PHILADELPHIA — Al Golden opened the letter from a professor after yet another blowout loss, another game where Temple allowed more than 60 points, where victory was never an option.

It wasn't the typical hang-in-there, pick-me-up. The words emphasized to Golden that his Owls were on the right track toward future success, both athletically and academically.

It read, "I know you're not happy about not winning, but your kids are displaying winning behavior. Winning behavior leads to winning," Golden said.

The Owls first-year coach loved the sentiment. "That really hit home about what we're all about. Winning behavior leads to winning," Golden said.

Maybe it will one day. Only not this year. Again.

The Owls (1-10) enter Saturday's game at Navy having long ago clinched their 16th straight losing season. Three times this season the Owls allowed more than 60 points, including consecutive 62-0 losses to Louisville and Minnesota. They didn't score their first touchdown until the fourth game and gained only 74 total yards in a shutout loss last week at Penn State.

It's not hard finding ugly stats about Temple. It's one thing the Owls have always been good at.

"We take our shots," said offensive tackle Elliot Seifert.

Finding hope? Well, that's always been the tricky part for the downtrodden program.

But for the first time since the Garden State Bowl — not a Rutgers home game — was the biggest college football game in New Jersey, the Owls believe they have a real reason to be optimistic about the future. Next year, they'll be in the Mid-American Conference, have a solid recruiting class and seven home games.

"It's not blind faith to believe Temple can win in Division I-A and play in bowls in the not too distant future," Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw said.