No, they couldn’t keep the Temple fans off the field at the Link.

The Link, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, was sold out for today’s game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Temple Owls. We had been to a previous Lions-Owls game at the Link, and that’s when we turned against Penn State. Their fans in jerseys and caps shouted racial epithets at Temple. And they were starting fights in the parking lots. We were disgusted. This was before the big Penn State meltdown that incinerated the reputation of Joe Paterno.

They’ve played this game for 40 years. Temple has lost every single game. So this year, I told my wife I wanted to try something different.

I’m not claiming it made a difference. It’s just a measure of how much this game meant to us. I asked her to join hands and pray with me for a Temple victory. “Dear Heavenly Father,” I said, and other stuff, which may have ended with “beat the hell out of Penn State.” For the record, I’ve never prayed for an outcome in a sporting event in my life. Until today.

After the first quarter, me of little faith was ready to throw in the towel, but the Missus kept tabs on the game, which seemed frankly endless, and after the early 10-3 lead, Penn State simply could not move the ball against Temple.

We watched the last quarter, prepared to bail if my well known jinx effect kicked in. No need. The Owls were dominant, triumphant, in charge. The final score was 27-10, but it wasn’t that close. The Penn State quarterback was sacked 10 times. Temple, as requested, beat the hell out of Penn State.

Hackenburg is supposed to be some kind of a Heisman candidate. Not today. Looked like all of his plans had been hacked by a higher power. Just saying.

This was the 9th sack. The 10th occurred on the next play, which ended the game.

Hail Temple.