Temple University Athletics
Mayor's Cup - Fun On And Off The Field
9.1.11 | Football
PHILADELPHIA -- The typically hunter green stands at Lincoln Financial Field were buried beneath swarms of cherry and white-clad spectators on Thursday evening when the Temple Owls took on the Villanova Wildcats in the third-annual Mayor's Cup.
When the dust settled at the end of the 4th quarter, the Owls came out victorious in a 42-7 blowout, but the excitement wasn't limited to the action on the field.
For most Temple fans, students and alumni, the fun and revelry began in Lot K hours before the game where numerous tents alive with pre-game parties dotted the parking lot like herds of nomadic campers.
All across the parking lot, Temple students helped slather each other in cherry and white paint, adorned with various slogans such as “Go Owls” or the ever-popular Temple “T”.
The smoke from two large grills stacked high with hamburgers and hot dogs filtered through the summer air as the flock of students began to sing “T for Temple U.”
At the opposite end of the crowded parking lot, another group of students who are no strangers to the importance of fan support gathered around their own grill, manned by Assistant Athletic Director for Men's Basketball Jeff Wilson.
The Temple men's basketball team hosted its own tailgate, which was an idea spearheaded by Wilson last year.
“We like to come out and support [the football team] in their games,” Wilson said. “It's a great atmosphere [at Lincoln Financial Field] before the games, so we wanted to take part and have everyone come out and join us.”
Sporting a Temple University oxford to show his solidarity with football head coach Steve Addazio and the football team, men's basketball head coach Fran Dunphy commented on the success of the team's tailgate.
“This is year two [of hosting the tailgate]. I'm happy to be able to do this,” he said. “I think it's a good idea for us to pursue.”
In fact, the men's basketball pre-game festivities were such a hit that Dunphy intends to expand the pre-party to more than just the Mayor's Cup.
“I absolutely want to continue [the tailgate]. Hopefully we'll be able to do three or four more games this year.”
Dunphy's players were inclined to agree.
Will Cummings, a freshman guard from Jacksonville, Florida was a recruit during his first go-around as a member of the Temple men's basketball tailgate.
“When I came for my visit last year, I didn't really know any of the traditions,” Cummings said. “Now that I'm back, I know what to expect. This year I know more people so it's more fun.”
Redshirt freshman forward Jimmy McDonnell agreed that this year's atmosphere was more impressive than last year's.
“This is so much better than my first time,” he said. “The food [a smorgasbord of chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers along with other picnic fare] is amazing.”
McDonnell even went as far as to offer up a game prediction.
“35 - 0, Temple. Complete shutout.”
McDonnell, as it turns out, wasn't very far off.
As the various tailgates wound down and students began to filter into the stadium, some members of the Cherry Crusade, Temple's crew of die-hard fans, unfurled an enormous banner that read “We run this ciTy.”
On this night, the banner, which lay draped over the railing of the student section throughout the duration of the game, could not have been more appropriate.
by Kami Mattioli, Owlsports.com Columnist
