Morning glory
Temple and Villanova try to get some buzz for their upcoming football game.
Morning glory
Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com
Let me start by stating that I work a night shift at Philly.com. So when word came that Temple and Villanova would be holding a press conference at 8:30 this morning at City Hall to promote their upcoming football game, I wasn't exactly pleased.
But I’m not one of those sportswriters who believes that the rest of the world’s schedules must revolve around theirs (I’m sure you’re shocked to hear that such people exist). So I got myself out of bed at a reasonable hour for once and made my way to Broad Street.
You’ve probably seen the billboards and newspaper ads promoting the game as the Mayor’s Cup. If you’re going to play for a trophy of that name, it helps to have the actual mayor involved. Lo and behold, there was Mayor Nutter joining Al Golden and Andy Talley in front of the cameras.
Perhaps Nutter came down with an interest in college football while in Kentucky yesterday. The Penn grad watched some pretty bad football during his college years, as the Quakers’ best Ivy record while he was there was 4-3 in 1977.
Or maybe there are better motives relating to building community and role models and all that other stuff Nutter talked about as I got my camera set up. I’ll leave that stuff to the politics bloggers.
Let’s focus on the actual football for a moment. In the video you’ll see below, Golden is pretty blunt about the Owls and Wildcats being evenly matched. As he wasn’t at Temple the last time the two teams played, it’s interesting to hear him say that “there is no gap” between the programs.
Which team do you think will win?
Nova has some good skill players and it would be a nice win if they get it, but there is a "gap" between the two schools in what recruits they can get, the divisions they play in, and not least, the places they can play. You'd have to think Temple would be at least a seven point favorite...— Icemannj- If their is no gap between the two, considering Temple has been talking winning the MAC, we are in trouble...— WD40
- Spending almost half of your article telling us what a hard worker you are before getting to the point isn't that professional. We all have hard and sometimes unfair work schedules. Use your word count to tell the story we came to read, not to complain about the politics of your job.— phillygold1
Comment removed.- I would have been nicer about it, but I think phillygold has a point ...— GoPhilsGo
- IT WILL BE SO EMBARRASSING IF MY BIRDS LOSE THIS GAME......AL YOU BETTER HAVEM READY TO WIN...........YOU THINK THEY GET 40K FANS FOR THIS GAME??????? ILUVPHILLYBIRDS!!!!— ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
- We'll post a W just like the last time we played Temple at the Linc. Let's go Cats!!!!— novacat
- No, I don't, mainly because it's a Thursday night. The crowd for their last meeting, in 2003, was 30,090. But that was a Saturday afternoon and the first ever college football game at Lincoln Financial Field. So let's set that number as the benchmark.
- I've watched both teams...well more listened to Nova...as much as I could the last few years. I would assume that Temple is the better team.— HandNik
- I know Villanova won the last time they played. But that was when Temple was losing to average D1 teams 63-0. Temple was 5-7 last year including an OT loss and a loss on a hail mary. And seriously, if Temple can't beat Nova in football, what's the point of playing the rest of the schedule?— bobbyd24
- Shouldn't the Mayor's Cup be for a game where both teams are from Philadelphia?! Villanova is as much a part of Philly as Radnor High School.— DrexelDragonFan
- Nova isn't that far from the city. 10 minute drive down Lancaster..It's a Philly school. PSU on the other hand...— Leron
- If 'Nova wins this game, they better bring that Mayor's Cup with them to Franklin Field 2 weeks later...and be prepared to leave it behind after the Quakers take them out behind the woodshed!— LefkoFallWall
- Who plays football at Franklin Field? Quakers? Is that a Friends School intramural team?— richojr
- nova already owns this town when it comes to college b ball. next up: college football.— NovaWildcats36
Reach Jonathan at jtannenwald@phillynews.com or 215-854-2330.
