Some people apparently are simply incapable of getting it. Conferences are about a whole lot more than who is winning football games in a particular year or in the last 10 years for that matter. Geography matters. Markets matter. Basketball matters. Minor sports matter. The direction of a university matters. How all of the universities educational aims mesh together matter. Which university presidents play golf or go to reading groups together matters. The list is endless. We do not live in a football only world. Many things will be considered and we are talking about three or more years into the future anyway. Nobody is saying add Temple tomorrow or next week. What we are saying is, if the Owls continue to improve under their new pro-sports administration and hard-working new coach, then they will at least merit a long hard look if there is a Big East split down the road.

If the FB schools split in 2010 or 2013, Temple doesn't need to be a powerhouse program. Philadelphia produces a heap of BB talent. We won't abandon that talent and the 4th largest media market in the country to the BB schools and the Atlantic 10. If Temple is competent in FB and BB when the split happens, they get in. I think a 10 team big east with Temple and UCF would be the most logical both geographically and markets wise. That gives you 9 FB games and 18 BB games. Everyone plays in FB and everyone gets a home and home in BB.

I fly???

no U fall...

Krocker Krapp Wrote:Some people apparently are simply incapable of getting it. Conferences are about a whole lot more than who is winning football games in a particular year or in the last 10 years for that matter. Geography matters. Markets matter. Basketball matters. Minor sports matter. The direction of a university matters. How all of the universities educational aims mesh together matter. Which university presidents play golf or go to reading groups together matters. The list is endless. We do not live in a football only world. Many things will be considered and we are talking about three or more years into the future anyway. Nobody is saying add Temple tomorrow or next week. What we are saying is, if the Owls continue to improve under their new pro-sports administration and hard-working new coach, then they will at least merit a long hard look if there is a Big East split down the road.

Temple was kicked out of the BE for one reason: football. If they get back into the Big East it will be for one reason and one reason only: football.

These other considerations matter to a certain extent - perhaps - but in reality it's football that drives the bus when it comes to expansion for 1-A football leagues. Look at CUSA - what does Marshall have in common with schools like SMU, Rice, and Tulsa? Academic mission? Geography? Market?

No. Football punched Marshall's ticket to CUSA, and football will punch the ticket of the next BE program.

If Temple improves, if Temple is starting to put things together, then sure - they are logical because of their history, location, market, good sports in other areas, etc. But the reality is that their success on the football field and in the stands is the most important consideration for BE membership, and that's true whether you're talking about Temple, ECU, UCF or anybody else.

It may not be a "football only world", but football drives the bus and drags everything else along with it. Football is the #1 priority cuz it pays all the bills.

As noted above by Shannon, a post-split conference of Big East football schools can't ... and won't ... leave Philadelphia unoccupied in the middle of our historical footprint, along with Boston to boot. We absolutely must have a member in one of those cities to compliment the trio of Connecticut, Syracuse, and Rutgers. Market considerations will overcome past football ineptitude. Some people may not like this reality but that is how things work in the world of modern day college athletics.

buffalo and temple = 10

Buffalo has improved with their new coach and is tied for first in the MAC. While not there yet. If they can keep him as coach, keep improving on the field and in attendance they do have a good future.