severance check. No hard feelings. I think Kutztown might have an opening after next season. I’ll give you a good reference.”

That’s what the real world does. That’s what USC did to Lane Kiffin (a winning coach this season). That’s what UConn did to Paul Pasqualoni. That’s what evenly lowly Eastern Michigan did to Ron English.

There’s the real world and there’s Temple.

At Temple, they allowed a most incompetent coach, Bobby Wallace, hang around for eight years to nearly destroy a program.

In one of the comments in the story below, a poster named Dave says he “would not be shocked” to see Rhule fired by 10 a.m. Monday morning.

I would.

That’s just not the way Temple has operated for the past 30 years. Maybe the new guys, Neil Theobald and Kevin Clark, are much more connected to the real world of major intercollegiate athletics than the Ann Weaver Harts and the David Adamanys were.

I’m OK with how Temple does business in this way. You need to give a guy five years, not one or two.

Still, I get that he wants to be the anti-Daz with all this passing, but did the thought EVER occur to him that Zaire Williams could have ripped of a few second-half runs like that spectacular touchdown run he had in the first half if given the chance? Tunnel-vision, that’s what it is. You do not abandon the run game with a 21-0 lead, you embrace the run game.

Addazio had virtually the same talent against a better UConn team last year and shut the Huskies out in the second half. Rhule allowed a worse version of the Huskies to score 28 points in the second half. With the same talent, the only variable in this lab experiment is coaching.

How do you play Central Florida so well and lose to a team Central Florida beat, 63-17? Mind-boggling. How do you lose to arguably the worst team in the history of the FBS in Idaho (double-mind boggling)? How do you lose to a Fordham team that lost to Lafayette (triple-mind-boggling)?

In this high-stakes’ game of major college intercollegiate athletics, three strikes like that usually mean you are out. Temple doesn’t play that game of hardball and we are OK with that here and now. Five years from now, maybe not but Matt deserves a longer look.

Halftime Adjustments?

Game	First Half Points	Second Half Points
Notre Dame	6	0
Houston	13	0
Cincinnati	20	0
UConn	21	0

Temple is the only team in America with these dubious distinctions: Giving two ESPN Bottom 10 teams their only win of the season and being the only team shut out in the second half of four games. Either the coaches of four other teams are coming up with a lot of adjustments or the coach of one team isn’t. Or both.

11.13.13

by Mike Gibson

5 College Football Upsets This Week

There are a lot of good coaches who have perfected the art in the MAC and one of the best-ever is Pete Lembo. Click on photo for 5 upsets this week.

There are a lot of good head coaches who have perfected their craft in the MAC and one of the best-ever is Pete Lembo of Ball State, a former head coach at Lehigh. Click on photo for 5 upsets this week.

10.01.13

by Mike Gibson

Breaking Bad: Temple’s season

Matt Rhule has plenty of company in his misery. Four other new coaches have experienced similar “success” and click over the photo to read about them.

Like 10.5 million of my fellow countrymen, I watched the final episode of Breaking Bad on Sunday night.
If you a fan of great writing, as I am, there was no more well-written show than Breaking Bad.
A compelling story has a beginning, middle and end all neatly tied together.
That’s why I loved Breaking Bad.
I think the Temple season is very much like the show.
In the beginning, while I had my doubts about the lead character, we’ll call him Matt Rhule because that’s his name, I fell for the “we’re not a 4-7 team” comment, thinking that was pretty much Rhule guaranteeing without saying that this 2013 team would do better than 4-7.

Not asking here for a return to Dazball,
but a more balanced offensive scheme
appears to be in order.
Use the run to set up the play-action
pass, not keep attempting 50-yard bombs
that are overthrown by 10 yards
all of the time. Use Chris Coyer
coming around the end and give him
a run-pass option as part of the team’s
regular Tennessee-Chattanooga offense.
Every football organization in America,
except maybe this braintrust at 10th
and Diamond, knows the Wildcat
offense never works anymore.

I didn’t think last year’s team was a 4-7 team, either, and I felt since most of that team was back 4-7 was an unacceptable benchmark for this one.
Let’s face it, this team won’t get four wins. Wins over Idaho and Fordham were a must to get to a bowl game and those bowl prospects now are about as dead as Walter White.
The Temple team that scored 62 points on Army doesn’t exist anymore. Yes, the same guys who opened those interstate-highway-wide holes for Montel Harris to run through still exist on this team, but this coaching staff would rather throw 50-yard bombs to slow edge receivers than commit to a more balanced approach.
Not asking here for a return to Dazball, but a more balanced offensive scheme appears to be in order.

Ft. Knox checking in … which reminds us, if you like this blog, send a gold bar or even a small contribution via the pay pal link on the sidebar. Thanks.

Use the run to set up the play-action pass, not keep attempting 50-yard bombs that are overthrown by 10 yards all of the time. Use Chris Coyer coming around the end and give him a run-pass option as part of the team’s regular Tennessee-Chattanooga offense. Every football organization in America, except maybe the braintrust at 10th and Diamond, knows the Wildcat offense never works anymore.
Do that, and you get better protection for your quarterbacks to hit those kind of throws.
The offense is at least fixable.
The defense is a disaster, but I expected that from a coordinator who gave up 44 points a game two years ago and 38 points a game last year. The definition of insanity is hiring a DC who gave up that many points in his last job and expecting him to do a better job in his next one.
We are now entering the middle of this story and, if the first few chapters are any indication, it’s not going to be a good end.
While the season is Breaking Bad, the story unfolding in it is nowhere near as compelling.

http://templefootballforever.blogspot.com/2013/01/meet-your-new-likely-coordinators.html

08.10.13

by Mike Gibson

Temple football tops on national website

Today’s Temple at Notre Dame story led the national Rantsports.com college football website.

Temple was skewed recently by a Notre Dame writer who pulled a lot of the pre-Al Golden history and tried to portray Temple as the program that existed prior to Al Golden’s arrival in 2005.

Fortunately, astute college football fans know that, except for last year’s brain cramp by Steve Addazio, Temple has really been one of the most successful programs in the country over the past five seasons.

Today, my story on the Temple at Notre Dame game led the national Rantsports.com website.

The complete story can be read here by clicking over the first three words of this sentence. Rantsports.com employs a team of professional editors hired away from major newspapers across the country. Only professional journalists are considered for hire as part Rantsports.com’s writing team.

The Notre Dame writer’s version on Bleacher Report doesn’t even deserve a read but I will link it over the first three letters of this sentence as a point of reference. Bleacher Report employs no editors and allows just about anyone to write for its site. As a result, there is a big difference in credibility of the two sites.

Last donations:

Mark B., South Jersey (at today’s C and W game), 4/11/26 (thanks to my longtime friend, Mark for thinking of this blog)
Phil E., Lorton, Va. (3/22/26… thanks, Phil!)

Brian C., Philly (2/6/26 thanks BC)

Owen R., Wellington, Fla., 2/5/26 (thanks so much to this great Temple grad…. we can now afford to take this main laptop to get my “n” “r” and “e” keys unstuck …. very much appreciated)

Ed S., New Hope, Pa. 1/30/26 (thanks, Ed)

Jon E., Cincinnati, 1/12/26

William B., Phoenixville (12/9/25, thanks William, our first contribution since Oct.) Ed S., New Hope, and Joe S., Drexel Hill thanks to both Ed and Joe; David N., Silver Spring, Md. 10/10/25 (thanks so much, Dave) Brian C., North Philly 9/27/25 ; John from Landenberg (who we sat next to when Temple beat Maryland, 38-7) at the game today 9/6/25 (thanks, John); Jon E., Cincinnati (8/30/25), thanks, Jon; David K., Glen Mills, 8/25/25; Eric B., San Diego 8/23/25; Jay M., Salem Ore. 8/15/25 (proving that Temple Owls are everywhere. Thanks, Jay). Another anonymous donation from the same source (thanks a bunch), 8/10/2025; Anonymous (your generosity is greatly appreciated, much thanks) and Joe F., Nashville, Tenn,, 8/5//25 (thanks, Joe, our first contribution in over a month); Steve B., Rose Valley, Pa., a Temple fan (thanks, Steve, that goes in the pot for a backup laptop if this one goes down Only $300 away), 7/6/25:

Earlier:

6/15/25 (Ed S., New Hope–thanks Ed!!!)

Earlier:

Michael A., Havertown, PA (thanks, Mike); 5/14/25 Anoymous (thanks, much appreciated) 4/25/25, David B., Delaware (owner of the most photogenic dog on the internet and someone who I and the late Phil M. had a great conversation with at the 2012 UConn game… can’t believe how time flies, thanks, Dave!!! will definitely meet up again at the next Temple at Delaware game); Matt P. (former Temple player under Al Golden), 4/21/2025 (thanks, Matt, could not have come at a better time because we have a bill for this site coming 4/30 and did not know how we were going to pay it); Brian, Philadelphia (thanks, Brian for being a long-time reader, sorry I missed you at C&W this year) 4/15/25; Ed S., New Hope, PA (4/6/25; thanks Ed, our first donation in nearly two months);

2/8/25: Anonymous.

Robert G., Quakertown, 12/17/24 and Joe F., Philadelphia, 12/16/24.. thanks for taking some of the sting out of paying to fix this laptop. Much appreciated.

Others:

Brian C., Philadelphia.

Anonymous, Anywhere USA (thanks for the generous donation), 9/2/24; David B., Delaware (8/24/24), thanks, David!) Ed P., Yardley, Pa. (6/20/24) …. thanks, Ed!!

David E., Philadelphia, Pa., 6/19/24 (thanks David); Zamani F., Philadelphia, Pa. June 7 (thanks, Z) Michael A., Havertown, Pa, May 9; John J., South Bloomingville, Ohio May 5; Hill Studios, Paulsboro, N.J. (thanks for breaking the longest time between contributions in TFF history), May 1, 2024 (the three May contributions will keep us afloat through the summer, thanks, Mike, John and Hill Studios it’s great to know people care); Jon E., Cincinnati, 10/11/23 (thanks, Jon); John from Landenburg at the Miami game (in the parking lot no less), 9/23/23. Thanks, John. Great conversation as always.

Two donations on opening day against Akron, one at the game from Ed of Perkasie and one from the greatest punter in Temple history, Eddie L., of the same hometown of Bruce Springsteen (our first contributions since April and they keep this site going; much appreciated); Heriberto S., McDonough, GA, 4/24/23 (thanks, Heriberto!!) Two on 4/14/23 (thanks to Joe F. and Ross M. ); Tom W., Palm Coast, Fla. 2/18/23 (thanks, Tom!!!)Ed P., Yardley, Pa. (1/9/23; thanks, Ed,) Lawrence S., West Chester, Pa., 12/28/22, our first contribution in over a month (thanks Larry, this will help in having to replace the printer we purchased in the summer that went on the fritz); Bob C., Chadds Ford, Pa., 11/27/22 (thanks Bob, our first contribution since September) Ed P., Perkasie, Pa. who donated 9/24/22 at the UMass game and Ed and I both remember and love Pennridge coach Wayne Helman; Joe S. (Delaware County), 9/3/22 (thanks Joe, hope to see you at Lafayette or RU); James G. (thanks James and for all the great posts you make on this site),, 7/29/22: Matt P. (former Al Golden player, thank you Matt for the generous donation it will be put to good use as we will explain in Monday’s post), 6/9/22; Matt F., Horsham, Pa. (thanks, Matt!!), June 6, 2022; David, B., Milton, DE (thanks, Dave), April 11, 2022: Andy B., Philadelphia, Pa. (our first donation of 2022, thanks Andy), March 3, 2022; Ed P., Yardley, Pa. 12/25/21 (thanks, Ed for the Christmas donation); Matt F., no hometown found (“a celebratory donation for Carey’s firing”), 11/30/21 thanks, Matt; Jon E., Cincinnati, Ohio, 11/29/21 (thanks, Jon for the donation and the great comments on this site); James G., Royersford, Pa. 11/28/21 (thanks, Jim, for the donations and your comments on the website); Anonymous (no home town given but donation really appreciated), 11/20/2021; Roger D., Rehoboth Beach,, Del., 10/24/21; Joe S., Drexel Hill, Pa. 10/3/21 (thanks, Joe) At the BC game (9/18), John from Landenburg (thanks, John for being a great friend of this site for so many years); Three Aug. 21 donations: Eric A (former player), Atlanta, Ga; Anonymous (by request), Cincinnati, Oh; Tim R., Buffalo, N.Y. (sincere thanks to all); David N., Silver Springs, Md (thanks Dave) 7/10/21; former Temple player Matt P., who lives in Columbus, GA now (thanks Matt) 7/9/21; Joe F., Philadelphia (4/7/11, thanks Joe) Matt F., Horsham, Pa., 3/27/21 (thanks, Matt); Jon E., Cincinnati, Ohio (1/31/21, thanks Jon) Ed P.,, Yardley, Pa. (thanks, Ed, much appredicated), 1/16/21; Mitchell S. , 12/21/20, our first contribution since (10/8) earlier, Former Owl Bruce G., Flourtown, Pa, who generously donated $100 in “honor” of the Ambler guy 10/8/20; (if they hate you in Ambler, we love you in Flortown,” BG says). Thanks, BG, we appreciate it; Earlier: James G., Philadelphia (7/21/20, thanks James) Robert B., Philadelphia (7/13/20, thanks, Bob, hope to see you at the tailgates again this fall); Previous: Jon E. from Cincinnati 6/15/20, our first donation this calendar year (thanks, Jon); Earlier, John from Landenberg; Kurt B., Wyomissing Hills, PA (former Temple player, 10-15-19) Earlier: David B. , Springfield, PA (9/26/19 … thanks, Dave!) also John from Landenberg (9/21/19); Tom W., Palm Coast, Fla. (8/22/19, thanks Tom!! Also, 10 days earlier, Bob. C and Joe S. and, on June 26, first bowl MVP Mark B.

Earlier: Matt F., Philadelphia; Matt P. (former Temple player) John from Landenberg and Jon E. from Cincinnati

Jay M. no hometown found ; Earlier: William B. Chicago; John from Landenberg, ; Mark B, South Jersey, Joe S, Springfield, PA…,

Also:

Ed P., Perkasie, Pa; and Richard W. (no hometown given); Phil E., Lorton, Va.; Tim C., no hometown available; Bob C., David B., Springfield (Montco); Mark B., from South Jersey; John from Landenberg, Pa.; Joe S., Primos, PA; Thomas W., Palm Coast Fla; Jon E., Cincinnati; Mike S.,no hometown; Ed P., Yardley; William B., Chicago; Matt M., Philadelphia; Matt T.., Oreland; Kevin H., Philadelphia; John from Landenberg, Pa.; Carl M, Silver Spring, Md.;; Brett K., Swedesboro, N.J.; Joe S., Primos, Pa.; Ed M., Paoli, Pa.; Phil E., Lorton, Va.; Ross M., Garden City, NY; David K., Malvern; Jon E., Cincinnati ; Jon, SE Ohio; Cordalia and Jim S., Eastampton, NJ.; Herb G., Newport News, Va.; Richard W., Royersford; Matt T., Philadelphia, Pa.; MWB, Mechanicsville, Va.; Phil E., Lorton, Va.; K.J., Alexandria, Va.; Jeff D., Philadelphia,; Michael R., Philadelphia,Matt T, Philadelphia, Pa.; Ed M., Paoli, Pa.(8 in a row for 8 in a row, thanks EM); Jake and Diane Gicker, Dunmore, Pa.; Ed M., Paoli, Pa.; Adrian R. Sr., Harrisburg, Pa.; Frank M., Marlton, N.J.; Ernie, Millville, N.J.; ; Jay M., Salem, Ore.; Joe S., Primos, Pa.; Phil E., Lorton, Va; Tom W., Palm Coast, Fla.; Matt M., (five donations in a row); Kevin F., Philadelphia, Pa.;Matt M. (three donations in a row, thanks, Matt); Matt M.; Matt M.; Brian C., Philadelphia, Pa.; Matt M., Hometown ;Unknown; David N., Silver Spring, Md.; Matt M., hometown unknown; Frank K., Horseheads, N.Y.; Mike F., Montauk, N.Y.; John, Landenberg, Pa.; Michael B, D.C.; Joe S., Primos, Pa.; James G., Philadelphia, Pa.; Michael R., Philadelphia, Pa.; David N., Silver Spring (Md.);
Mark H., Gilbertsville, Pa.; Lisa M., Hummelstown, Pa.; Johnny Who, West Chester, Pa.; John T., Medford, N.J. (formerly North Catholic, Philly); Jon, SE Ohio; Jay M., Salem, Ore.; Dan M., Moscow, Pa.; Cyrus, Oklahoma City; Jon E., Cincinnati; Chris K., Harrisburg, Pa.; Chip M., Silver Spring, Md.; Dave B., Springfield, Pa.; Kent J., Alexandria, Va.; Ross M., Garden City, N.Y.; Joe S., Primos, Pa.; Ed F., Philadelphia, Pa.; Frank P., Jamison, Pa.; Jon E., Cincinnati, Ohio; Phil E., Lorton, Va.; Matt G., Haddonfield, N.J.; Tom L., Charlottesville, Va.; Thomas S., Landisville, Pa.; Jack D., Haddonfield, N.J.; Heriberto S., McDonough, Ga; Dr. Jim S., Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Dick White, Milton, Del.; Matt T., Philadelphia; Jerome S., North Caldwell, N.J.; Mike D., Fairview, N.C.; Tim W., Myerstown, Pa.; Edward P., Yardley, Pa.; Tom W., Palm Coast, Fla.; Kurt B., Wyomissing, Pa.; Joe S., Primos, Pa.; Tom S., East Norriton, Pa.; Jon E., Cincinnati, Ohio; Matt T., Yardley, Pa.; Steve C., West Chester, Pa.; Floyd, Blackwood, N.J.; Jim J., Chalfont, Pa.; John, Landenberg, Pa; Jon E., Cincinnati; Ron A., Camp Hill, Pa.; Jay S., Jenkintown, Mr. John H.; Jonathan N., Atlanta, Ga.; Michael E., Levittown, Pa.; Ted D., Media, Pa. Nick and Sharon, Upper Bucks County; Phil E., Lorton, Va.; Todd H., New York City; Alex H., Westport, CT; Joe S., Primos, PA; Kent J., Alexandria, Va.; Ross M., Garden City, N.Y.; Stanley G., Mountain Top, Pa.; David N., Silver Spring, Md.; Micah F., Philadelphia, Pa.; James S., Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Tom W., Palm Coast, Fla.; Johnny B. at the Hill Studio, Paulsboro, N.J.; Nick C., Philadelphia; Tom C., Birmingham, Ala.; Phil. E. (Fast Phil), Lorton, Va; Jerome S., North Caldwell, N.J.; Kent J., Alexandria, Va.; George P., Downingtown, Pa.; Edward F., Philadelphia; Bryan S., North East, Pa.; Josh P., West Chester, Pa.; Brent Z., Atlanta, Ga.; David B., Springfield (D), Pa; Lisa M., Hummelstown, Pa.; David H., Pottstown, Pa.; Brian O., Ambler, Pa; Frank P., Jamison, Pa.; Brian C., Philadelphia; Mark B., Manlius, N.Y.; Ted D., Media; Scott J., Columbus, Ohio; Thomas H., Mullica Hill, N.J.; George T., Rehoboth Beach, Del.; Rob G., Fleetwood, Pa; Steve C., West Chester, Pa.; Fred A., St. Augustine, Fla.; Michael S., Westfield, N.J.; John, Landenberg, Pa.; Kent J., Alexandria, Va.; Frank P., Jamison, Pa; Matt G., Basking Ridge, N.J.; Joe S., Primos, PA; Nick and Sharon, Upper Bucks County; John T., Medford, N.J.; Cap P., Finksburg, Md; Coolowl, New York City; Michael B., Washington, D.C.; Oakee, Salem, VA; Rob from Fleetwood; John from New Kensington; Kathyrn, Bloomingville, Ohio; Rockland Owl; Matt, Haddonfield, N.J.; Anthony, New York City; Jason F., Berlin (N.J.); Ed, New Hope; Mark B., Manlius, N.Y.; Mike, Lindenwold, N.J.; Tom C., Birmingham, Ala. Jim, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Kurt, Wyomissing Hills, PA;
Dave, Ocean City, N.J.; James, Chalfont; Ross, Garden City (N.Y.); Schmitty, Ocean City, N.J.; Sarge (via Schmitty);
Broad Street Leon; Martin, Encino (Calif.); John, Boston; Mike, Susannanoa, N.C.; Francis, Lansdale; Tom L., Charlottesville, Va.; Mark, Gilbertsville, Pa.; Frank, Sebastian, Fla.; George, Toms River, N.J.; Tom, Branchburg, N.J.; Chris, Philly (our first Philly donation!); John, Landenberg, Pa.; Tom S. East Norriton, Pa.;

Quotable

"It's very difficult for us to represent to our students that this is a first-rate University without providing the experiences that are offered elsewhere. A great football team, a great basketball team, a great dance program [among other things] . . . our students are entitled to all of that and we will provide it." _ the late Howard Gittis, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Temple University

"Temple's success in 1A football would clearly help its image. Immediate positive public identification with Temple as a whole is what we're talking about. .... Temple's overall image has been boosted by the success of men's basketball led by Coach Chaney. Success in 1A football would have a far greater impact nationally than basketball (or virtually anything else) in developing the University's overall image. . ...Universities with 1A football programs must invest to succeed ..."
_ Peter J. Liacouras, Chancellor, Temple University

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Tag Archives: Matt Rhule

There’s the real world and there’s Temple

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Breaking Bad: Temple’s season

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Temple football tops on national website