The Best Thing That Happened This Week

Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich (8) sacks Connecticut quarterback Garrett Anderson (7) during the first half of Saturday’s Temple–UConn game. Photo by Chris Szagola/AP

If Temple didn’t have Tyler Matakevich, we’d have to invent him. Oh, he may come from Connecticut, but he’s as Philly as Rocky — a legit All-American prospect whose only FBS football scholarship offer out of high school came from the then-lowly Owls. Last night Temple beat UConn, 27 to 3, for a trip to the AAC championship game next weekend, and as usual, Matakevich was a huge part of the win. Since the start of his career back in 2012, all Matakevich has done is rack up more tackles than any other current FBS player, lead the nation in linebacker interceptions — and carry his team to a Cinderella season jump-started by its first win over Penn State in 74 years. That the award he’s up for is named for the recently deceased Bednarik — Penn product, Eagles standout, Hall of Famer, the last two-way player in the NFL? Ah, it doesn’t get any sweeter. Rock on, you Philly rock, you.