Despite all the negative feedback surrounding the addition of Temple to the Mid-American Conference, in time fans will realize that this is a good move for the conference.
I know, I know. Temple? For football? But let's face it, who are we to be looking down on anyone? Eleven wins in the past four seasons don't give us any room to question the integrity of the Temple football program. So they got kicked out of the Big East. Could Ohio survive in one of the major conferences?
Adding Temple means pushing the MAC and its member schools into Philadelphia, one of the biggest media markets in the country. All that increased exposure will do nothing but good things for the conference and the individual institutions. Also, teams will get to play at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL's Eagles and one of the best facilities in all of college athletics.
And don't forget that there will be scheduling relationships with the other sports, most notably men's and women's basketball. The Owls have a history of success on the court, and the Bobcats and the rest of the MAC teams will gain only positive experience by playing such teams.
So before jumping to conclusions and questioning Rick Chryst's sanity, remember that we are in the MAC, not the Big Ten. Bringing in worthy universities is the way that the MAC will grow into a more prestigious conference.
No -Owls in conference moves MAC backward by Jason Fazzone Let me get this straight -the Mid-American Conference has its best football season ever, sends several of its players to the NFL, loses its most recognizable face in Marshall and fills that gap with Temple?
What is commissioner Rick Chryst thinking?
In extending an invitation to arguably one of the worst teams in college football over the last 15 years, the MAC has not taken a step forward but only farther backward.
This is a Temple team that has not had a winning season since 1990, which is the only winning season the program has had in the last 20 years. To follow that up, they were kicked out of the Big East Conference not only because attendance was poor but because they had FIVE winless seasons within the conference in a span of 13 seasons.
I mention the lack of attendance because this will kill figures of teams that have the unfortunate task of hosting the Owls, who will not even come close to filling MAC stadiums. Kent State and Buffalo are two of the worst teams in college football in that department -the MAC does not need another.
Why the MAC is wasting time on Temple is beyond me. Even though it might mean an easy win for every MAC team on its schedule, and they play in beautiful Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the Owls cannot get anyone to fill those seats.
Although the 2005 season has not even started yet, I am already calling for these Owls to leave the nest.
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Molly O'Hare
Yes -Benefits surround team's recent inclusion
