Temple’s campus rests on the north side of Philadelphia. They’ve been playing their home games in professional stadiums on the south end of town since 1978. Lincoln Financial Field is their current home, and a flurry of cherry and white descends upon “The Linc” on Temple gameday Saturdays converting the outskirts of the arena into a collegiate tailgating oasis.
As tents are raised and grills are lit, the Temple faithful add spirit and excitement to the atmosphere. They await “The Fly-In” – the arrival of the Owl football players making their way through the crowd to the main entrance of the stadium. The Temple University Diamond Marching Band leads the way as the fans cheer on their team.
The band and cheerleaders hang around after The Fly-In to entertain and add pageantry to pregame. Chants of “Cherry and White!” and “Go Owls!” blend with the sounds of “T for Temple U” being blasted from the brass section. Hooter the Owl, Temple’s mascot, weaves his way through tailgates to add flair and snap pictures with fans. On the sidelines, along with Hooter, the live great horned owl mascot celebrates gameday, as well.
The students show up in force and make themselves heard during the game. The Temple Diamond Marching Band puts on a memorable show at halftime offering punchy and powerful tunes while also showing off well-choreographed dance moves. They are beloved by the fans, and it’s clear that they are a significant component to the gameday experience at Temple.
While it’s not on campus, Owl fans bring much fervor and fandom to “The Linc.” The deep rooted tradition of Temple football is alive in the hearts and minds of the proud fans wearing cherry and white making gameday a special experience in Philly.
