Victim of futility: Temple's expulsion from the Big East could mean the end for Division I-A football in Philadelphia

Back in 1982, when then-Temple University president Peter Liacouras issued his infamous proclamation that the Owls soon would be playing in the Sugar Bowl, those who actually were listening chuckled. OK, they laughed. Hard.

Today, nobody is laughing at Temple football anymore. Truth is, they're not really reacting at all.

Thanks to a variety of factors, not the least of which is Temple's pending eviction from the Big East Conference after this season, the program finds itself awash in red ink and beleaguered by on-field ineptitude and fan indifference--a minimum-wage program trying to live in a Ritz-Carlton world. When the curtain closes on the 2005 season, during which Temple will compete as an independent, it is entirely possible the program will have dropped to the I-AA level or have ceased operations altogether.

This month, a special task force of influential alumni, school officials and students will meet to discuss the program's future. Although the task force's final report isn't expected until next spring, all indicators point toward a drastic recommendation. Unless the Owls find a home in the Mid-American Conference or the Sun Belt Conference, it could be the end for a program that started in 1894.

"We're committed through 2005," says one committee member. "After that, who knows?"

Don't expect public outrage if Temple drops football or steps down a level because Philadelphia has not embraced this program for decades. Though the Big East should be castigated for the decision to drum out the Owls back in 2001, the truth is the school pushed Big East members to vote on its league status and then cried foul when the vote didn't turn out the way it wanted. Temple wanted to become a member for all sports; instead, it was voted out of the league entirely.

The Owls thought they had solved one of their problems last year by negotiating a 15-year lease to play in the Philadelphia Eagles' brand-spanking new stadium, Lincoln Financial Field. But, according to the task force source, there is a three-year escape clause in the contract that would allow Temple to break free after the 2005 season. Hmm. That coincides with the task force's report, doesn't it? It's also when coach Bobby Wallace's contract extension runs out.

It doesn't help that school president David Adamany has made it clear that he is beholden to the school's overall fiscal health, not the dreams of a few football fans. For a program that already is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars each year and no longer will receive more than $1.5 million in Big East bowl and TV money after this season, that's not good news. Plus, any decision to move to the MAC or Sun Belt would require the school's other sports to switch from the Atlantic 10, a condition that would hurt the men's basketball program's prestige and result in crippling travel costs for other sports.

The Owls will be nomads next season. They'll visit Arizona State, Clemson and Virginia to receive fat guarantee checks and hope a home schedule that features Miami, Maryland and N.C. State will tempt locals, who don't flock to Owls games (17,273 average home attendance for this year's 1-8 team).

Who knows? Maybe the task force will vote to fight on as an independent. Or, it could end it all. Whatever happens, expect no outcry or celebration.

Just a continued malaise.

Scouts' views

Observations from the sidelines

No one in the Big Ten has as much talent as Michigan does. Wisconsin isn't even close. RB Michael Hart gets stronger as the game goes on. But what sets up Michigan's offense is its defense. It forces a lot of three-and-outs, so the opponent's defense doesn't have a lot of time to rest between series.... Louisiana Tech RB Ryan Moats has great vision and balance. He's a hard runner and definitely one of the country's top backs. His problem is he doesn't have the supporting cast at every position to help him.... I wouldn't say Connecticut's Dan Orlovsky is a great player. He's a good, solid player, but there are many other quarterbacks with stronger arms who are quicker getting rid of the ball and just a little sharper. He's an NFL player, but I'm not sure he's one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the country.... In the past, Penn State relied on its running game to get going, but it can't do that now. QB Zack Mills is a very good player, but he needs help on the ground.... Virginia was hurt when it lost DE Chris Canty (knee). The Cavs had to change their scheme and couldn't pressure teams the way they had been.... N.C. State RB T.A. McLendon had never impressed me with his toughness. We told our guys to keep hitting him, and he'd give it up. We knocked the snot out of him, but he got stronger. Now, I'm impressed.

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