Temple football stages rally to stay in Big East

It might not be the “immaculate reception” of Pittsburgh Steelers fame, but the Big East’s decision to keep the Owls football program in the conference may go down in Temple history as one of its great comebacks.

Believed down and out after a March announcement rescinding Temple’s membership in the Big East for the 2002 season, Temple leaders negotiated for several months to reach the agreement that allows the University to remain in the conference through the 2004 season.

“We are pleased to work out this agreement with the Big East,” said Howard Gittis, Board of Trustees chairman.

“Temple University remains fully committed to Division 1-A football,” Gittis added. “This agreement enables the Temple football program to continue its impressive improvement under Head Coach Bobby Wallace and his staff.”

Coach Wallace also was pleased with the decision.

“A lot of good things have come out of this situation in my eyes, but the number one thing has been that we’ve seen a renewed enthusiasm for Temple football,” Wallace said. “Our Board of Trustees has united 100 percent behind our football program to get the best possible situation.”

The agreement allows Temple to continue in the conference’s bowl and television contracts through 2004.

Wallace and Gittis cited several factors that lead them to believe that 2005 will present new and exciting opportunities for Temple football.

Temple has increased attendance during each of the last three years. The team has improved on the field and is expected to have a winning year. And, the Owls will have a new home field when the Eagles stadium is completed in 2003.

“Now that we have come to a decision to stay with the Big East until 2004, that allows us to continue on with what we have been doing and not be interrupted,” said Wallace, who is now in his fourth year with the Owls. ‘This gives us time to continue our building process.

“I think it’s great that we’re playing another two full years in the Big East with the new stadium,” he added. “Every team in the Big East will come to Philadelphia and play in the new stadium.”

Another event that will affect where Temple football ends up in 2005, according to Gittis, is anticipated tectonic conference shifts across the nation as conferences vie for television dollars and attempt to build the most marketable alliances.

“With the expected conference realignments in 1-A football that will be occurring in 2005 and beyond, we are quite confident that Temple will continue to play in a very competitive 1-A conference,” Gittis said.

Based upon his 25 years experience coaching college football, Wallace expects significant changes by 2005.

“There will be opportunities in 2005,” Wallace continued. “I don’t doubt that. This is too good of a university; it’s got too much tradition; and look at the media market we have. We have a lot to offer if we can get our program in the right shape, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Wallace also praised the team for their commitment to Temple, saying that their choice to remain was based on the character of the University and its program.

“When this announcement came out last spring, we had signed the best recruiting class in the history of Temple football,” Wallace said. “We contacted our players, and not one player to the man wanted to reconsider his situation whatsoever.”

Wallace intends to continue building the team, and hasn’t ruled out the idea of reapplying to the Big East as well as considering other options.

“I think [the Big East] underestimated our commitment to playing Division 1-A football,” Wallace said.

“I have a dream—a vision of a good Temple football team in a brand new $480 million stadium with 30,000 people there in a real college football environment,” he concluded. “I’m glad that dream is going to come true.”— Helen H. Thompson