No Temple vote on Big East

The Temple board of trustees didn't vote on accepting a possible future offer to join the Big East during Wednesday's conference call meeting, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

However, one source said the group did discuss how it would pay any fees needed to exit its present conferences.

Patrick J. O'Connor, chairman of Temple's board of trustees, did not return calls. Bill Bradshaw, the Owls' athletic director, said, "every decision is based on what's best for Temple University and student athletes."

According to reports, discussions between the Big East and Temple regarding the Owls' joining the conference, possibly for all sports, are hitting the final stages.

Assuming Temple receives and accepts an invitation, the school would have to quickly negotiate exit fees. The Owls are members of the Mid-American Conference for football and the Atlantic Ten Conference for all other sports.

The MAC has a $2.5 million fee for an exit with two years' notice. So Temple would have to negotiate an immediate exit similar to West Virginia's from the Big East.