Ohio University vs Temple U

Ohio vs. Temple: Why Bother?

Tonight, in about 2 hours there will be a college football game, and the only one at that. Ohio University plays Temple University in a MAC Showdown…

Well, not with a bunch of fireworks and stuff, but that’s all we got.

Both teams are 2-5 and are in the same division, so at first glance you might say, who cares? Two bad teams playing, that’s all there is to it.

But I disagree.

If you’ve been following my blogs, most of the ones I share on blogspot, I try to write in a way that is appreciative of sports. I mean, I LOVE sports and I like talking about it in a way that allows me to kinda say “thanks” to every team that plays. That might sound corny, but my point is I think every game has a story, a human interest story if you look for it.

Now I realize I have my own biased opinions, but that’s no different from anybody else. I mean, who am I to talk…my Western Carolina Catamounts are doing terribly this year. So I know what it’s like to root for a team that isn’t winning.

But with these two schools, there IS something worth playing for, a lot more than first meets the eye. Let’s discuss that.

The Ohio Bobcats are 2-5, losing by 1 point to Wyoming, then losing by only 12 points to Ohio State. 0-2 isn’t good, but you haven’t been pulled through the garden. You lose by 3 to Central Michigan and by only 8 to Northwestern.

This just looks like a team that CAN do it with just a little more effort. 0-4 isn’t good, but some of those games were tough, and all were close. Beating VMI (a Southern Conference School) isn’t worth bragging, and losing to Western Michigan by 20 is a slap on the lips, but a win vs. Kent State is in the right direction.

But here’s the deal…there is a chance to salvage the season…and even a chance to play in the MAC Championships. Sounds crazy but true. Remember folks, all they have to do is win their division. They have a win over Kent State, and no losses so far. If Ohio can win this game against Temple, and IF they can sweep the division, they will be in the MAC Championships AND quite possibly in a bowl.

The season is NOT over for these guys. And even if they lose one game, they still have a chance to play in the championship with a little luck. I am saying all this on the idea that the VMI (Virginia Military Institution) does not count as a legit Division I win.

So folks, there is a LOT to play for if you are a Ohio Bobcats fan.

But what of Temple?

Well, we know they are also 2-5 as well. They actually sit beneath Ohio in the division standings because they have 3 losses in the conference. We know it has not been easy for Temple, but they sure got started pretty good with that 35-7 win over Army. Temple barely lost to soon-to-be-ranked Connecticut 12-9 and seemed to prove they have something on that team.

Losing by 2 points to Buffalo was probably hard to swallow, but that 45-3 loss to Penn State was like a 2 hour spanking…hard to sit down after something like that. The Owls dropped to 1-3 really quick before losing another very close game to Western Michigan 7-3. Temple apparently seems to have a very good defense, with exception to the current #3 team in the nation.

Temple showed some hope by defeating Miami (OH) 28-10, and then losing to Central Michigan 24-14. It’s easy to laugh at a losing team, but Temple still has a chance to redeem themselves.

First off, they didn’t play any sub-division teams, so all their wins count. That means they need 4 wins to qualify for a bowl. The Navy game will be tough, so you’re almost implying that Temple needs to win all the other games, or win 3 more and make it to the MAC Championships and win that one as well.

With losses to both Buffalo AND Miami (OH), they need some things to happen. In order for Temple to get to the MAC Championship, they need those two teams to lose again to give them a chance, because any tie between Temple and either Buffalo or Miami (OH) will be ruled against them. With the best team in this division being 2-2 in the conference, it can still be anybody’s game. Temple has a chance to still make it to a bowl, but it has to start now.

I mentioned the MAC Championships, if EITHER Temple or Ohio make it, they are likely going to see Ball State…and well…that might not be so good for them. In fact, the top 4 teams in the West Division has a combined conference record of 14-2, while the East Division’s entire lineup has 7 wins.

But regardless, there is still a chance for a bowl or a winning season. And with that, this is the human element we want to see. It’s still football, and even though it won’t determine the National Champions, it’s still worth watching.

Go Ohio University! Go Temple University! GO FOOTBALL!!!!!

(ok, that was corny….)