This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Temple chapter.
Temple currently boasts the best team in Philadelphia. Temple football is 7-0, and
we’re ranked in the top 25 teams in the nation for the first time in 36 years. After
being bowl eligible last year but not being selected to play in a bowl game, this
success is extremely satisfying for Temple fans. But some Temple students may still
be thinking, “Why does it matter?” Not all Temple students care to be in the front
row of the Cherry Crusade, or tailgate hours before every game – and there is
absolutely nothing wrong with that! So to those students who would rather hang out
in their dorms on Saturdays than head down to Lincoln Financial Field, here’s why
our athletic success should matter to you.
Temple University, as a whole, has been on the rise. Currently at their highest
ranking ever, the University is ranked no. 115 in the US News Best Colleges. The
University is also vastly improving their campus. A new library is set to go up by
2018, Beury Beach will become expanded green space, and other cutting-edge
construction projects are happening around campus. All of this coincides with
Temple’s football team getting national attention. The Owl’s have finally cracked the
college football AP Top 25 Poll, coming in as the 21st team in the nation after weeks
of missing the cut.
Temple has been selected as ABC’s primetime game at 8 p.m. on Halloween, this
Saturday when they face off against Notre Dame. If the Owls can take down
conference rival East Carolina this Thursday night, there is a possibility Temple
could host ESPN’s popular program College Game Day. This program visits a college
campus and previews the college football games of the day. Temple football has
never hosted a College Game Day and if the cards play out, it would be a huge
publicity opportunity for the university.
An updated campus, a nationally ranked football team, and primetime coverage are
all ingredients that make up a thriving university. People all over the nation have
heard of Temple’s rising success. As Temple’s reputation continues to beam on and
off the field, it makes the students and alumni more prestigious as time goes on.
While Temple’s football team has grabbed most of the attention, other fall sports
have been preforming at high levels. The Men’s Soccer team currently sits at 9-4-2,
the Women’s Soccer team have recorded 10 wins, 8 of them on their home field at
the Ambler Campus. The Volleyball team has also been heating up on the courts.
Their conference record is 6-2, which puts them second overall in their conference,
trailing just behind SMU. Looking into the winter season, the Men’s Basketball team
has some exciting matchups sure to draw big crowds. The Owl’s open up against
UNC, already ranked #2 in the nation in the USA Today’s preseason rankings. All of
these are promotional gains for the University.
Understandably, for some people sports may not be a huge draw. But collegiate
sports, especially football, have a fan base of millions. And those millions of people
are seeing the name “Temple University” pop up on their radar. For many of these
fans, solid football programs can reflect a high-grade university. While there are
many factors that go into Temple University’s prestige, having great athletic
programs promote our school’s reputation on national levels. It’s a good time to be a
Temple Owl. While it’s something that we have always recognized, the rest of the
country is recognizing it as well.