(05-15-2017 09:13 AM)megadrone Wrote:  

(05-15-2017 08:51 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Again, Penn's there willing to offer Franklin Field to either VU or Temple. It actually makes for a fiscally responsible alternative. And the location is unbeatable. What does it say when schools completely disregard a cost-effective option?

I could see Temple at Franklin Field when the current lease (and any extension) expires. I'm not sure how long they re-upped for -- I'm pretty sure that the original lease expired after this season and they are there for two more years afterwards, but the Eagles do not provide a very friendly environment (contrast with Pitt where they are partners with the Steelers). Only an ownership change of the Eagles will make LFF an optimal solution. Temple fans could probably elaborate.

Stadium issues were a problem for Temple in the late 90s when they were the 3rd tenant at the Vet. Would they want to go back to that if they go to Franklin Field? At least at LFF they have control over their scheduling. A lot depends on how their on campus stadium construction proceeds.

Villanova would have to see how that plays out too. I just don't see them upgrading. They had an open invitation to do so for at least 15 years as part of the Big East and never did.

There are a number of reasons why Temple will avoid going back to Franklin Field pretty much at all costs, but the bolded part is one of the most important. Not having scheduling control was huge burden for Temple and the rest of the conference when they were in the Big East.

(05-15-2017 12:47 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(05-15-2017 08:51 AM)megadrone Wrote:  Villanova is not going to move up. They explored it all in the 2009-2010 timeframe. They lack options for a stadium unless they played at Franklin Field and would have perpetual scheduling conflicts with Penn.

The Eagles really want Temple out of the Linc and charge them very high rent. That's not an option for Villanova either.

The Villanova administration is probably very happy in the Big East. If anything, they were contemplating downgrading football to non-scholarship and joining the Patriot League.

Except that was trying to meet the Big East standards. Being an Indy FBS, they can have lower standards for stadiums and attendance. Its a big difference. They could expand their current stadium to meet the 15 k requirement like Coastal Carolina is doing.

As others have pointed out Villanova has no interest in moving to FBS and is more likely to end up in the Patriot League than FBS.

Regarding the stadium, the first words out of Radnor Township officials mouths were that they will never approve any expansion of VU Stadium when Villanova considered joining the Big East for football. Despite Villanova basketball's popularity, The Pavilion has just 6,500 seats because the Township will not approve a capacity greater than that. Villanova will never play FBS football on-campus.