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Temple University meets all the qualifications to be a member of the Big 10 conference. Academically, they have it all as UK Peregrine Falcon discussed in his 01/07/05 post on the Big 10(11) post. Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Pharmacy can all be studied at this teaching/research university.

Athletically, Temple has the two major venues a Big 10 membership would need. Attendance at football games has never been great, but that probably would change if UM, MSU, PSU, etc. came in to Phillly to play. Recruiting for Temple football would improve then.

Geographically, Philadelphia expands the Big 10 within 90 miles of New York City. 125 miles of Washington D.C., and 90 miles of Baltimore. Lots of alumni/fans to attend footbal games within a short drive. The television market wouldn't get any better because we get Big 10 football games every week anyway.

John Chaney probably wouldn't mind going from the Atlantic-10 to the Big 10. Each year, John Chaney puts together one of the toughest OOC schedules any college basketball team plays. He does so by playing a lot of road games against Kansas, Duke, etc. His won/lost record is usually not that good when conference play begins, but his players are definitely ready for action.

Logistically, it is easy to get to Temple. The football stadium is about 5 miles from the airport.

And lastly, it gives the Big 10 their twelfth team so they can have two six team divisions.

OK, you read it here first. The floor is open for comments.

It sounds good, but can they compete with the likes of OSU, UM, and Northwestern?

All your points are good, though.

With Temple involved the Big 10 football standings would look like they did when the University of Chicago was last a member...a great big 0 and something at the very tail end. After Chicago left in the early 40's they called themselves the "Big 9" for several years until MSU was let in. Don't know why they never went to "Big 11". Just didn't sound right, I guess.

I'm not sure how much of this thread is intended to be farce.

Since I'm not sure...

My opinion is that Rutgers would be a much stronger candidate for the Big Ten. They are the flagship state university of their state -- Temple is not. And Rutgers would allow the Big Ten to reach pretty directly into the New York City market.

Temple only creates a little more interest in Philadelphia. The Big Ten already has created plenty of interest in Philadelphia by adding Penn State.

Then Rutgers should be in the MAC with Ohio, which is Ohio's falgship school!

I recall the VT's name is Weaver and formerly was AD @ Western Michigan. He stated why VT wanted to leave the BE and join the ACC. He said the Big 10 ONLY had interest in ND.

There have been rumors for years Rutgers, Pitt or Syracuse would leave the BE for the Big 10.

Weaver said none of these rumors were true.

The BE now has a $5 million penalty clause for any school leaving. In addition, deparing schools must give notice. I recall the notification time clause was 3 years.

Weaver's interview was 30 minutes in length on the VT radio network.

IF Temple was to go to the Big 10 (big IF), they would must likely move to a smaller conference and work up their prestige and win before the Big 10 would even consider them.

If the Big East does not want them you can be sure the Big Ten does not want them either.