Kickoff time set for second annual Mayor's Cup

Kickoff for the second annual Mayor's Cup football game between Temple and Villanova on Sept. 3 has been set for 5 p.m.

That not only means fans can get an early start to their Labor Day weekend, but they can also avoid the arriving crowd for the 7 o'clock Phillies game with the Milwaukee Brewers across the street.

For last season's opener, 27,759 were at Lincoln Financial Field as Villanova rallied in the fourth quarter to win by three on a last-play field goal. That was the highest attendance for a 2009 Temple game in South Philadelphia. The game can't be played on a Thursday as it was last year because the Eagles are hosting the New York Jets in their preseason finale on the Sept. 2.

The Owls return almost everyone from a team that finished 9-4 and went to a bowl game for the first time since 1979.

And the Wildcats have just about everything back from the club that lost only once and won its first FCS (formerly Division I-AA) national championship. If Matt Szczur, who was the Most Outstanding Player in the finals win over top-ranked Montana, doesn't leave early to pursue a pro baseball career, there is a decent chance they will start out at No. 1.

For ticket information, call either (215) 204-8499 or (610) 519-4100.

- Mike Kern