troystfan
05-16-2005, 11:30 PM
Article published Saturday, May 14, 2005
Temple to join MAC in football
To play some members in basketball
By JOHN HARRIS
BLADE SPORTS COLUMNIST
Temple University will join the Mid-American Conference as a
full-time member in football, and the Owls are expected to play MAC teams in men's and women's basketball, conference officials confirmed yesterday.
A formal announcement of the five-year agreement between Temple and the MAC beginning with the 2005-06 season will come at a press conference next week.
The addition of Temple will increase the number of MAC teams to 13. Marshall and Central Florida left the MAC for Conference USA.
With the conference landscape becoming increasingly unpredictable and uncertain as schools switch conferences on a regular basis, MAC officials aggressively pursued Temple, one of only four remaining independents in Division I-A.
Temple, no longer affiliated with the Big East Conference, has faced MAC opponents regularly in football in recent years.
The Owls will play a total of four football games against MAC opponents next season, including Toledo and Bowling Green, but those contests won't count as conference games.
In 2006, Temple will play six games against MAC opponents.
Temple, which shares its home stadium with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, annually has produced one of the weaker Division I football programs in the country.
The prevailing opinion among MAC members is that Temple, despite its lack of football success, will enhance the MAC's reputation nationally because it is located in a major media market - the largest market among MAC schools.
Although Temple will retain its basketball affiliation with the Atlantic 10, the Owls' men's and women's teams have agreed to play MAC opponents, conference officials said.
The opportunity to face Temple several times a year could help the MAC send more basketball teams to the NCAA tournament, the result of the conference building a higher overall RPI rating by playing the Owls.
Temple's men's basketball program is led by Hall of Fame coach John Chaney. The women are coached by U.S. Olympian Dawn Staley, who coaches her alma mater while also playing in the WNBA.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050514/SPORTS04/505140449
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Owls to join MAC for football
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Temple University has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday to make a major announcement concerning its football program. According to reports from two Philadelphia newspapers, the school will officially accept an invitation to join the Mid-American Conference.
The arrangement will cover many years, with Temple becoming a full football- playing member of the MAC in 2007. In addition, there will likely be scheduling relationships in all sports, including contests in men's and women's basketball.
Last season, the Owls faced two teams from the MAC and lost both games. They were defeated 45-17 at Toledo and then suffered an embarrassing 70-16 setback at home to Bowling Green.
In addition to rematches this year against the Rockets and Falcons, Temple is also scheduled to play MAC teams Western Michigan and Miami-Ohio.
The Owls, who posted a 2-9 mark in 2004, were kicked out of the Big East Conference after this past season for failing to meet minimum requirements for membership.
An original member of the Big East Football Conference, Temple managed just 14 wins in its 14 years in the league. The Owls' poor attendance mark, as well as its failure to field a competitive team, led to the conference's decision to dismiss the program.
Temple, which last had a winning season in 1990 and has not played in a bowl game since 1979, will participate as an independent for the next two years. However, the 2006 schedule will likely feature an even greater emphasis on MAC opponents.
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot/indexpic.htm
Temple to join MAC in football
To play some members in basketball
By JOHN HARRIS
BLADE SPORTS COLUMNIST
Temple University will join the Mid-American Conference as a
full-time member in football, and the Owls are expected to play MAC teams in men's and women's basketball, conference officials confirmed yesterday.
A formal announcement of the five-year agreement between Temple and the MAC beginning with the 2005-06 season will come at a press conference next week.
The addition of Temple will increase the number of MAC teams to 13. Marshall and Central Florida left the MAC for Conference USA.
With the conference landscape becoming increasingly unpredictable and uncertain as schools switch conferences on a regular basis, MAC officials aggressively pursued Temple, one of only four remaining independents in Division I-A.
Temple, no longer affiliated with the Big East Conference, has faced MAC opponents regularly in football in recent years.
The Owls will play a total of four football games against MAC opponents next season, including Toledo and Bowling Green, but those contests won't count as conference games.
In 2006, Temple will play six games against MAC opponents.
Temple, which shares its home stadium with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, annually has produced one of the weaker Division I football programs in the country.
The prevailing opinion among MAC members is that Temple, despite its lack of football success, will enhance the MAC's reputation nationally because it is located in a major media market - the largest market among MAC schools.
Although Temple will retain its basketball affiliation with the Atlantic 10, the Owls' men's and women's teams have agreed to play MAC opponents, conference officials said.
The opportunity to face Temple several times a year could help the MAC send more basketball teams to the NCAA tournament, the result of the conference building a higher overall RPI rating by playing the Owls.
Temple's men's basketball program is led by Hall of Fame coach John Chaney. The women are coached by U.S. Olympian Dawn Staley, who coaches her alma mater while also playing in the WNBA.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050514/SPORTS04/505140449
_______________________________________________
Owls to join MAC for football
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Temple University has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday to make a major announcement concerning its football program. According to reports from two Philadelphia newspapers, the school will officially accept an invitation to join the Mid-American Conference.
The arrangement will cover many years, with Temple becoming a full football- playing member of the MAC in 2007. In addition, there will likely be scheduling relationships in all sports, including contests in men's and women's basketball.
Last season, the Owls faced two teams from the MAC and lost both games. They were defeated 45-17 at Toledo and then suffered an embarrassing 70-16 setback at home to Bowling Green.
In addition to rematches this year against the Rockets and Falcons, Temple is also scheduled to play MAC teams Western Michigan and Miami-Ohio.
The Owls, who posted a 2-9 mark in 2004, were kicked out of the Big East Conference after this past season for failing to meet minimum requirements for membership.
An original member of the Big East Football Conference, Temple managed just 14 wins in its 14 years in the league. The Owls' poor attendance mark, as well as its failure to field a competitive team, led to the conference's decision to dismiss the program.
Temple, which last had a winning season in 1990 and has not played in a bowl game since 1979, will participate as an independent for the next two years. However, the 2006 schedule will likely feature an even greater emphasis on MAC opponents.
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot/indexpic.htm