(12-30-2010 11:35 PM)Sam Minuteman Wrote:  

(12-29-2010 11:29 PM)LastMinuteman Wrote:  I guess we'll know by Monday whether there was really a 1/1/11 deadline, but I would think the MAC would need a second expansion candidate to put pressure on Temple. Then the MAC could say they're going to take UMass + Team X to get to 14 members and shut Temple out if they don't re-commit first. UMass alone doesn't provide leverage because Temple knows the MAC doesn't want 13 members, and I don't think the MAC really wants to go back to 12 and lose any and all progress in the East. If there isn't a "Team X" to be the alternative 14th MAC member, I don't see why Temple couldn't drag this out regardless of what deadline is in the contract.

I have to politely disagree with this theory. Perhaps the MAC is thinking well you were 8-4 and didn't get invited to a bowl, if Temple goes indy they are back to an even 12 team all sport league.* (I haven't done the research on this but I understand Temple is the only FB only school) Also resulting in a smaller split of the MAC FB pie not that it is all that much of a difference but either way the MAC goes back to it's roots.

If Temple decides to stay and make a go of it the MAC brings UM for an even number and the other growth benefits that come from it. Either way I don't think the MAC is any worse off.

IMHO the future of the MAC depends not on future changes in membership but in the changes the current membership decide to make with their own programs...... Is the MAC flexible enough to have games on Sunday next year if there is a lockout?????

The flip side of the argument maybe Temple can make it work for a few years as an Indy. splitting time between getting paid big money for playing BCS teams and paying a few Non BCS/FCS teams a little bit of money. This could be a bit of a gamble if they don't eventually find a home but the Philly market is attractive for any future conference.

I am very interested in seeing what Temple fans have to say about all the possibilities.

Generally Temple fans see independence as suicide for the sport. There is no conference championship, and no bowl opportunities, so it hurts recruiting. The best Temple can hope for is to become the 'Boise St. of the East'. Winning begets everything and that is what would open up opportunity for Temple. The problem is that Boise St. still has not been invited to a BCS conference, and Temple's aspirations to get back to the Big East hinge on whether or not that conference fills out to 12 FB members in the foreseeable future. I think 12 is the max for these BCS conferences. The math doesn't matter in the MAC because the pie is so small that a few less crumbs mean nothing. In the BCS, going up to 16 makes no economic sense. You lose a quarter of the pie.

The other thing about Temple is, that unless it gets more fan support to pay the bills, Temple will be stuck in FBS limbo because the administration has stated in the past that they do not want to get into the kinds of arms races (expensive facilities upgrades) that the BCS schools engage. Until temple averages 35,000 fans per game, it is not going anywhere and not getting invited to anything else. I think the UMASS invite is good for the MAC for all the reasons stated, but you won't see either of these schools committing to all sports any time soon IMHO. Improvement in MAC basketball, and a lock-out of further BCS opportunities will be the game changers that enable Temple and UMASS to join for all sports. That day is a long way off.