OT: Temple on the verge of (re-)joining Big East for all sports
Temple is close to a deal to return to the Big East starting this upcoming football season. There were invited to join the combined CUSA/Mountain West Conference slated to begin in 2013. Owls will leave the MAC and replace West Virginia for football; they will be in the Big East for all sports.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:22 PM ^
I was worrying that the Big East might not be a quality football conference. Worrying has now ceased.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:23 PM ^
Well at least the Big East got a replacement of similiar caliber. /s
Seriously, how is the Big East still considered a major conference (in football anyway). I'm actually going to find it slightly hilarious when the Big East loses it's auto BCS bid right when Boise State might have actually been able to take advantage of it, despite still playing essentially a mid major schedule in that terrible conference.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
Wow, this is surprising not only because it's sudden, but because from a football standpoint they don't add a heck of a lot and further water down the conference. Desperate time call for desperate measures I suppose. Another question now, with SDSU, BSU, navy, air force, houston, SMU, and UCF being added in the near future that will make 13 teams. DO they search for a 14th? Villanova maybe?
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^
Great addition from a basketball standpoint, though.
Word is Louisville may be leaving as soon as 2013 for the Big XII - its the consensus pick for an 11th team. So the Big East would be at 12 then.
You make a good point about Villanova though, two Big Five schools in the Big East, for all sports, would make sense.
February 22nd, 2012 at 8:35 PM ^
Villanova has been systemically blocking Temple from re-entry to the Big East for all sports since this process began.
There is no way they will be able to compete with TU on a level recruiting playing field for inner city Philly talent.
The magnitude of the Big East's issues can only describe why Villanova's objections are being over ruled.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^
Excellent, one less team to stand in the way of St. Bonaventure's return to greatness. Go Bonnies!
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^
Weird.
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
I can just imagine Temple vs Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl...
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:49 PM ^
Meh, not offical yet but looks to be heading that way, we know how these things have a tendancy to fall apart through.
My opinion from the MAC perspective is kind of disappointed. They were always a solid team that boosted us in bowl games. However many of their fans hated being in the MAC and were complete assholes bashing us as a "hick conference" In that sense I say good riddance. For all the shit they talked about us "hicks" they were never able to win the conference or even make the title game
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:52 PM ^
Now there is nothing to stand in the way of my Bobcats from owning the MAC!
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^
This is like kicking the ugly unpopular girl out of your circle of friends and then being turned down by everyone else for the prom so you hafta ask her and you convince yourself it's OK because her hair is different. GOOD JOB BIG EAST
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:10 PM ^
They were forced out around the time the ACC poached BC, miami (ytm), and Va Tech.
It will be interesting to see how the decade of mac caliber ball changed their program.
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^
Big East. So unimportant. I think they should strive to have two COMPLETELY different sets of schools that play football in their conference from those that play hoops.
Thoughts and Suggestions:
Football: Rutgers, Notre Dame, Navy, SDSU, Boise, SMU, Houston, UCF, USF, Pitt
Hoops: Marquette, DePaul, Louisville, Memphis, Seton Hall, St. John's, Providence, Georgetown, Nova, UConn, Cincy
I mean, do they really need basketball at Notre Dame, UCF, Rutgers and SMU? Or football at Louisville, Cincy and Memphis?
I guess UConn or Pitt could be the teams that play in both sports, but they don't really need to have football teams, do they? (It would be great for us as UM fans if UConn did away with football so we didn't have to waste a game in a couple years when we have to go to Storrs.)
I would love to see a four team football playoff between Providence, St John's, Seton Hall and Georgetown. I am betting the Hoyas would win.
They should see if Vietnam has any teams looking to join a league. Now THAT's Big East.
So in conslusion, Big East..... you are a sad and unending joke.... like this post.
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^
Big East = Big Lots
Conference USA = Dollar General
Western Athletic Conference = Save-a-lot
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:27 PM ^
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
There goes the strength of schedule for my Bobcats. Poor MAC.
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^
Will never happen... Temple is too far east
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:54 PM ^
Gotta be honest, I'm going to feel bad for Boise when they finally join the Big East and then the BCS takes the Big East's AQ status away. The Big East does not benefit, football-wise, from adding garbage schools. Boise will be good, and SDSU will be fine until the Hoke effect wares off in a few years, but beyond that....Memphis? Central Florida?
Unless we're talking basketball, this conference has no draw whatsoever. It won't be long until it becomes the next WAC, since none of these current teams can compete worth a damn for a BCS game, much less a national title.
February 22nd, 2012 at 7:19 PM ^
I do not like the Big East; I do not think my Temple Owls need to be part of that conference in order to have success in football/basketball.
But, as in all things NCAA money rules the day and so, years after kicking out the underperforming Owls football program, back comes the Big East and Temple will take the money (provided it's for all sports).
As to the few people who called this deal irrelevant...If this works the Big East gets a marquee basketball program (including beautiful facilities at the Licouras Centre) and Villanova gets killed (now that Fran Dunphy can recruit Philly and the Northeast on equal footing with Jay Wright.). Last I looked, Temple is still the sixth winningest basketball program of all time.
