...this was posted yesterday evening on The Sporting News, by Mike Decourcy:

I will burn in hell for posting this. :billgates:

Quote:Meanwhile, a source close to the Big East said that league is expected to vote on offering Temple full membership in the league at its secretive presidents’ meeting Sunday in Washington, along with demanding a more firm commitment from restless members Connecticut and Rutgers. The Big East lost longtime members Syracuse and Pitt to the ACC in mid-September.

UConn and Rutgers openly have discussed their eagerness to be invited to the ACC, as well, but no offer appears to be forthcoming for either, and schools that are committed to Big East membership—most notably Louisville—would like to see the current members provide the league with a clearer future.

Not sure how secretive the meeting is, though.

Oh, here we go

(10-01-2011 07:32 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Oh, here we go

At this point if Temple wants to pay us 2.5 million to leave for a conference that it on the border of losing its football AQ status... Well a fool and their money.

If Temple leaves that will put us back at an odd number, which will give us the opportunity to go get someone who actually wants to be in the conference.

(10-01-2011 07:49 AM)Rajiv Gidwani Wrote:  If Temple leaves that will put us back at an odd number, which will give us the opportunity to go get someone who actually wants to be in the conference.

Actually UMASS' inclusion in the conference is dependent on Temple staying. UMASS has a vested interested in Temple and I am sure they will be pissed if Temple leaves.

Personally, I want to see Temple stay and I think the MAC is a good fit for them. But if they want to leave, let them go. Most MAC schools would do the same thing if they had the same opportunity.

Quote:schools that are committed to Big East membership—most notably Louisville—would like to see the current members provide the league with a clearer future.

In other words, "We were independent for a long time, don't do that to us again!"

Still, the Big 12 might work out fine for them. Or the MAC.

They would take it in a heartbeat, pay the money and never give it a second thought, and so would I. Big East basketball and still higher profile football even without AQ status than the MAC.

Very worst case scenario with the football side falling apart still has your basketball in the BE and football could go back the MAC. (Despite all the howling from anti-football only schools fans here, they would have paid to get out, and they would pay to get back in. We're a pretty cheap whore here in the MAC.)

(10-01-2011 07:49 AM)Rajiv Gidwani Wrote:  If Temple leaves that will put us back at an odd number, which will give us the opportunity to go get someone who actually wants to be in the conference.

If Temple is in the Big East, UMass could very well be on deck. The Big XII may decide to get back to 12 in football with (BYU, TCU, UL). That would create 2 more openings with Houston/Memphis off the table by virtue of now being too far West. The Big East wants football teams that aren't located in an existing state so UMass and ECU are the only reasonable additions that fit the criteria.

UMass stays then the MAC would have a better chance of getting them to move over all sports because the A-10 would have taken a serious hit in basketball w/o Temple. Delaware, JMU, and ODU are all viable for MAC football and would be receptive to all-sports.

(10-01-2011 07:52 AM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:49 AM)Rajiv Gidwani Wrote:  If Temple leaves that will put us back at an odd number, which will give us the opportunity to go get someone who actually wants to be in the conference.

Actually UMASS' inclusion in the conference is dependent on Temple staying. UMASS has a vested interested in Temple and I am sure they will be pissed if Temple leaves.

Personally, I want to see Temple stay and I think the MAC is a good fit for them. But if they want to leave, let them go. Most MAC schools would do the same thing if they had the same opportunity.

UMass is in, it's done. The difference is *if* temple leaves UMass will see it's buout drop from 2.5 million to 500K

Temple would take FB only & wait for splitt

(10-01-2011 07:55 AM)axeme Wrote:  They would take it in a heartbeat, pay the money and never give it a second thought, and so would I. Big East basketball and still higher profile football even without AQ status than the MAC.

Very worst case scenario with the football side falling apart still has your basketball in the BE and football could go back the MAC. (Despite all the howling from anti-football only schools fans here, they would have paid to get out, and they would pay to get back in. We're a pretty cheap whore here in the MAC.)

Absolutely.

And it wouldn't appear that BE football is on the verge of falling apart at all here. The BigXII/BE merger idea was discussed extensively and the majority of Big East football schools were concerned about travel. Louisville is listening to the Big XII but trending toward staying in the Big East. They consider basketball to be better in the Big East with Madison Square Garden. They feel that even without Syracuse and Pitt the Big East is better for recruiting.

Taking a look at who is representing Big East football in the top 25, West Virginia and South Florida one has to think the BCS bid would be safe as long as those 2 are both in the conference and the league commits to solid adds like Temple and East Carolina.

(10-01-2011 08:18 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:52 AM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:49 AM)Rajiv Gidwani Wrote:  If Temple leaves that will put us back at an odd number, which will give us the opportunity to go get someone who actually wants to be in the conference.

Actually UMASS' inclusion in the conference is dependent on Temple staying. UMASS has a vested interested in Temple and I am sure they will be pissed if Temple leaves.

Personally, I want to see Temple stay and I think the MAC is a good fit for them. But if they want to leave, let them go. Most MAC schools would do the same thing if they had the same opportunity.

UMass is in, it's done. The difference is *if* temple leaves UMass will see it's buout drop from 2.5 million to 500K

When did that happen? The contract I saw said it was contingent on Temple staying in the MAC. Was this something that Temple had to stay by a certain date and that date has passed?

(10-01-2011 08:18 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:52 AM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:49 AM)Rajiv Gidwani Wrote:  If Temple leaves that will put us back at an odd number, which will give us the opportunity to go get someone who actually wants to be in the conference.

Actually UMASS' inclusion in the conference is dependent on Temple staying. UMASS has a vested interested in Temple and I am sure they will be pissed if Temple leaves.

Personally, I want to see Temple stay and I think the MAC is a good fit for them. But if they want to leave, let them go. Most MAC schools would do the same thing if they had the same opportunity.

UMass is in, it's done. The difference is *if* temple leaves UMass will see it's buout drop from 2.5 million to 500K

Right.

UMass is committed to moving to FBS. They know building a strong program at the MAC level is the way into the Big East. UMass doesn't have anywhere else to go at this point but the MAC.

There are several schools in the East (Del, JMU, ODU, App St, Char) that now have the facility for MAC football and would jump at the chance. Appalachian State has already voted to move to FBS.

(10-01-2011 08:26 AM)templefootballfan Wrote:  Temple would take FB only & wait for splitt

The nice thing for Temple is the Big East needs that 8th all sport member.

When you start to crunch the numbers having Temple in the conference cuts down the travel costs for Nova, GTown, SHU, Rutgers, UConn, St. John's, and Providence. Going with Central Florida or East Carolina increases travel costs.

The complaining across the Big East has been about its growth to 17 basketball schools with the addition of TCU and how that is starting to change travel and scheduling. Adding a regional basketball school in Temple is what most of the basketball schools want to hear at this time.

(10-01-2011 07:39 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:32 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Oh, here we go

At this point if Temple wants to pay us 2.5 million to leave for a conference that it on the border of losing its football AQ status... Well a fool and their money.

I know you hate Temple and all, but nobody can blame us for leaving if the invite comes. It strengthens both football and basketball. How do you see the Big East losing their AQ status? They lost Pitt and Syracuse. Is replacing them with TCU and Temple any worse?

(10-01-2011 09:29 AM)TempleU22 Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:39 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:32 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Oh, here we go

At this point if Temple wants to pay us 2.5 million to leave for a conference that it on the border of losing its football AQ status... Well a fool and their money.

I know you hate Temple and all, but nobody can blame us for leaving if the invite comes. It strengthens both football and basketball. How do you see the Big East losing their AQ status? They lost Pitt and Syracuse. Is replacing them with TCU and Temple any worse?

Actually that is an upgrade for the 4-year moving average BCS calculators.

(10-01-2011 09:29 AM)TempleU22 Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:39 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:32 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Oh, here we go

At this point if Temple wants to pay us 2.5 million to leave for a conference that it on the border of losing its football AQ status... Well a fool and their money.

I know you hate Temple and all, but nobody can blame us for leaving if the invite comes. It strengthens both football and basketball. How do you see the Big East losing their AQ status? They lost Pitt and Syracuse. Is replacing them with TCU and Temple any worse?

No, we don't all hate you. I would hate you if you were dumb enough to not take the invite. You gotta do...

But I will miss you guys. It would be/would have been fun to establish Chicago vs Philly as the two dominating MAC programs and have NIU vs Temple annually in the MAC Championship game. If that ever materialized the MAC would get some good cred.

The MAC has stability, and history, but it needs sustained success and a marketable rivalry. With all the talent in Chicago and Philly, NIU/Temple could be that rivalry.

And to the second highlighted section, no, it wouldn't be worse it would be an improvement. In football, TCU > Pitt, Temple > Syracuse.

Is Temple going back to the Big East like a guy who marries his ex-wife.

That joke aside, IF Temple gets an offer it proves that the Temple folks did the right thing by moving to the MAC.

Their other choices were like drop to I-AA football or drop football all together.

(10-01-2011 09:29 AM)TempleU22 Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:39 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:32 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Oh, here we go

At this point if Temple wants to pay us 2.5 million to leave for a conference that it on the border of losing its football AQ status... Well a fool and their money.

I know you hate Temple and all, but nobody can blame us for leaving if the invite comes. It strengthens both football and basketball. How do you see the Big East losing their AQ status? They lost Pitt and Syracuse. Is replacing them with TCU and Temple any worse?

Correction: I dislike Temple Fans... Just fine with the School and the Athletics Department.

(10-01-2011 09:29 AM)TempleU22 Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:39 AM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote:  

(10-01-2011 07:32 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  Oh, here we go

At this point if Temple wants to pay us 2.5 million to leave for a conference that it on the border of losing its football AQ status... Well a fool and their money.

I know you hate Temple and all, but nobody can blame us for leaving if the invite comes. It strengthens both football and basketball. How do you see the Big East losing their AQ status? They lost Pitt and Syracuse. Is replacing them with TCU and Temple any worse?

It is not the quality of teams that should worry you. There have been a lot of reports of the non-football schools trying to force the football schools to leave and that all the football schools are actively looking to leave now and haven't just because they don't have an invite yet. The trouble would be you guys leave and then all those teams leave. Then you are alone (or stuck with one or two teams) in a dead football conference. Granted your situation is not as bad as ECU which has had similar rumors for football only except it needs to find a place for its non-football sports and if things go terribly wrong it is widely believed that CUSA won't take them back (whether it will be true I don't know and it seems from the response here that the MAC will not act the same).