Temple to the MAC, it's well unofficial still.

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue May 10, 2005 12:53 pm

Temple has apparently accepted the MAC's invite to join. Here's the article.

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/11607477.htm

Neither Mid-American Conference officials nor Temple officials would comment yesterday on a story in Sunday's Raleigh News & Observer that said the Owls have accepted an invitation to play football in the conference.

According to the report, North Carolina State athletic director Lee Fowler said MAC commissioner Rich Chryst had confirmed that the Owls accepted the invitation, effective in 2006.

Temple was kicked out of the Big East after last season and is playing an independent schedule this year. Sources have said a deal between the Owls and the MAC is all but finalized.

MAC spokesman Gary Richter has repeatedly said that no decision on expansion would be made public until after the MAC presidents meet again in early June.

The Daily News also attempted to contact Northern Illinois president John G. Peters, chairman of the MAC Council of Presidents. But a school representative said he would have no comment.

Temple was supposed to play Middle Tennessee at home on Sept. 24. But the Owls, who already are playing MAC opponents Toledo, Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio, are apparently close to a deal with another MAC team, Western Michigan, for that date instead. They also were supposed to host North Carolina State on Sept. 10, but it looks as if they will travel to Wisconsin. Which also means they won't play at N.C. State in 2007, which is why Fowler was asked to comment.

"I haven't gotten anything in writing," Fowler told the News & Observer of the proposed changes. "but it's official from what I've heard."

In an earlier interview, Chryst told the News & Observer the one thing everyone wanted "was not to drag this thing out."

NY-BG-FAN · Post by **NY-BG-FAN** » Tue May 10, 2005 1:05 pm

I guess we should all enjoy the one year we have in the MAC East then. Let's hope for that UT-BG MAC Championship game this year, it looks like this is the only year it could take place.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue May 10, 2005 1:11 pm

NY-BG-FAN wrote:I guess we should all enjoy the one year we have in the MAC East then. Let's hope for that UT-BG MAC Championship game this year, it looks like this is the only year it could take place.

I sincerely hope BG doens't get moved again....period. Enough. Move someone else, if needed.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Tue May 10, 2005 1:12 pm

NY-BG-FAN wrote:I guess we should all enjoy the one year we have in the MAC East then. Let's hope for that UT-BG MAC Championship game this year, it looks like this is the only year it could take place.

I'm pretty sure the MAC will also be adding Western Kentucky, meaning we may stay in the East.

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue May 10, 2005 1:27 pm

Schadenfreude wrote:I'm pretty sure the MAC will also be adding Western Kentucky, meaning we may stay in the East.

I sincerely hope that your are correct on this account. All indications seem to be that they will eventually join the MAC. It will make for a very pleasant drive from Lexington to see the real Bowling Green play in Bowling Green, KY.

WKU Attendance Issue and Move to MAC

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Tue May 10, 2005 6:53 pm

I don't like the idea of adding Temple....but it really seems like this just might happen after all.

But what I really don't like is the possibility of us moving back to the West after we've already gone from East-West-East. We should stay put, period. Enough is enough. If we move again, nobody (including us) will be able to remember what division we are in!!!

It's the Journey... · Tue May 10, 2005 10:28 pm

This is terrible! Can we say Contral Florida AGAIN!!!!! After all the good things the MAC has done the past few years this is a great way to shoot it all in the head. Name one well respected conference that has a school that is a member in only one sport. Talk about a step back.

golfertk14 · Post by **golfertk14** » Wed May 11, 2005 8:16 am

Schadenfreude wrote:
NY-BG-FAN wrote:I guess we should all enjoy the one year we have in the MAC East then. Let's hope for that UT-BG MAC Championship game this year, it looks like this is the only year it could take place.
I'm pretty sure the MAC will also be adding Western Kentucky, meaning we may stay in the East.

WHAT??!?!?!?!!

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Wed May 11, 2005 8:26 am

golfertk14 wrote:
Schadenfreude wrote:
NY-BG-FAN wrote:I guess we should all enjoy the one year we have in the MAC East then. Let's hope for that UT-BG MAC Championship game this year, it looks like this is the only year it could take place.
I'm pretty sure the MAC will also be adding Western Kentucky, meaning we may stay in the East.
WHAT??!?!?!?!!

I think Western Kentucky would be a great add.

They have more basketball tradition than any member of the MAC. They've won several recent Sun Belt titles. In 1971, they made it to the Final Four.

Good program. And they want to move football to I-A.

golfertk14 · Post by **golfertk14** » Wed May 11, 2005 8:27 am

Schadenfreude wrote:
golfertk14 wrote:
Schadenfreude wrote:
NY-BG-FAN wrote:I guess we should all enjoy the one year we have in the MAC East then. Let's hope for that UT-BG MAC Championship game this year, it looks like this is the only year it could take place.
I'm pretty sure the MAC will also be adding Western Kentucky, meaning we may stay in the East.
WHAT??!?!?!?!!
I think Western Kentucky would be a great add.

They have more basketball tradition than any member of the MAC. They've won several recent Sun Belt titles. In 1971, they made it to the Final Four.

Good program. And they want to move football to I-A.

Yea but i want teams that BG can beat.

04forheisman · Post by **04forheisman** » Wed May 11, 2005 8:52 am

Yea but i want teams that BG can beat.

C'mon now, you can't be that stupid.[/quote]

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Wed May 11, 2005 9:48 am

golfertk14 wrote:
Yea but i want teams that BG can beat.

Thats a good way to get respect.

Be a big fish in a small pond. Brilliant. I would much rather see a highly competitive conference than BG putting up 50pts on every one. The Western KY move will be great if it happens. It will expand our footprint and brings in a team that can compete.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:04 am

Well if its gets us WKU, that is nice, but we would be stuck in the east with the Temple birds. Heck, I think our approach towards divisions needs to be revisted anyway. I'd rather see something innovative, that rotates teams slowing through two non-geographic divisions. Or maybe a north-south set of divisions.

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:10 am

Falconfreak90 wrote:
NY-BG-FAN wrote:I guess we should all enjoy the one year we have in the MAC East then. Let's hope for that UT-BG MAC Championship game this year, it looks like this is the only year it could take place.
I sincerely hope BG doens't get moved again....period. Enough. Move someone else, if needed.

Mike,
I agree with you on this one...not thrilled about Temple being added, ESPECIALLY for football only....but I definitely would hold the line if I were BG as to a move BACK to the West; assuming WKU were to come into the league, it would balance out, but the thought of another non-competitive team in the East (read Buffalo,KSU etc.) would NOT make me happy...It's fun to see the 50-7 games once in awhile, but I want the whole CONFERENCE to upgrade, not just "fill a spot" vacated by another team(S).

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:15 am

Something tells me that an Athletic Director of Paul Krebs magnitude, intelligence, prowess, and ability has your silly worries about moving from the west to the east, back to the west again already taken care of.