Letters: Football coach deserted players and Temple

"There is no "I" in "team" is often heard in locker rooms, meaning that teamwork is preferred over individual acclaim. All that is for naught, though, when it comes to the teachers of that rule. At Temple University, the "I Team" has moved on to a more lucrative post ("Temple's Rhule makes a quick exit," Wednesday).

In the wake of his sudden departure to Baylor University, former Temple football coach Matt Rhule is abandoning his players - the same players who brought him the acclaim he's cashing in on. He is also departing with one game left to be played by those he left behind. Talk about your rats jumping ship. His is a totally disgraceful demonstration of the team concept, of sportsmanship, and of the man I thought Rhule was. Baylor, beware; ambition doesn't play by the Rhule.

|Rick Romano, Ambler, tikirik@verizon.net

Temple football has reached heights on the field and in the classroom that no one (this homer included) could have ever predicted. Also undeniable is that work remains - attendance must improve, a solution to the stadium issue must be found, and now a new coach who can continue this momentum must be hired. Instead of viewing these issues as setbacks, Athletic Director Patrick Kraft has framed them as a challenge, an opportunity to be positive. The bottom line is that the football program, along with the university writ large, have been on a positive trajectory for a decade or more.

|C. Andrew Cliver, Collingswood

Is nothing sacred? Jewelers Row is a landmark in Philadelphia similar to Fabric Row on Fourth Street ("Endangered edifices," Friday). They have been mainstays for generations. Not only Philadelphians, but, people from other states have frequented Jewelers Row for the quality and diversity of the jewelry. So it seems, as everything else, that landmarks are destroyed so that a builder can come in and put up another high-rise, as if there are not enough available.

Landmarks make our city great historically and culturally. Our ancestors are our heritage. Why destroy that for a few bucks?

|Gloria Gelman, Philadelphia

Mari A. Schaefer's article, "The Pistachio Girl is fired" (Tuesday) had my blood boiling. It was reported that the corporate giant, Aramark, fired food vendor Emily Youcis from her job at Citizens Bank Park. She was dumped for expressing her political views on social media. She wasn't fired because she didn't do her job or for harassing fans. She was expressing her opinions on her own time.

I find her political remarks to be odious, but that's beside the point. She should have the same right as any other citizen to express her opinion. Her rights should be guaranteed. Perhaps Aramark doesn't believe in the Bill of Rights, but we should. Emily doesn't need the support of David Duke, the former imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. She needs a union or a good lawyer.

|Thomas Paine Cronin, Bala Cynwyd, tompainecronin@comcast.net

Despite the Inquirer editorial about the strength of our region's legislators in Harrisburg ("No juice in Harrisburg," Dec. 4), the Philadelphia delegation stands ready to continue advocating for the interests of the city and the surrounding communities.

This year, the delegation partnered with our suburban colleagues to pass the Uber/Lyft legislation, which regulates what was an unregulated industry while helping to fund Philadelphia schools. During the state budget process, the region's lawmakers were key to a compromise that delivered millions of new dollars to schools in the city and the suburbs.

I agree that the upcoming session will be more challenging, especially with the political reality of the last election. However, our regional delegation has the ability and the tenacity to prevent us from being shut out of the process, as the editorial implied.

Make no mistake - we're united, and our advocacy for the region we represent is strong.

|Ed Neilson, state Democratic representative, Philadelphia