On March 2, the presidents and chancellors of the seven Big East football member schools voted to remove Temple, citing a lack of attendance at home games, a poor record and the lack of a permanent home field.

Dr. Francis L. Lawrence, chairman of the Conference Presidents and President of Rutgers said it was, “with great reluctance that the Presidents and Chancellors reached the conclusion that Temple's status as an affiliated football member is no longer in the best interests of the Big East.”

Temple plays most of its home games at Veterans Stadium, but must move to Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania when other events, such as Philadelphia Phillies games conflict.

The Owls finished 4-7 last season, in the third year of head coach Bobby Wallace’s tenure, falling off after a start that had some believing Temple had a chance at a bowl berth.

Last year’s slight surge of success after two 2-9 years, is indicative of Temple’s commitment to football and the school argues that the loss of Big East membership would have a debilitating effect on its efforts to build a program of national prominence.

The Owls invested $7 million in a practice facility last fall and extended Wallace’s contract to 2005. There has even been talk, according to a Temple source who spoke with collegeBLITZ.com, of a 40,000 seat school-owned stadium to be constructed on land along the Delaware River, though that plan may now be scuttled for a joint-lease agreement with the N.F.L.’s Eagles in a stadium planned for 2003 in South Philly.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Temple is threatening the Big East with a lawsuit and has hired the firm Ballard, Spahr, Andrews and Ingersoll to draft a version claiming the conferences did not give the university an adequate amout of time to prepare for its dismissal.

Since the end of last season, Temple has tried to boost ticket sales through its alumni club and claims to have sold 25,000 sets of season tickets, in addition to single-game blocks. The lack of major conference membership could send attendance down and wash away Temple’s big college reputation.

“The point of negotiating is to avoid litigation,” a source close to the negotiations told the Inquirer’s Kevin Tatum. “The preference for Temple is to resolve it. There are ongoing negotioations between Temple and the Big East. (Temple) is optimistic that the talks will result in an agreement.