Temple University Athletics
Statement from Temple University Regarding Football Membership in the Big East Conference
9.7.01 | Football
The agreement allows Temple to continue in the Conference's bowl and television contracts through 2004 and allows the BIG EAST to continue as an eight-team football conference. The University of Connecticut will begin competing as a football playing member of the BIG EAST in the 2005 season.
"We are pleased to reach an agreement," said BIG EAST Commissioner Mike Tranghese. "This pact now allows both parties to prepare for their futures beyond the 2004 season."
Tranghese added that "this resolution also offers those Temple student-athletes recruited to play football in the BIG EAST the opportunity to complete their careers as members of the conference."
"We are pleased to work out this agreement with the Big East, " said Howard Gittis, the Chairman of Temple's Board of Trustees. "Temple University remains fully committed to Division 1-A football, and this agreement enables the Temple football program to continue its impressive improvement under Head Coach Bobby Wallace and his staff. 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."
