Temple not joining MAC

goBG · Post by **goBG** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:20 am

I saw on the bottom ticker on ESPN tonight that Temple will remain in 1-A and will be independent. I am not sure if this is good or bad for the MAC. I guess one could say it would have been good but another could say it would have been bad. Not an issue now.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:56 am

I think this is an expected step in their "soul searching". The Big East kicked them out for failing to meet league requirements in attendance, facilities and "fielding a competitive team". (OUCH! How does Syracuse feel about that comment?)

The Big East is trying to grow, and trying to grow fast to not be a laughing stock like they were this year in the BCS. Another year or two like that and they can kiss their BCS bid goodbye. Temple is obviously a poor fit for their plans, and I think it was as much a mutual parting as a "kicking out". They're looking at their options, trying to find a conference to fit into (which I don't think the MAC is necessarily it, but if its what's available to fill slots, what the hell!), going independent buys them some time to figure out what they're going to do without giving up D-1 status.

It's amazing what ESPN can fit into stories online that they can't fit on the bottom line...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1971463

bgmaggot00 · Post by **bgmaggot00** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:59 am

Thats good news for me. The last thing the MAC needs is another Bottom-Feeder in football. I'm sure Buffalo and Ball State would be glad to have someone new to schedule on Homecoming though. Jeff

BGFalcons232 · Post by **BGFalcons232** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 2:16 am

i don't want temple anywhere near the MAC... we just got rid of one bottom feeder (central florida) and are improving our lower programs (ohio hiring solich, buffalo upgrading their facilities).

western kentucky and MTSU are much better fits for the MAC. they also clear up our alignment question as we would surely move back to the MAC east....

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:23 am

I believe Temple to the MAC is a forgone conclusion at this point. The ticker basically stated that football would remain 1-A.

They are, however, looking aggressively at a conference. The MAC is the only conference which would make sense for them right now.

There should be an announcement in the next month or so. Look for them and another to be added for the 2006 season.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:28 am

goBG wrote:I saw on the bottom ticker on ESPN tonight that Temple will remain in 1-A and will be independent.

Well, that's part one of a multiple part news release.

Yes, Temple will stay I-A and play as an independent in 2005.
But they will also begin searching for a conference affiliation -- that was the part the ESPN crawler left out.

I have no doubt Temple is coming to the MAC. My only question is how the fine print will read. I'm hoping the agreement will set a deadline for them to bring their other sports to the MAC as well.

Scenarios I've heard:

-- Temple would be required to play MAC basketball teams four times in nonconference play, with half of those games on our courts.

-- Temple would might be required to bring their other sports in by 2010 or move on to another conference.

I especially like that last idea. It would force Temple to continue seriously considering the MAC in all sports -- and it could always be renegotiated if the MAC decides Temple as a football-only member is a good arrangement.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:37 am

To use a dated analogy, getting Temple for football only would be sort of like booking a Beatles reunion that only Ringo shows up for...

Or to be more current, it'd be like turning on a "Simpson's" special only to find that it's just Ashlee

kdog27 · Post by **kdog27** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:44 am

I want them in every sport or I do not want them at all. If we cannot get them for basketball than we might as well shut the door on them. I don't want any more partial members to the conference like UCF was.

Falcon30 · Post by **Falcon30** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:00 am

Flipper wrote:To use a dated analogy, getting Temple for football only would be sort of like booking a Beatles reunion that only Ringo shows up for...

Or to be more current, it'd be like turning on a "Simpson's" special only to find that it's just Ashlee

or OJ.

(btw - the simpsons are why there is a mute button on TVs.)

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:19 am

Falcon30 wrote:
Flipper wrote:To use a dated analogy, getting Temple for football only would be sort of like booking a Beatles reunion that only Ringo shows up for...

Or to be more current, it'd be like turning on a "Simpson's" special only to find that it's just Ashlee
or OJ.

(btw - the simpsons are why there is a mute button on TVs.)

Will Homer be on?

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:27 am

An EMU fan of note posted the press release, which I noted below.

The MAC will survive, but I'm really not high on Temple in any sport the more I look at it. WKU and in time, MTSU would be better.

TEMPLE TO CONTINUE FOOTBALL AT DIVISION I-A LEVEL

Owls to actively pursue new conference affiliation for football program

PHILADELPHIA (01/20/05) – Temple University announced today that it will continue to play Division I-A football and will actively seek a conference affiliation as soon as possible.

A 12-member athletics task force that has been studying the future of Temple football since last summer made the recommendation to the Chairman of Temple’s Board of Trustees, Howard Gittis.

“I enthusiastically support the Task Force’s recommendation, and I am grateful for the conscientious work of the Task Force. Football will continue to have a place at Temple,” said Mr.Gittis “There are challenges ahead for Temple football, with the most pressing being a conference affiliation. We are confident that our football program will be part of a Division I-A conference in the near future.”

Temple’s football affiliation with the Big East Conference ended at the conclusion of the 2004 season. In 2005 the team will play as a Division I-A independent. The Owls’ 2005 schedule features six home games at Lincoln Financial Field, including Miami (Fla.), Maryland and North Carolina State, and five away contests.

“The task force was created to take an in-depth look at all aspects of Temple athletics, with football at the forefront,” said Temple President David Adamany. “Our goal is to not just have a football program, but to have one that will make Philadelphia and the Temple community proud.”

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:50 am

I think Schadenfreude has had the best points so far about Temple not coming to the MAC but if they don't, I can see BG having to move back to the East for sure.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:57 am

Based on what I'm hearing here (from the Freak, particularly) and elsewhere, I think Bowling Green will be in the East.

Once Temple announces, I would expect a Western Kentucky announcement thereafter.

If that happens, the MAC is either going to do a major reshuffling of divisions or make one school move from the West.

Based on what Freak is saying, Krebs appears interested in moving us back to the East.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:19 am

Schadenfreude wrote: Based on what Freak is saying, Krebs appears interested in moving us back to the East.

As long as we can still get Toledo and NIU scheduled often, I won't mind at all. I love the rivalry that has built up with NIU in the last few years and having the chance to play them or Toledo in the MACC would be great!

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:33 am

According to Vandelay on the MacBBs, we are going back to the East.

http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/mac/invis ... 4b5466fe3b

Temple not joining MAC

Temple not joining MAC

....yet.

good

Re: Temple not joining MAC