Temple just trying not to play scared

Could this be the year the Owls knock off Joe Paterno’s not-so-mighty Penn State Nittany Lions?

While some outsiders may think so, Temple players sounded almost scared to death of what could await at Beaver Stadium.

“I don’t know,’’ said QB Chester Stewart, a witness to last year’s 31-6 blowout.

“They’ve been whupping us the last few years I‘ve been here, so I’m just hoping we can come out and compete. It definitely is a loud stadium and the crowd can be a factor. Hopefully, we can play our best game, but I know some of our guys might be intimidated already.”

Temple coach Al Golden, who played tight end for Paterno from 1989-91, doesn’t sound very optimistic, either.

“It really hasn’t been a measuring stick for us. It’s been about survival,” said Golden. “They’ve put it to us the last four years since I’ve been here. We’ve been outscored 154-9.”

Doesn’t sound like anyone on North Broad St. believes Temple can pull it off, even though the Owls are off to their best start since 1979. According to Golden, not beating themselves would be a good place to start.

“Winning last week was a big step, but this is a completely different environment,” said Golden. “We can’t get that student section and the band going by turning the ball over and having penalties. We’ve made all those mistakes before.”