PHILADELPHIA, PA – Parking lots at Lincoln Financial Field filled up quickly Saturday morning, as excited fans lined up around 8AM to begin tailgating for Temple University’s 2016 homecoming game.
For some, tailgating at each home game is just a routine part of college, but to others it was a very new experience. Homecoming brought undergraduates, alumni, friends and family together to celebrate their beloved university as a unit.
Freshman journalism major, Hadiyah Weaver, attended her first tailgate over the weekend. Weaver arrived around 9AM to help set up her tailgate station alongside Temple’s yearbook club.
“It honestly was like something I’d never seen. There were so many excited individuals coming together to fan over a sport and enjoy one another, which was beautiful,” said Weaver. “Seeing the players walk through while the marching band played on the sides and the cheerleaders cheering them on was a sight to see.”
Temple’s homecoming tailgate consisted of numerous tents representing each school, which offered fun free activities like face painting, photo booths, football tosses, and of course, free food and drinks. All of the pre-game excitement led up to the main attraction – the Temple vs. Charlotte football game.
To top off the homecoming celebration, Temple’s football team played extremely well and dusted Charlotte right off their feet.
photo by Zamani Feelings
Although the Owls had a rough start, wide receiver, Adonis Jennings caught a 51-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to put Temple in the lead 10-7. As the quarter progressed, Temple continued to wow the crowd as running back Jahad Thomas ran in 13-yards for a touchdown to put the owls up 17-7.
Thomas would finish the game with a total of two touchdowns, the second coming from a 1-yard gain in the third quarter. The excitement didn’t stop there, as Temple started to flood the 49er defense with touchdowns. WR Brodrick Yancy and RB Ryquell Armstead each found the end zone in the second quarter, giving the Owls a 31-7 lead at the half.
Armstead and Thomas added on two more second half touchdowns, leading to a final score of 48-20. Saturday afternoon’s game was the best Temple played so far this season. If the Owls can continue their fire and teamwork on the field, the remainder of the season will look very promising.
The Owls improve to 2-2 overall and will face their first division opponent, SMU (2-2) this Saturday at Noon.