By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

Temple (3-8, 1-6 AAC) takes to the field for the final time this season against the United States Naval Academy (2-8, 2-5 AAC) on Saturday in Philadelphia.  The Owls are coming off another embarrassing blowout loss this time to Tulsa 44-10.  The Midshipmen lost a 38-35 heartbreaker to East Carolina last week in their final home game in Annapolis. Navy is a 12-1/2 point road favorite according to William Hill Sportsbook.

Date: November 27, 2021

Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

When: 12:00 PM

TV: ESPNU

Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Series History

Temple leads the all-time series 8-7

Last Match Up

2020: Navy defeated Temple 31-29 in Annapolis

The Game at a Glance

Temple and Navy are two teams that most likely thought they’d be playing for positioning in the AAC East but instead they’re each scuffling along.  The story of the Temple’s season can be told in the number of blowout losses and transfers Rod Carey has accumulated.  For Navy and longtime head coach Ken Niumatalolo, they have lost four games by less than a touchdown including going to the wire with No.2 Cincinnati.  Outside of a blowout loss to No. 10 Notre Dame, Navy has been playing more like the Navy of old.

As far as this weekend goes, throw out the stats and the conjecture because the Owls have the unenviable task of stopping Navy’s triple-option offense.  It’s notoriously difficult to play the triple-option when you’re not accustomed to seeing it on a regular basis.  Look for Navy to do what Navy always does, hold on to the football and grind the clock. 

_{Photo: Temple Football/@Temple_FB}

By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

Temple quarterback D’Wan Mathis took to Twitter to proclaim that he was staying on North Broad and rejoining his teammates.   The move comes six days after the Georgia transfer announced his intentions to leave the program and enter the transfer portal.  Eligibility issues might be what’s keeping him in cherry and white. Mathis would’ve lost a year of eligibility if he stayed at the FCS level after transferring to Temple from Georgia and taking advantage of the NCAA’s free-year waiver.  OwlsDaily.com was the first to report the news.

North Philly I’m back! Let’s do it! pic.twitter.com/0kICY9v2R5

— Dwan Mathis (@DwanM3) November 24, 2021

_{Photo: United States Football Leauges/@USFLStars}

By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

The Philadelphia Stars are back in business. The United States Football League (USFL), which is primarily owned by Fox Sports, is back in business too.  The league officially announced it’s return and teams today during Colin Cowherd’s radio/TV show on FS1.

We are the Philadelphia Stars ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/nWP9Kz6Hde

— Philadelphia Stars (@USFLStars) November 22, 2021

Kids, ask your parents, aunts, uncles, and/or guardians about the Philadelphia Stars.  The Stars were the most successful team of the original United States Football League (USFL) appearing in all three title games.  They won back-to-back league titles in 1984 and 1985.  The 1985 season was played in Baltimore even though the team still lived and trained in Philadelphia.

The Stars were coached by Jim Mora and featured future NFL All-Pro’s Sam Mills, Sean Landetta, and Bart Oates.  The team was assembled by future Chiefs GM/President/CEO Carl Peterson and included star running back Kelvin Bryant, who would win a Super Bowl with Washington.  The league was successful with its spring football model and comparable in product to the NFL but lost traction and folded when some dingus forced a move to the fall to compete with the more established league.

By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

It should come as no surprise that one of the Phillies main goals this offseason is to fortify the bullpen that blew 34-save opportunities in 2021.  With little options in the free agency class, the Phillies have reportedly once again turned their attention to the trade market and old nemesis Craig Kimbrel.  MLB Network's Jon Heyman was the first to report this off-seasons interest.  

Phillies need two OFs and a SP (or two), but closer is a priority. On their wish list: Josh Hader, Craig Kimbrel and Kenley Jansen. Since Brewers would require a haul for Hader and Jansen loves LA, their best shot might be Kimbrel, who has a Dombrowski tie (Boston) @MLBNetwork

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 19, 2021

Kimbrel, a former “Phillie killer” in Atlanta, was traded to the Chicago White Sox during the season and the ChiSox recently picked up his 2022 club option.  He settled into a setup role after being traded to the White Sox from the Cubs for a pair of prospects.

Welcome to Eagledelphia, PA, where Birds' talk never ends! 

Michael Lipinski breaks down the Dallas Goedert contract extension, takes a look back at last week's win over the Broncos, and preview's this weeks game against the Saints.

• Eagles Extend Dallas Goedert 
• Three Things that Stood Out vs Denver
• McNabb & Hurts Comparison 
• Saints Preview 

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_{Photo: Philadelphia Eagles/@Eagles}

By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

Howie Roseman is out spending Jeffery Lurie’s money again.  A day after inking Dallas Goedert to a four-year, $59 million extension they have done the same for another member of their 2018 NFL Draft class.  The Eagles have agreed to a three-year, $22.5 million extension with cornerback Avonte Maddox.  The news was first reported by Adam Schefter and confirmed by the Eagles.

Eagles and CB Avonte Maddox reached agreement on a three-year, $22.5 million extension that includes $13.3 million guaranteed, per sources.

And so Maddox and Dallas Goedert, roommates and close friends, both get lucrative extensions 24 hours apart.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 20, 2021

By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

After a week of turmoil, Temple (3-7, 1-5 AAC) takes to the road against AAC foe Tulsa (4-6, 3-3 AAC).  The Owls are coming off another blowout loss, 31-8 to No. 24 (CFP) Houston, last weekend in South Philadelphia. The Golden Hurricane needed overtime to get past a one-win Tulane team 20-13 last weekend in NOLA.  Vegas has no faith in the Owls this week, Tulsa is a 21-1/2-point home favorite according to William Hill Sportsbook.

Date: November 20, 2021

Where: Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, OK

When: 4:00 PM/Eastern

TV: ESPN+

Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Series History

Temple leads the all-time series 3-2

Last Match Up

2018: Temple defeated Tulsa 31-17 in South Philly

The Game at a Glance

The Owls’ program is a complete freefall right now with blowout losses, allegations against coaches, and starting players hitting the transfer portal.   In most cases, a road game is a good opportunity for a program to get away from the chaos that surrounds it.  In this case, Temple will be bringing their baggage to Oklahoma. 

The Owls will turn to true freshman quarterback Justin Lynch to replace D’Wan Mathis, who entered the transfer portal on Thursday.  Lynch has started four games for the Owls while Mathis was out with an injured ankle.  He won’t be throwing to record-setting wide receiver Jadan Blue, he put his transfer papers in last week.  Randall Jones and Jose Barbon jumped Blue on the depth chart expediting his departure. 

Lynch has been a bright spot for the Owls this year throwing for 631-yards and three touchdowns while rushing 63-times for 288-yards and a touchdown.  He’s the rushing leader for Temple.

Tulsa averages 23-1/2-points per game, the Golden Hurricane are led by quarterback Davis Brin.  Brin has thrown for 2,443-yards and 13-touchdowns but he’s prone to the turnover as well with 14-interceptions.  Running back Shamari Brooks leads the Golden Hurricane rushing attack with 791-yards and six touchdowns.  Josh Johnson gives Tulsa an additional weapon at wide receiver, he leads the team with 709-yards and three touchdowns. 

_{Photo: Temple Football Twitter/@Temple_FB}

By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

OwlsDaily.com and the Philadelphia Inquirer are reporting that Temple starting quarterback D’Wan Mathis has entered the transfer portal and is no longer part of the program.  Mathis enters the portal a day after former running back Iverson Clement alleged mistreatment by head coach Rod Carey and others on staff.  He becomes the seventh scholarship player to leave the Temple program since the beginning of the season and the second this week. 

Mathis transferred to Temple in the spring after spending two seasons at University of Georgia and was the key recruit to Carey’s recruiting class which heavily dipped into the transfer portal.  The majority of those players are no longer with the program.  

_{Photo: Philadelphia Phillies/@Phillies}

By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper won his second NL MVP award edging out Washington’s Juan Soto and San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr.  Harper previously won the award in 2015 as member of the Washington Nationals and is the first Phillie to win the award since Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins won back-to-back in 2007 and 2008.

Harper batted .309 with 35 HRs, 84 RBIs, 151 H, 101 R, 13 SB, and a .429 OBP for a Phillies team that fell just short of the postseason.  He led the league in doubles (42), slugging (.615), OPS (1.044), and OPS+ (179).  In the second half of the season, Harper hit .338 with 20 HR, 50 RBI, 28 2b, 65 BB, with a .476 OBP and 1.188 SLG.  Harper added ten outfield assists to one error in the field. 

Harper becomes the fifth Phillie to win the NL MVP award, he joins Chuck Klein (1932), Jim Konstanty (1950), Mike Schmidt (1980, 1981, 1986), Howard, and Rollins. 

This story will be updated.

By Michael Lipinski, Sports Talk Philly Contributor

To say things have not been going well for Temple football coach Rod Carey might be an understatement. The Owls have not been competitive for the past two seasons enduring blowout loss after blowout loss.  Recruiting has been in the toilet and scholarship players are hitting the transfer portal at a record pace.  Now we might know a bit more about the turmoil on North Broad Street.

Former Rancocas Valley (Mt Holly, NJ) standout Iverson Clement, a transfer from the University of Florida and highly thought of talent, was one of the many scholarship players to leave the Owls this season.  Clement took to Twitter with an explanation of what, in his opinion, happened to him and others at Temple including issues with an assistant coach, a closed door from the head coach, and players being kicked off the team,

Here are Clement’s allegations: