OwlScoop.com - The Scoop

Our second episode this week includes a preview of Temple's quarterfinal American Athletic Conference tournament game against No. 4 seed Cincinnati, basketball mailbag questions and an interview with former Temple and NFL tight end Colin Thompson.

0:00 - 3:35: Intro 

3:35 - 10:35: A word from Mike Greenspan and The Scoop's new sponsor, Greenspan & Greenspan

10:35 - 16:18: A discussion of Jim Boeheim's retirement and why the OwlScoop.com staff won't miss him. 

16:18 - 23:00: A preview of Temple's Friday matchup with Cincinnati in the quarterfinal round of the American Athletic Conference tournament. 

23:00 - 28:20: A discussion on the joys of flying, hotel stays and covering college basketball on the road. 

28:20 - 37:10: Answering questions from the basketball mailbag

37:10 - 1:32:00 - An interview with former Temple and NFL tight end Colin Thompson, who talked about Matt Rhule, Christian McCaffrey, what's next in his career and why it's so important for Temple to have Chris Wiesehan on its staff. 

1:32:00 - end: A preview of what's to come with OwlScoop.com's spring football coverage, along with an update on two recent recruiting additions. 

 

Thirty-five years after retiring from the NFL, Joe Klecko received the long-overdue news last month that he will be enshrined this summer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first former Temple player to receive the honor.

 

In a special episode of The Scoop, Klecko shared his remarkable life story with OwlScoop.com, one that started from modest beginnings in a working-class neighborhood in Chester, Pennsylvania just outside Philadelphia and grew to include stints as a truck driver, a Joe Frazier sparring partner, a semi-pro star with the Aston Knights and plenty of moments along the way in which he needed some encouragement from the most important people in his life, including his wife, Debbie, and the late former Temple coach Wayne Hardin, before he went on to a 12-year NFL career.

 

A self-described timid kid who initially walked away from the sport of football as a freshman at St. James High School for Boys, Klecko eventually honed the skill and strength to get the best of future Hall of Fame offensive linemen like Anthony Munoz and Dwight Stephenson and drop fellow Hall of Famers like Jim Kelly and Dan Marino en route to collecting 78 career sacks and four Pro Bowl nods as a member of the Jets’ famed “New York Sack Exchange.”

 

Among countless anecdotes, Klecko recalled memories of everything from living at Temple’s Johnson Hall to studying and getting the best of players like Marino to reflecting upon what it meant to see his son, Dan, play at his alma mater and go on to win three Super Bowls.

Former Temple star John Baum talked to OwlScoop.com on this week's podcast shortly before calling his final game of his 25-year broadcasting career as the Owls' radio analyst. 

Baum, a Big 5 and Temple Hall of Famer who went on to play in both the NBA and the ABA, reflected on his playing and broadcasting career a few hours before the Owls beat UCF 57-55 Thursday night at the Liacouras Center.

In addition to our interview the Temple legend, we recapped the Owls' Thursday night win on the hardwood, one that ensured them of a first-round bye in next week's American Athletic Conference tournament, and we also recapped the first week of Temple's spring football practices. 

Audio from Temple defensive line coach Antoine Smith reveals how the staff is feeling about a rushing defense they feel should be much improved over last season. 

 

The Owls start spring practice Tuesday, and we take a closer look at some of the key position battles that will take place through March and into April.

John DiCarlo, Kyle Gauss, Javon Edmonds and Cayden Steele also answered questions from a full mailbag, with many of them pertaining to Aaron McKie's Temple basketball team and the absence of Khalif Battle, who remains away from the team due to personal reasons. 

Second-year Temple head coach Stan Drayton talked this week about the Owls' seven newest recruits from the 2023 class, and we have excerpts from that interview on this week's podcast, along with answers to your mailbag questions. 

Can former Temple star Haason Reddick be a game-wrecker once again and bring the Eagles their second Super Bowl this weekend?

Why does Aaron McKie's Temple basketball team continually hurt itself with turnovers and not taking care of the basketball?

Is it too early to start predicting wins and losses for Stan Drayton's 2023 football team?

We answered all of those questions, including yours from the mailbag, on this week's OwlScoop.com podcast, as well as giving a nod to former Temple and New York Jets star Joe Klecko, who learned Thursday night of his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Intro: 0:00 - 6:10

Joe Klecko's Hall of Fame induction: 6:10 - 8:12

Temple's newest football staff additions: 8:12 - 8:45

A breakdown of Temple's loss to SMU and a preview of Sunday's game at Memphis: 8:45 - 20:55

Mailbag: 20:55 - 41:22

Our Super Bowl preview and why we think the Eagles will beat the Chiefs Sunday: 41:22 - 49:35

With Temple set to host No. 3 Houston at the Liacouras Center Sunday, we talked to Owls assistant coach Chris Clark to get a preview of the Cougars and a closer look at a Temple team that has won four in a row and eight of its last 10 games. 

Clark talked about the return of center Jamille Reynolds, the team's improved chemistry, and the reception the staff has received out on the recruiting trail since Temple beat then-No. 1 Houston almost two weeks ago. 

This week's podcast includes part of our interview with former Temple star Shizz Alston, who now plays professionally in Japan. He talked about what the Owls' win over No. 1 Houston meant to him and why he thinks Temple can keep its momentum going. 

Temple's next test is Wednesday's home game against USF, and John DiCarlo and Javon Edmonds took a closer look at the Bulls and what the Owls must do to avoid a letdown. 

We also have answers to your mailbag questions and plenty of football recruiting updates, too. 

Temple is tied for second place in the American Athletic Conference basketball standings and set to take on No. 1 Houston Sunday, and Stan Drayton has added a former SEC coach to his staff. 

We talked about this week, answered your mailbag questions, and paid tribute to former Temple linebacker Jarred Alwan, who passed away this week at the age of 29.

After a 76-72 win at Tulsa that saw the Owls allow a 22-0 run that erased a 20-point lead, in addition to losing Damian Dunn and Jahlil White to ejections, Aaron McKie's Owls will host Memphis Sunday at the Liacouras Center. 

We talked more about the enigmatic Owls, talked more about Stan Drayton's football team and recruiting, and answered listener mailbag questions.