Temple University's president announced Tuesday that the Philadelphia school has accepted an invitation for its football team to join the Mid-American Conference. The move will be officially finalized in 2007, but the Owls are slated to face four MAC opponents in 2005. Unfortunately, the team has a fairly significant history of mediocrity. However, if Temple eventually decides to include its other teams as well (which is not part of the current deal), then the university's inclusion in the conference could prove to be a nice addition overall.
After 13 years of failing to meet the minimum requirements for membership, Temple's Owls were ejected from the Big East. Low attendance, inadequate facilities and an inability to assemble a competitive team were a few of the university's problems, although the school claims to be making strides in all these areas. The team has not had a winning record since their 7-4 run in 1990. Some question the logic behind granting MAC inclusion to a team that suffered crushing defeats to two mid-major teams, Toledo and Bowling Green, just last year. The Owls certainly have the potential to become just another average team crowding the conference.
The team will play its first few seasons as an independent, with all the privileges that come with MAC inclusion not available until later. This is a sound idea, as it gives the Owls more incentive to improve as they attempt to become a legitimate force within the MAC. Temple will go on to play a six-game conference schedule in 2006 and a full eight games in 2007. The latter year also will see the team granted eligibility to compete for the MAC championship. Perhaps, with time, the Owls can field a team that brings further prestige to an already burgeoning league.
Temple will join the conference's East Division, which is also home to Ohio University, the University of Akron, Bowling Green State University, the University at Buffalo, Kent State University and Miami University. To fully contribute what it can to the league, Temple University also should move to include its other sports, including its esteemed basketball squad. The inclusion of a Philadelphia team is a particularly exciting prospect, as it will enhance the geographical makeup of the MAC. On the whole, Temple's future contributions to the MAC are uncertain, but its addition is promising enough to warrant at least mild anticipation.
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