Temple Nation Enjoys Spotlight In South Philadelphia

By Dan Wing 

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Temple fans packed the parking lots at the sports complex for an all out party ahead of Saturday night's big game against 9th ranked Notre Dame.

The music was blasting, and hopes were high that the 21st ranked Owls would be able to pull out a big win and stay undefeated.

But win or lose, most fans like Harris of the class of '82 said they were just proud to see how far the program has come.

"It's unbelievable to just see how it's developed over the years," Temple alumnus Harris said. "I mean when we were in school, you could be in a whole section by yourself and there was nobody else there. Now you can fill the whole stadium."

With the game falling on Halloween night, many took advantage and wore some costumes down to the Linc' with the most popular being the Pope, who maybe was throwing Temple a few blessings.

Even Notre Dame fans like Joe recognized what the game meant for the Owls.

"It'll make this season," Joe said.  "And I think it'll give them good recruiting for next year, and really change the make up of that program."

Joe, who's originally from South Bend said being in enemy territory wasn't all that bad.

"It's fantastic. Everybody's been very kind to us. We mooched our way into a couple Temple tailgates. We've, of course, mooched our way into some Irish tailgates. So we've been treated very well."