At Temple homecoming, talk of Big East machinations

It was a hot topic for most in attendance except (at least publicly) the people involved.

Temple fans, former players, and alumni at Lincoln Financial Field Saturday all talked about Villanova's supposed lobbying to prevent Temple from becoming a Big East Conference member. It was still being talked about long after Temple's 34-0, homecoming victory over Buffalo.

But not by Owls football coach Steve Addazio and athletic director Bill Bradshaw. Neither would comment on the reports. Nor would anyone else who works in Temple's athletic department.

However, Tommie Weatherspoon, a former Temple linebacker, acknowledged he was disappointed the Owls didn't get an invite. But he added the Mid-American Conference, in which Temple plays football, isn't a pushover conference.

"So I believe everything happens for a reason," said Weatherspoon, one of 125 former Owls at the homecoming game. "We still play Villanova. And you've seen what we did to Villanova this year and the past year."

Next season is the last scheduled football game between Temple and Villanova.

As of Saturday, Temple could still enter the Big East picture as a football-only member should one of the schools expecting an invitation decline the offer.

Temple center John Palumbo (undisclosed injury) missed his second consecutive game. Defensive tackle Shahid Paulhill (strained muscle) and backup wideout Malcolm Eugene didn't dress for the game.

Former Owls standouts Toni Byard-Jenkins (field hockey), Pete Dempsey (baseball), Jack Hubbert (golf), Carl Imhauser (gymnastics), and Alma Kovaci (volleyball), along with the 1982 and 1984 women's lacrosse team were inducted into the Temple Athletic Hall of Fame before the game. They were honored at halftime.