You've got to feel for Temple Football..

[MylesKnight]

First the Big East throws them out, and now this....


Owls Without a Home

With just over 50 days remaining before their home opener against Villanova, the Temple Owls have no idea where they will be playing it or any of their home games this season.

The school, city, state and NFL's Philadelphia Eagles have yet to iron out an agreement that would allow the Owls to play in the Eagles' new stadium, Lincoln Financial Field. As a result, the school has been unable to sell any tickets nor market the upcoming home season.

"I do not wish this on anyone," said Temple AD Bill Bradshaw. "You can just imagine the challenge even if we announced tomorrow where we're playing."

Backup plans are believed to include returning to Penn's Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium, but Bradshaw insists he's focusing his energy solely on getting into the new venue. The program is already facing a tenuous future, scheduled for expulsion from the Big East after 2004, and the stadium is considered a valuable recruiting as Temple looks to salvage its I-A status.

Meanwhile, in a sign of the program's "now or never" climate, coach Bobby Wallace filled his most recent recruiting class with 23 juco transfers. Bradshaw is holding on to hope that the Miami/Virginia Tech ripple effect will create a spot for the Owls in some conference, but first they'll at least need a permanent home.


Here's the Full College Football piece from SI (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/stewart_mandel/news/2003/07/16/mandel_insider/)

[condors]

Temple football is one hurting pup i try to convince myself they will turn it around every year but it just doesn't look good

[MylesKnight]

Hey WSUCoug, what would you name this type of thread...

One that when the original thread creator began, thought would receive a decent amount of interest and discussion from a FOFC "Special Interest Group" aka The College Football Junkies, but in actuality received numerous views but only 1 token (Thanks Condors) response? ;)

[cthomer5000]

Rutgers has offered to let them play their games in the parking lot adjacent the stadium.

[lynchjm24]

I was hoping that whatever the Big East ends up being would include Temple in the mix. It would be nice to keep the Philadelphia included in the basketball conference and would give the conference a potential home for it's basketball tournament.

Of course they could play in Rutgers parking lot. Heck they could play at the same time, there should be plenty of empty spaces in NJ this season :).

[cthomer5000]

Doesn't this whole situation stink of Temple fucking up? Did they just assume they'd be able to play in the new Eagles stadium? "Ummm, we figured you wouldn't mind."

What have they been doing the last 3 or 4 years while contstruction plans were in place?

[lynchjm24]

While I do feel for them, I would also laugh if Villanova kicked their asses.

[sabotai]

Seems kind of kypocritical of the Big East to kick Temple out because of poor play, yet they keep Rutgers. HELLO!

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by sabotai
Seems kind of kypocritical of the Big East to kick Temple out because of poor play, yet they keep Rutgers. HELLO!

it has nothing to do with poor play. The reason they were kicked out is incredibly easy to figure out if you've read this news story: facilities.

[rjolley]

Ok, I've heard that Temple is out of the Big East, but where are they going? And is it just football, or all sports?

[ice4277]

Probably just a sign that they never should have been given I-A status in the first place.

[lynchjm24]

Originally posted by rjolley
Ok, I've heard that Temple is out of the Big East, but where are they going? And is it just football, or all sports?

They were only a Big East member in Football. They belong to the Atlantic-10 in all other sports.

Noone knows where they are going. I'd guess they will end up in Conference USA someday (2006)

[sabotai]

"it has nothing to do with poor play. The reason they were kicked out is incredibly easy to figure out if you've read this news story: facilities."

I know...I was just saying Rutgers sucks is all...

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by sabotai
I know...I was just saying Rutgers sucks is all...

If they don't win at least 5 games this year, I will be forced to agree.

[bosshogg23]

Not to rip on Temple or anything but Temple gives away football tickets in Philly for every game. I went to a game 2 years back when they played VaTech at the Vet. There were about 2500 fans in the stands. VaTech was a top 10 team at the time. Its not like Temple has alot of fans or support for football.

[thealmighty]

You've got to feel for Temple Football..

No, I don't.

[JeeberD]

I'm a UTEP fan. I feel sympathy for no one...

[lynchjm24]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
If they don't win at least 5 games this year, I will be forced to agree.

Buffalo - If they don't win this game - cancel the season
@ Michigan St - Loss
@ Army - Win
Navy - Win
Virginia Tech - Loss
@WVU - Loss
Pittsburgh - Loss
@Temple - Toss (I'd lean towards win)
@Connecticut - Toss (I'd lean towards loss)
BC - Loss (maybe a chance)
@ Miami - I think it's safe to call this a loss
Syracuse - Loss (another game where they could have a chance)

'AT LEAST' 5 games. If they won 5 it would be a stretch and they would have wins over 3 of the 5 worst teams in the country.