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On borrowed time Temple officials still hoping to stay in Big East
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Temple coach Bobby Wallace has more to worry about this season than trying to win games. He must prepare his players for the taunting they're likely to receive in what looks to be the Owls' final season in the Big East. "Everyone is aware of what we're going through," Wallace said Thursday, referring to the league's decision to boot Temple's football program out of the Big East after the season. "The players will be constantly reminded of it, people will make fun of them and fans can be very cruel. "I have to get the players ready for all the yelling and screaming they'll hear. It can be very upsetting and they don't need to listen to that." Four months ago, the Big East presidents and chancellors voted to discontinue Temple's football membership effective next March 2 because, they said, the Owls consistently failed to meet criteria adopted by the league in 1996, such as attendance, stadium availability and non-conference scheduling. The decision stunned school officials, including Temple president David Adamany. Ever since, the school has been trying to convince the Big East to reverse its decision, or at least come up with a more suitable solution. "President Adamany and I have been engaged in talking for nearly two months and we're trying to see if we can arrive at an amicable resolution," conference commissioner Mike Tranghese said during Thursday's league media day at Giants Stadium. "If we can, we'll come out with an announcement. If we can't, we'll go our separate paths." If the decision stands and Temple is ousted, the school will consider a lawsuit against the league, according to a report last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The lawsuit would claim that Temple was not given "proper and timely notice." Temple athletic director Dave O'Brien would only say Thursday that "this is a very sensitive time in our discussions, and as a result we won't be making any further comment at this time." Tranghese said both sides agreed "not to go public with any of the conversations." No timetable has been set on a final decision. Wallace, trying to bring Temple its first winning season since 1990, is bolstered by the fact the school's Board of Trustees still wants to school to play in I-A, college football's top division. "They are 100 percent behind us playing I-A football and staying in the Big East," Wallace said of the board. "And they are working hard to keep us there." Temple was 4-7 last season, its best record since '90 when the Owls went 7-4. This season, Temple has high hopes for a winning season as it returns all but two starters from 2000. Also, the Owls have sold more than 25,000 season tickets -- last year's average home attendance was a Big East-low 18,000. Temple, the lone football-only Big East member, plays most of its home games at Veterans Stadium, but moves to Penn's Franklin Field on Saturdays when the Phillies are at home. The Owls are likely to be partners in the new Eagles stadium scheduled to open in 2003. Asked how his team will deal with its shaky Big East status, senior linebacker Taylor Sulman said: "We can only make our statement on the field."
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