share
email
font size
options
 
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Is Temple the 17th-best team in the nation?

Temple is up to 32 points in this week's AP football poll. That's the equivalent of 29th place. They also got 17 points in the coaches' poll and 48 points in the Harris poll.

Breaking down the AP balloting, the Owls gained a vote from CBS College Sports play-by-play announcer Tom Hart (he called the Utah-TCU game this past Saturday), But they fell off the ballot of John Davis of the Oxford Eagle (Mississippi).

We've seen the growing consensus that the Owls are at least worth being near the Top 25, though they still haven't cracked it quite yet.

But I was still surprised to see Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette rank Temple 17th.

I also couldn't help noticing that Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle ranked the Owls 18th and Penn State 17th. So in the list below of who ranked the Owls on their ballots, I decided to also note where those voters ranked the Nittany Lions.

Mike Hlas of the Cedar Rapids Gazette rightly noted on his blog today that he was the first AP voter to rank Temple, and he says the bandwagon has a few more passengers now. Do you think the Owls can make it into the Top 25?

Of note, Ryan Finley of the Arizona Daily Star is the only writer who has MAC Western Division champions Central Michigan on his ballot, at No. 25.

Also of note, ESPN's Chris Fowler has Penn State ranked No. 22. What do you think of that?

Scott Wolf, Los Angeles Daily News: 20th / 6 points (Penn State 19th)
Ray Ratto, San Francisco Chronicle: 19th / 7 points (Penn State 18th)
Jon Wilner, San Jose Mercury News: 25th / 1 point (Penn State 23rd)
Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette (Iowa): 22nd / 4 points (Penn State 11th) 4 points
Keith Sargeant, Home News Tribune/Gannett (New Jersey): 25th / 1 point (Penn State 12th)
Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 17th / 9 points (Penn State 11th)
Travis Haney, Charleston Post and Courier (South Carolina): 24th (Penn State 13th) 2 points
Eric Schmoldt, Casper Star-Tribune (Wyoming): 25th / 1 point (Penn State 15th)
Tom Hart, CBS College Sports: 25th / 1 point (Penn State 11th)

Posted by Jonathan Tannenwald @ 9:22 PM  Permalink | 14 comments
14
Comments   
Comment removed.
Posted 12:18 AM, 11/23/2009
Pelti
We need to nuke this ridiculous system where the best teams don't play one another, and a vote by reporters is one of the key factors in seeding the bowl games. Replace it with tiered system where teams can play their way up or down over the course of years, and they only play teams at their own level, no more pretenders touting a record that was mostly beating up on creampuff opponents.
Posted 08:23 AM, 11/23/2009
tjc
Like Utah last year, Pelti?
Posted 08:34 AM, 11/23/2009
dpcoz
If Boise State doesn't get a shot as a BCS game, I would consider it unacceptable. Just because another BCS school is ahead of them in the standings (TCU) doesn't mean they should be excluded. You really think the annual Big 10 victim's going to do anything in the Rose Bowl?
Posted 08:39 AM, 11/23/2009
Clifton
The nice thing is that Temple has finally made it's way to the football charts. It is always great when the cards that are stacked against the have nots fall and the little guy triumphs. You go Temple
Posted 08:49 AM, 11/23/2009
madkins7
Temple is a very good team. Mainline girls can stop crying and look forward to their superbowl to start next season.
Posted 09:03 AM, 11/23/2009
HandNik
It is amazing to track the progress of Temple's team. They get booted out of the Big East, play as an independent, then join the MAC. There was a lot of talk about dropping football. Now they are getting votes in the polls. Central Michigan should be getting more votes than them. They beat a BCS conference team.
Posted 09:04 AM, 11/23/2009
xxx
I'm not sure Temple merits 17th but it is nice seeing Temple football becoming a good program worthy of top-25 consideration. Go Owls!
Posted 09:32 AM, 11/23/2009
ILUVPHILLYCITYOFLOSERS
Nick....you sound like a b**ch.........This is like a recording....next is "I'd rather be ranked second in 1AA than 29th in 1A" DON'T BE SO BITTER CLOWN.........Good news is after next yrs game this won't be an issue anymore with you clowns.......
Posted 11:34 AM, 11/23/2009
EXIT9RALF
Go Owls!!!
Posted 01:33 PM, 11/23/2009
faralli
Good for Temple and more importantly good for the student athletes of temple. As for playng creampuffs, let's look at Penn State. Name me a team that they beat this year that can be considered really good? The Temple game might be their best win all year. They got smoked by Ohio State and Iowa, the only two good teams in their conference. Not sure why these haters and nattering nabobs of negativity come from but they should crawl back into their hole. Enjoy Owl fans, this year is well deserved.
Posted 02:41 PM, 11/23/2009
papreps
You question should be "why not Temple?" for the top rankings and not pooh-pooh the local squad
Posted 08:30 PM, 11/23/2009
smfree31
I'm an alum, and love Temple, but until they beat a quality team I don;t think so.
Posted 08:52 PM, 11/23/2009
faralli
Smfree31 must have missed the Navy game. A real engaged alum. What a dope.
About Jonathan Tannenwald
I fell in love with the Big 5 at first sight upon moving to Philadelphia in 2002. At various points in my journalistic career, I've covered all six of the region's Division I teams. During that time, I've eaten many soft pretzels from the Palestra's concession stands, which is how this blog got its name.

I also contribute to the Inquirer's women's basketball blog, Women's Hoops Guru.

Soft Pretzel Logic is on Facebook. Click here to become a fan, share links and post on the discussion boards.

You can also get the latest blog posts and college sports headlines via Twitter. Click here to sign up.

I invite you to share your fan photos of the games you attend. Click here to submit your photos, and click here to see photos from fellow fans.

I also write Philly.com's soccer blog, The Goalkeeper. You can contact me by email by clicking here.

Advertise Here
Soft Pretzel Logic Videos
The Big Dance
The Big Dance brings together the latest news and commentary on college sports via Twitter. To join the conversation, hashtag your tweets with #bigdance. If you want the code for your blog, email me and I'll be happy to share it.

COLLEGE SPORTS NEWS FROM PHILLY.COM
Saint Louis at home in win over St. Joe's
An early line on Selection Sunday
Martelli favors limited Tournament growth
La Salle's Guillandeaux lost for season
St. Joseph's falls to St. Louis, 56-52
La Salle's Guillandeaux out for season with stress fracture in right foot