Phinally Philly

Guest post by Joe Gallagher:

With March Madness around the corner, let’s do a recap of the last 10 years of Philly college bball. Over the course of the past decade, the landscape of the Big Five (actually we’ll call it the ‘City Six’ just for you, Drexel) has changed dramatically. Villanova has gone from mediocre to powerhouse under Coach Jay Wright. Temple, after some early decade success, underwent a changing of the guard, shifting from legendary coach John Chaney to Fran Dunphy. The Owls have gone from the class of the Big Five to pedestrian to perhaps right back on the brink of being in elite company. St. Joe’s, under Phil Martelli, has seen one heck of a magical season end only a jump shot away from the Final Four. Penn, with former Coach Dunphy, was excellent – dominating the Ivy League for much of the decade. Still, as of late, Penn hoops is experiencing a dry spell, having lost their first ten games and firing Coach Glen Miller. Then you have Drexel, whose magical 2006-2007 season arguably should have ended in the NCAA tournament, and not the NIT. Lastly, lowly LaSalle lugubriously loses a lot. Do not fret, the definition of lugubrious can be found here. Lugubrious aside, LaSalle has struggled with inconsistency over the course of the decade. Even so, it is clear that the city’s beloved sport of basketball is getting back its signature ruthless tenacity. With the 76ers struggling, it appears that the Big Five and company are poised to emerge back to the head of the Philadelphia basketball setting. That’s right folks, Philly Basketball is back!

So let’s hand out the hardware.

All Decade Team:

In honor of “All-Decade Team” Coach Jay Wright (and not at all because I could not think of many great players at a position other than guard) the All-Decade Team will be running a Four-Guard Lineup! And special apologies to Nehemiah Ingram and Coach John Chaney! Due to lack of space (some sort of NCAA sanction – I don’t know, talk to Calipari), we do not have a roster spot for a goon…

PG: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2000-04) – right up there with Tom Gola, Lionel Simmons, Mark Macon, etc. among the greatest Big Five players of all time. Hear that, Kanye? OF. ALL. TIME.

G: Lynn Greer, Temple (1997-2002) – Earlier in the decade he took a relatively ordinary, but scrappy Temple team on his back and led them to the Elite Eight, where they lost to the eventual National Champion, Michigan State Spartans.

G: Delonte West, St. Joseph’s (2001-04) – Well, if it weren’t for Jameer, this guy could have contended for National Player of the Year. His fine stroke spread the floor for the hard-nosed legend that was Nelson.

G: Randy Foye, Villanova (2002-06) – the prototype of the “Villanova Guard.” The 6’4 guy, who, when told Villanova would be running a four guard set as the starting lineup, went to the dentist to get a mouthpiece fit just so he could cover the opposing power forward. This guy was tough and his tenacity is something Coach Wright has tried to breed in all of his guards since.

C: Dante Cunningham, Villanova (2005-09) – To be honest, it was very difficult to think of a great big man in the past decade of Big Five (and Co.) hoops. Let me know if I’m missing anybody. Sure, there are PLENTY of guards. There have been so many guards that I could probably craft three or four whole lineups of them. Still, I cannot think of many players who were more underrated in their tenures than Cunningham. “ D.C.” (no, you don’t have to shield your eyes, not Derrick Coleman) was not asked to be a star until his senior year – and up until that point he was the perfect role player – unflinchingly doing whatever Jay Wright asked. Dante rode off into the sunset with a Final Four, proving that perhaps Villanova is not all about the guard. (Nova has several big man prospects who have signed on since, so his impact has reached off the court)

Coach: Jay Wright – Well what’d you expect? Before 2004 maybe it was Fran Dunphy. I mean he is Frantastic. You can see with what he’s doing with Temple and what happened to Penn when he left, that – in short – he’s a great coach. Or maybe it is Philadelphia University coach Herb Magee. “The Shot Doctor” is one of the winningest coaches of all time. Still, Jay Wright is the great adapter. When Villanova loses big men, he says, “No problem, I’ll go 4 guards AND make it work!” Secondly, and in some circles most importantly, Jay takes home best-dressed as well. His Armani collection is top of the line. The charismatic Coach Wright continues to shock the country with the powerhouse program he has built and the true grit his players display. As long as this guy is around, it appears Villanova will be a force to be reckoned with, both locally and nationally. Here’s to you, Jay.

And the top moment that I experienced live amongst the Big Five this decade, drum roll please… goes to…

The Holy War, 2003

The Scene: the sold out and rockin’ Palestra – arguably the finest venue to watch a basketball game in the world.
The Happening: St. Joe’s, led by the legendary Jameer and Delonte tandem, jumped out to a 41-10 lead over the beginning of the Wright dynasty. The Hawks did not let up, harassing the young ‘Nova squad all the way to victory. The Palestra kept rockin’ (at least for you St. Joe’s fans) and the intensity was exhilarating. The experience of a night of basketball in the Palestra is truly unmatched in all of sports – when these guys scuffle, you better be ready to play or else…

So the decade is coming to an end. And that is only MY finest memory. Even as a Nova fan, I’ll never forget the passion in the chants back and forth – truly unforgettable. Please do not hesitate to post your own out of the plethora of memories that City basketball has provided this decade.

I leave you with one last thought: for all the ups and downs Philly basketball has experienced this decade, from “goon-gate” to March Madness success, the passion is there, the energy is there, you’ve got to be there! And here’s to another decade of bloody lips and ruthless hustle.

You stay gritty, Philadelphia. I’m Joe Gallagher?

The Nittany Lions will likely be a side-show for many in Philadelphia as we ring in the new year (rumor has it there is some hockey game being played in Boston), but in the college football landscape they will be the top show at 1pm. Penn State will play LSU in the Capital One Bowl tomorrow afternoon and it should prove to be a tough test.

For Penn State the 2009 season has been one that has fallen short of many expectations from their loyal fans. Dreams of a second straight Big Ten title and a return to the Rose Bowl or an appearance in the BCS Championship game may have been out of reach but Penn State really controlled their own destiny in the Big Ten. Their two losses this season came at home to Iowa and Ohio State. A win against either one would have sent Penn State on the path to a Big Ten championship. If the offense didn’t stall against either team the 2009 season, and the legacy of some of the players may have turned out a lot different.

For some the pressure of coming up with a big win is heavy. Nobody faces greater pressure than quarterback Daryll Clark. Clark, more than anybody, needs a big win before he leaves Penn State. The fifth year senior tends to be calm and collected but his own legacy can be changed with one more win.

LSU’s offense is woeful and that should play well for the Penn State offense. Meanwhile it will be the Penn State offense that will need to score some points on an LSU defense that has seen better days. I’m calling for Penn State to edge out the Tigers, but what do you think?

For more college football discussion read more form Kevin McGuire at Examiner.com and NittanyWhiteOut.com. You can follow him on Twitter as well.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Temple Owls are about to play their first bowl game in three decades. On Tuesday the Owls will take on UCLA down in RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. in the EagleBank Bowl. It’s hard to believe but in a match-up that would be more likely to be mentioned in March the Owls and Bruins will play in what will be Temple’s first bowl game since the 1979 Garden State Bowl.

For Temple the spot in the EagleBank Bowl may not have been the ultimate goal that comes with a AMC championship but this is a special time for the program. After years of suffering and poor football on the field the Owls have finally broken free of all of the bad history.

The Owls enter as four point underdogs to UCLA. Temple should be able to hold their own against the PAC 10 opponent though as long as they can control the ball and limit turnovers. Vaughn Charlton has passed for nine touchdowns but has thrown nine interceptions. Freshman running back Bernard Pierce has given the offense new life this season. Pierce has rushed for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns with an average of 5.8 yards per carry.

UCLA does have an advantage in the passing game. The Bruins average 236.8 yards per game through the air while Temple manages just 156.9 yards per game. Temple’s defense could find themselves struggling to catch up if they can not apply pressure to UCLA freshman quarterback Kevin Prince. Temple’s run defense is the 19th best in the country so expect UCLA to try to exploit the passing defense.

If the game comes down to special teams, UCLA will have another advantage as they have one of the best kickers in college football. Kai Forbath recently won the Lou Groza Award as the best kicker in college football.

Regardless of what happens in the EagleBank Bowl one thing appears certain; Temple football is heading in the right direction.

For more college football discussion read more form Kevin McGuire at Examiner.com and NittanyWhiteOut.com. You can follow him on Twitter as well.

Tonight the Villanova Wildcats will make their first appearance in the FCS championship game in program history. finally out of the shadows of Penn State and even Temple the Wildcats will get their national spot light in a sport that is not basketball tonight down in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But as great as this all is, returning to the Main Line with a championship trophy will be no easy task.

Their opponent tonight is a team with a knack for playing in these type of games. Montana comes into tonight’s championship game looking to finish off what they could not do last year against Richmond – win the FCS championship.

The Montana Grizzlies are an experienced program. Tonight marks their seventh appearance in the championship game, and fifth this decade. The two-time national champions bring with them an offensive juggernaut and an offensive line that may be the biggest they have ever faced according to head coach Andy Talley. So Villanova will have their work cut out for them.

But Villanova has an offense too and looks to have the edge on defense as well. The Wildcats are coming off a great come-from-behind victory in last week’s game against CAA rival William & Mary. The Cats went into halftime trailing on their own home field against a team that shut down and dominated the top ranked FCS team the week before but came out rallied for one of the best wins in program history. Now Villanova’s football team gets a well deserved shot at center stage in a nationally televised contest.

Good luck to Villanova in their quest for a championship tonight. I’ll be back to discuss the upcoming EagleBank Bowl for the Temple Owls and the Capital One Bowl that Penn State will be playing in against LSU in a couple weeks.

Until then, happy holidays to those of you on the Main Line! May you be jolly and holly after tonight’s game!

For more college football discussion from Kevin check out his College Football page on Examiner and stop by Nittany White Out for continuing Penn State coverage. Follow Kevin on Twitter @krmcguire.

For the second time this year the Villanova Wildcats are in the Final Four. This time however the action will take place on the football field on Villanova’s campus as the Wildcats prepare to host the national semifinal game against CAA opponent William & Mary.

Villanova appears to be on a collision course with Montana in the FCS championship game but a win against William & Mary should not be assumed. The Tribe are coming off a dominating 24-3 upset on the road against the top ranked team in the FCS, Southern Illinois, and bring a tough defense to Villanova looking for an upset of the nation’s number two team.

Last week William & Mary held Southern Illinois to just 187 yards. In the first round William & Mary shutout Weber State and allowed just 161 yards. To say that yardage will be hard to come by would seem to be an understatement for Villanova.

The last time these teams played Villanova pulled away with a 28-17 win despite being out-gained in total yardage 472-283.  Tribe quarterback R.J. Archer threw for a season high 354 yards, although that could be attributed to being down early. Archer has not thrown for a touchdown in his last two games, which should tell you that William & Mary are counting on their running game in addition to their stifling defense. Last week Jonathan Grimes lead the way on offense with 133 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

But Villanova is playing at a high level themselves. ‘Nova won a back-and-forth game against Holy Cross in their first postseason game. After being tied at 14 at the end of the first quarter Villanova went on to accumulate over 500 yards of offense in a 38-28 victory. Last week Villanova used a bruising running game to gain over 300 yards on the ground and blow out New Hampshire 46-7, avenging their only loss of the season.

If Villanova wins tonight (the game will be aired on ESPN 2, 8pm) they will advance to the national championship game for the first time in program history. Regardless of who wins the game it will be the fourth consecutive season that a team from the CAA advanced to the national championship game. Richmond took home the grand prize last season while Delaware and Massachusetts preceded the Spiders with losses to powerhouse Appalachian State.

Appalachian State will travel to Montana to determine the other entrant to the FCS championship game.

Kevin McGuire continues to bring you insight to the world of college football. If you enjoyed this post be sure to check out more from Kevin on Examiner and Nittany White Out.

Kevin McGuire continues to bring you insight to the world of college football. If you enjoy this post be sure to check out more from Kevin on Examiner and Nittany White Out.

The Villanova Wildcats want to remind you that college football season is not over yet! This weekend they look to avenge their lone loss of the season when they play host to New Hampshire in the NCAA FCS quarterfinal round of the playoffs. What’s that? College football and playoffs? You bet, and it works!

The Wildcats took care of business in their first playoff game, defeating Holy Cross last weekend by a 38-28 final score. The high-powered Villanova offense racked up over 500 yards of offense with a very balanced approach. This week they look to continue their offensive ways by jumping out to a quick start against New Hampshire.

In their previous meeting this season up north it was New Hampshire that jumped out to an early lead on the Wildcats, leading 16-7 after the first quarter. While the defense adjusted in the second half the Wildcats were unable to hold on to a lead in the fourth quarter. Two field goals by New Hampshire in the final frame gave Villanova their first loss of the season. This will be a tough task for Villanova, but playing at home will hopefully give them an edge this weekend.

A win would put Villanova in the national semifinals against the winner of the Southern Illinois-William & Mary game. While Villanova has complete control of their own post-season fate, Penn State and Temple will be watching anxiously this weekend to see where they may be playing next.

Penn State remains eligible for an at-large berth in the BCS and while they have a fiscal advantage over Iowa in the selection process, you can not deny how much the head-to-head match-up should hurt Penn State’s BCS chances. If Texas wins the Big XII championship game then there is a very good chance that the Big Ten could be sending two teams to BCS games. Ohio State is already locked into the Rose Bowl to play Oregon, leaving the last possible bid up for grabs between Iowa and Penn State in all likelihood.

If the decision were mine to make I would have to give the nod to Iowa for the BCS bid, which would send Penn State to the Capital One Bowl to take on LSU. But the Fiesta Bowl will get first dibs it appears, and there is a great history between the Fiesta Bowl and Penn State (PSU is 6-0 in the game and helped put it on the map – something that is not lost on the Fiesta committee).

As for Temple, even though they fell short of reaching the MAC championship game, they still should be playing their first bowl game since the 1979 Garden State Bowl. I would keep an eye on the International Bowl. According to ESPN’s bowl projections the Owls could be heading to Toronto to take on regional foe Rutgers. That would be fun to watch, but it would stink seeing the game be played so far away with two teams who do not tend to travel well.

Where do you think Penn State and Temple will land?

Kevin McGuire, national college football writer for Examiner. com and frequent contributor to NittanyWhiteOut.com, is back for another look at this weekend’s local college football action.

BCS or Alamo Bowl?

That is the question for Penn State this weekend. To wrap up the regular season the Nittany Lions will take on Michigan State for the Land Grant Trophy. A win could keep Penn State in the running for an at-large berth in the BCS games but a loss could drop Penn State to playing in a bowl game before 2009 is over. To say this is a pivotal game is an understatement.

Michigan State became bowl eligible last week and although the Nittany Lions have dominated the series since joining the Big Ten in 1993, they are just 2-3 in their last five trips to East Lansing. The offense will have to be ready at the opening kickoff, something they have not been in the past three games. The special teams also needs to avoid a meltdown, which has lead to their two losses this season.

The Spartans are tough at home and took an undefeated Iowa team to the wire earlier this season before giving up the game winning score on the final play of the game. As important as this game is for Penn State, there will likely be more emotional contests this weekend for the local squads.

TEMPLE

The quest for a bowl game looks to be in good shape for Temple, but the MAC East crown is not clinched yet. This week Temple, who controls their destiny in the division, takes on the somewhat unfamiliar role as double digit favorite when they take on Kent State at Lincoln Financial Field. A win would clinch at least a share of the MAC East crown, which could be clinched next week at Ohio.

For Temple to come away with the win they will need to contain the Kent State passing game, which is averaging almost 235 yards per game.Temple’s 98th ranked offense has played well in the conference but will look to finish strong in their final home game of the season.

VILLANOVA, PENN

Villanova fans will take a quick break from watching the basketball team down in Puerto Rico to watch the Wildcats take on their biggest rival, Delaware. The Blue Hens and Wildcats are a great regional rivalry and traditionally play in the final game of the season. This week Villanova looks to capture the CAA south championship, and the conference’s best record. Villanova offense has been explosive all season and look to wrap up their 2009 regular season with a win on senior day, where they are 4-0 this season (Villanova has played six road games, including the opener at the Linc against Temple).

The Quakers have already clinched at least a share of the Ivy League and by virtue of their win at Harvard last week technically have already won the conference’s title. To win it out right they will look to knock off a 2-7 Cornell team at Franklin Field. A win would make Penn 7-0 in the Ivy League. Harvard is 5-1 and playing Yale this weekend.

Kevin joins us once again to preview the weekend in local college football action. For more of Kevin’s college football insight visit Nittany White Out and Examiner.

After Penn State took a major blow to the chin last week at home against Ohio State, I figured I would lead with another look at the wonderful story that is unfolding with the Temple football program. The Owls are going for their eighth straight win tonight on the road as they take on MAC East rival Akron. At 5-0 in the MAC Temple is in position to control their own destiny for a MAC East division title. With Ohio losing on Tuesday the Owls are the lone unbeaten team in the division with three games left. They can not let up!

To come away with a road win at Akron Temple will need quarterback Vaughn Charlton to make some smart decisions against an Akron defense that has allowed 232 points this season. Charlton has passed for 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns. But freshman running back Bernard Pierce is the real story of the offense. Pierce has rushed for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.

PENN STATE

See what happens when you lose your second home game of the season under th microscope? You get put behind Temple for another week.

The Nittany Lions look to pick up a win in the final home game at Beaver Stadium of 2009. Prior to the game the team will honor their senior players, including quarterback Daryll Clark and linebacker Sean Lee. To say that the seniors would love nothing more than to go out of Beaver Stadium with a bang would be an understatement. Some people feel that there is the slightest outside chance that Penn State can reach a BCS game (I am not one of them) so they would need to play a pair of solid victories and handily beat their opponents.

This week Penn State takes on Indiana, a team the Nittany Lions have never lost too (12-0 going into Saturday’s game). The Hoosiers have been the victim of some poor officiating and video reviews this season. Under head coach Bill Lynch they have shown a toughness not normally associated with Indiana’s football program. I expect to see Indiana play Penn State tough, but given the circumstances and result of last week’s game, I think Penn State finds a way to pull away from the visitors early in the game.

VILLANOVA, PENN

Villanova moved up to #3 in the nation after coming away with a big victory last week at top ranked Richmond. The Wildcats are now in the driver’s seat in the CAA South. This week they travel to Towson and should come home with a victory to make them 9-1 heading into their regular season finale against rival Delaware. A win against Towson would also officially put Villanova in first place in the division (they currently are a half game behind Richmond, and they own the head-to-head tie-breaker)

As for the Quakers, the winning ways continue in the Ivy League. A blowout of Princeton gave Penn a six game winning streak. This week’s game at Harvard sets up to be the Ivy League championship game as both teams enter with identical 5-0 records in the league (both are also 6-2 overall). The winner will clinch the Ivy League title with one week remaining. Harvard looks to be the favorite with a superior offense, but Penn’s defense looks to be stronger than the Crimson’s.

Kevin from NittanyWhiteOut and Examiner is back to offer his thoughts on this weekend’s local college football action.

The Temple Owls now have the same record as Ohio State.

Read that sentence again. Temple and Ohio State have the same record. At least for one more day.

Temple needed a late field goal to pick up their seventh straight win and stay atop the MAC East division last night. Temple defeated visiting Miami (of Ohio) 34-32 after giving up 19 points in the fourth quarter. These Owls sure know how to make things interesting don’t they? With three games to play in the regular season, and two on the road, we will see what kind of character Temple has. Can they get the job done and reach the MAC Championship game?

PENN STATE

It is not often that I lead this college football segment on Phinally Philly with anything but Penn State, but since Temple played last night and won, I felt inclined to give them their props. But Penn State clearly has a big game ahead of them this weekend in Happy Valley.

The Nittany Lions are playing host this weekend to the hated Ohio State Buckeyes. OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor makes his much anticipated return to Pennsylvania after mocking Penn State for being “too country” as he declared for Ohio State. Now Pryor must face the wrath of a sold out Beaver Stadium that is thirsty to welcome Pryor back to the Keystone State.

Last year Pryor, as a freshman, made a pair of crucial mistakes that allowed Penn State to rally and seal a victory in Ohio Stadium. For Penn State the game sent a message that they were a legitimate national title contender (but then they lost to Iowa…).

For more on the big game stop by Nittany White Out, where we have been talking about the history of this series as well as exchanging thoughts with a popular Ohio State blog and a whole lot more all week! I also have posted my full game preview on Examiner.

On a personal note, the 2008 Penn State-Ohio State game is one I will always remember, but not for the big fumble. If you recall, game three of the World Series was also that night so I was one of the only people in the region thankful for the lengthy rain delay before Jamie Moyer went out and did his thing against a hapless Tampa Bay Rays team. Game Three started before the conclusion of the Penn State game, but the wonderful people at ABC were kind enough to keep me updated on what I was missing in the baseball game. In the end I got to see all of the important parts of both memorable games.

VILLANOVA, PENN

#4 Villanova also has a huge game on their hands. The Wildcats travel to top ranked Richmond for a CAA showdown for the ages. Both teams have fantastic offenses and their defenses are about even as well. A win could vault Villanova to the top ranking in the FCS ranks but a loss does not necessarily ruin their season. Villanova still looks to be in good shape for a playoff spot when the regular season comes to an end.

The Penn Quakers are riding a five game winning streak into their rivalry game this weekend at Franklin Field against Princeton. The Tigers are limping in with a 2-5 record and have allowed well more than twice as many points as they have scored. Penn should easily get by Princeton this time around.

BONUS SMALL BALL FOOTBALL GAME!

Shippensburg vs. California (Pa)

In the PSAC State Game the surprising Shippensburg Red Raiders look to defend their home turf at Seth Grove Stadium. They will host the powerful Cal Vulcans for the top spot in the PSAC (division 2). Ship clinched their first ever PSAC East title with victories over a top five team in Bloomsburg and always tough West Chester. Cal probably should be the favorite this weekend, but Ship tends to play well at home.

The winner will be guaranteed a spot in the division wo playoffs and should receive a first round bye. the loser could miss a playoff seed.

Kevin once again here on behalf of NittanyWhiteOut and Examiner with your local college football round up!

After coming through with their first victory in Ann Arbor since Seinfeld was still on the air last week, Penn State looks to avoid a let-down this week. On the road for a second straight week Penn State takes on Northwestern in Big Ten competition.

Quarterback Daryll Clark threw four touchdown passes last week and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. With Northwestern giving up over an average of 220 passing yards per game this season, it could be another big day for the Penn State quarterback, who is starting to close in the school record for touchdown passes in a season as well as season passing yards.

A win by Penn State, which is very likely, would set up an important game next week at Beaver Stadium as the Ohio State Buckeyes come to town. The Big Ten championship could still be within grasp for the winner, although Iowa still has a strong hold on that. But a BCS bid is not out of the possibility if Penn State can manage to run the table the rest of the way.

TEMPLE

The Owls, believe it or not, are one win away from clinching bowl eligibility for the first time since the early 1990’s. this week Temple rides a five game winning streak into a non-conference match-up against Navy. The Midshipmen will host the Owls, who have started to receive some attention. For Temple to leave Annapolis with a well-deserved victory they will need to find a way to slow down the Navy running game, which is averaging over 280 yards per game. Running the ball has long been a strength of the Navy program and it has helped them build a record of 6-2 this season.

Temple will also be looking for revenge. Last year the Owls let a victory slip away from them as Navy stunned Temple for a 33-27 win in overtime. Navy outscored Temple in the fourth quarter 20-0 to tie the game.

Good luck to Temple as they attempt to clinch bowl eligibility. This really is a big deal for this program!

VILLANOVA, PENN

#4 Villanova is off this week but next week should be a great one. The Wildcats head to Richmond, who is currently the top team in the country.

Meanwhile in the Ivy League Penn looks to extend their four game winning streak by one more by winning at Brown University. Penn enters the weekend tied for first in the Ivy League at 3-0 with Harvard. Brown is right behind both at 2-1 in the conference.

Quick! Name the most famous Brown football player of all time!

Give up?

Joe Paterno, who still owns a couple school records from his days playing as a quarterback and cornerback.