We're not supposed to root in this business, but I'd be lying if I said I was not pulling for the Temple Owls Saturday night.
Matt Rhule and his kids did not disappoint, standing toe to toe with powerful Notre Dame, leading late before having their heart ripped out when the Irish scored a late TD for the win.
The loss cost the Owls a couple of spots in the national rankings. They dropped from No. 21 to No. 23.
But what they lost in the short run they no doubt gained in terms of the program.
It was not that long ago that there were calls for Temple, an urban campus that did not even have a stadium on its North Broad campus, to give up on the dream of ever playing big-time football.
Those voices went silent last week, as the Owls and their cherry-and-white faithful had a week perhaps never before seen when it comes to college football in Philadelphia.
They destroyed the myth that Philly belongs to the Eagles - period - when it comes to football. Not a college football town? You'd be hard-pressed to make that argument after last weekend.
Hundreds of Temple students and fans packed Independence Mall for ESPN's signature college football show, College GameDay. It was proof that Temple had arrived.
Their fans did not disappoint.
The team didn't either, showing they are now a for real, big-time college football program in a sold-out affair vs. the No. 9 ranked Irish at Lincoln Financial Field.
Now there is serious talk of building a 35,000 facility on the North Broad campus.
TV ratings for the game were through the roof, maybe the most watched college football game ever played in Philadelphia.
The stars certainly were aligned for the Owls. It was the Eagles bye week. Fans disgruntled with Chip Kelly's sputtering charges eagerly jumped on the Temple Bandwagon.
It was Temple's moment, one many fans had been waiting on for years.
Perhaps the program's biggest challenge, aside from making sure they bounce back from a tough loss and handle the remaining games on their schedule, will be the prickly task of keeping Rhule.
He will be in demand, and some very big programs will be offering him tons of money.
It's just one more sign that Temple football has arrived.
Here's columnist Jack McCaffery's take on the great Temple Turnaround.
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