Coaching Heading In Football

Temple recruits think Owls heading back to Big East

Could the Temple Owls be the Big East 's tenth football member? Recruits in new head coach Steve Addazio's Class of 2012 seem to believe so, and that would be a remarkable twist to the developments.

Temple Football Forever was the first to shed light on the news that some of Temple's recruits for the next recruiting class were hinting that the Owls are preparing for a return to the Big East, the conference that banished them less than a decade ago. Due to a failure to field a competitive program the rest of the Big East held a vote to determine whether or not it was worth keeping Temple as a football-only member. The Owls then went the independent route while searching for a new home, which eventually came with an invitation from the MAC, Temple's current conference home.

"One of the recruits flat-out said that the Temple coaches have told him that the school is going to be playing in the Big East soon," writes Mike Gibson of Temple Football Forever, referring to recruit Tavon Young's father.

"Tavon has committed to Temple,” said Mr. Young. “First and foremost is the academics and they pass with flying colors. He has always loved the staff that came up from Florida. He likes the defensive scheme. It is close to home and he will be a part of the Big East in 2012."

Tanner Kearns, a tight end targeted early by Addazio, echoed this Big East sentiment two weeks ago according to the story on Temple Football Forever. “I got to meet their coach and like him. I know they play in [Lincoln Financial Field] and plan on moving to the Big East soon,” Gibson quotes tight end recruit Tanner Kearns.

The Orlando Sentinel also quoted linebacker Michael Kalaman in saying something along the same lines.

"I am really excited about being coached under new head coach Steve Addazio, as well as the other coaches he brought along," Kalaman said. "Temple will hopefully be moving back to the Big East by the time I get there in 2012. I believe they are on the verge of excellent things with their football program."

So the question is whether or not the new Temple coaching staff knows something, or if they are blowing smoke in the face of recruits in order to get them excited about joining.

Temple does have a number of factors in their favor in the Big East expansion process, especially compared to Villanova. The Owls already play in an NFL stadium, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles), which seems to be one of the major sticking points against Villanova. The Wildcats are looking to play home football games in PPL Park, a considerably smaller Major League Soccer stadium (Philadelphia Union) that needs to undergo expansion just to get over 30,000 seats. Lincoln Financial Field, which already has space dedicated for Temple football, seats more than twice that expanded figure. Temple and Villanova each would bring in a Philadelphia market-base although historically Philadelphia television has struggled in the college football world and when it does do well Penn State and Notre Dame dominate it.

Temple Football Forever: Recruits: TU heading to the Big East

Philadelphia would be the second-largest football market in the Big East and Temple is the ONLY football team not named Penn State to pull down huge TV ratings in a bowl game in the Philly market. So Temple has proven itself from a TV perspective. It is now time for Temple fans to prove themselves from getting-their-fannies-in-the-seats basis. Nothing would impress the BE more than an average of 25K for the MAC games alone. This is doable with a fast start.

Even if it's not true I think it's hysterical. It is impossible for me to believe that Adazzio's staff is telling recruits that Temple is going to the Big East if it isn't true. It would be such blatant dishonesty that the program wouldn't recover from it. The only reason why he would intentionally do something like this is if he planned to leave quickly.

It is very impressive that Temple already has 21 verbals by July 1st. Which is double the amount of other school like Georgia, Flordia, or any MAC school. I have to think they are making this push for something maybe proofing themselves to the Big East. I am suprised Philly.com is ignoring this story. What is chances we can get a 4 star recruit this yr. Any on the radar?

maybe DAZ and our imported from FLA coaching staff had an inside track on Temple's move to the BE before all of them decided to take I-95N....., how else do explain going from national championships and the SEC to the MAC? ....,not sure if having 21 one and two stars at this time is a good thing, heck, how many scholarships do we have next year?......, improving our campus and student quality of life must be a priority if we are going after four star recruits and the BE......, we need to pick the QB we want to have under center for the PSU game now. We can't switch the starting QB before the big game! in the spread offense the QB is the most important position on the field - period.

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