<a href='http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/8457505' target='_blank'>Doyel's Dribble</a>

Temple loves its hoops
May 16, 10:44 a.m.

Temple's decision to cast its football lot with the Mid-American Conference will have no bearing on its basketball program's placement in the Atlantic 10.

For now.

However, the college sports landscape is in for at least one more seismic shift in the near future -- probably to be triggered by the Big East after a few years as a 16-team basketball monolith.

When that shift happens, the tremors will immediately impact the biggest leagues in the Northeast. Basketball schools and football schools will start reaching for life preservers, and Temple might have to decide between the MAC and the A-10 -- and the A-10 doesn't offer Division I football.

That's speculation, but in a few years something major will happen regarding the Big East. And when it happens, the trickle-down effect will leave Temple with a choice between the MAC, A-10 and perhaps whatever new league emerges from the Big East split.

A deeply embedded source within the A-10 -- and you know who you are, Deeply Embedded Source -- told CBS SportsLine.com on Monday that "football doesn't drive the truck at Temple."

Translation: Temple basketball will remain in the A-10 as long as Temple basketball wants to remain in the A-10.

Just judging from the BE papers...I don't think Temple is totally dead yet...but they have to improve in football....if the football schools decide to try to remain an "eastern" league...we are going to need a school in Philly

Quote:"football doesn't drive the truck at Temple."

-- so true....which is why if there football could become respectable....they would fit right in with many BE football schools


Jackson

This is the best thing that could have happened for Temple. I have no idea why the MAC agreed to take them for football only. Temple needs them WAY more than the MAC needs Temple.

What Temple needs to do is lose the stigma of "losing program" associated w/ their name when it comes to football. If they can be respectable in the MAC, maybe sneak a bowl or two, by 2010 when the BE splits, who knows.... they might be in position to snag a spot for all sports.

2010 Big East ?
Akron
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
Temple
Toledo
West Virginia

David Krysakowski Wrote:2010 Big East ?
Akron
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
Temple
Toledo
West Virginia

Doubtful! Majorly doubtful.
Out of Akron, Toledo, Temple, and Buffalo, I can see us taking Toledo or Buffalo (if Buffalo makes some strides on the FB side they aren't terrible at Bball) and Temple. I'd bet though that Buffalo would be the better fit being in the Northeast and being in a BCS conference if they start making some improvements would skyrocket them to new heights. However, Temple is the only sure thing out of that group.

brista21 Wrote:

David Krysakowski Wrote:2010 Big East ?
Akron
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Louisville
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
Temple
Toledo
West Virginia

Doubtful! Majorly doubtful.
Out of Akron, Toledo, Temple, and Buffalo, I can see us taking Toledo or Buffalo (if Buffalo makes some strides on the FB side they aren't terrible at Bball) and Temple. I'd bet though that Buffalo would be the better fit being in the Northeast and being in a BCS conference if they start making some improvements would skyrocket them to new heights. However, Temple is the only sure thing out of that group.

As a fan of and student at both WVU and Buffalo, let me say that UB has alot of work to do in football, and in its overall athletic department before the Big East is a good idea. Basketball had a great year last year, football made some small strides. This next year is important in that Football should win close to 5 games with this group. The university would fit in academically with the other BE schools. I would say to let Buffalo stay in the MAC untilt hey compete regularly in football. THen think about what adding them would do. Also you should know that the football team gets very little to Zero attention in the local community and media.