New Temple President John Fry released a statement on Monday saying Temple football isn’t going anywhere:

I’m not a huge fan of Temple football. Everyone knows Temple is a basketball school. I even went there during football’s heyday, which isn’t saying much, and could not care less about the program. After firing another coach while continuing to be an AAC doormat, there felt like a realistic chance they’d just nuke the entire program. I was excited. Lets take all of those resources and put them into the basketball team. Maybe the ACC would come calling after a couple great seasons on the court and we’d be a part of a basketball super conference! Not so fast my friends.

There were reports that the administration would re-evaluate the program last week. Fry says in his statement that evaluation has already been ongoing and it’s not solely focused on the football program:

We are writing today to address recent media coverage, which misrepresented Temple’s position with respect to our football program. Football is an integral part of our identity, and we want to honor and reinvigorate our tradition and legacy. For generations, Temple football has been a source of pride and community, bringing us together to celebrate teamwork, perseverance, and excellence on and off the field.

Last spring, under the leadership of Vice President/Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz ’65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson, and with oversight from the Board of Trustees, the university began a comprehensive review and assessment of the athletics program. This evaluation started prior to President Fry’s arrival. No single program is the focus of that review. Any indication to the contrary is not accurate. Like many other schools across the country, this proactive step was taken so the university can strategically plan amidst a dynamic and shifting landscape.

From the surface level I just don’t understand why keeping the football program is the move. Are the football TV deals keeping the athletic department afloat? If football happens to be the money maker, they’re just as much of an anchor.

First thing Temple has to do is find a way to get out of the AAC. That’s probably their biggest issue right now. You could argue that the program has been the most disadvantaged from conference realignment. Remember, they were accepted into the the Big East for football, that conference goes under, the AAC is formed with UCONN, Louisville, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis, and UCF. All teams with a rich history of football or basketball success. Now all of them have been poached by other conferences, which leaves Temple in a geographical nightmare playing the entire state of Texas and flying to Charlotte, Florida, and Birmingham, Alabama. Nothing like the battle for Owl supremacy between Rice, Temple, and FAU. There’s very little to get excited about during conference play. All you have to do is look at the play on the field and the attendance to know Temple football is hurting.


It’s gotta be embarrassing every time the Temple football Twitter account hits send on a highlight and you can count the people in the Linc:

Next, if they’re going to keep football, they have to build a stadium on campus. You can’t keep throwing money at the Eagles to rent out the Linc. They sunk $4.5 million in 2022, up from $2.85 in 2021. They have an option after this season that would need to be picked up and would be exercised to 2029. Barring a quick material change they’ll likely do that. That gives them time to get everything in line for a new stadium by the end of the contract. Fry has a history of transforming campuses. Drexel was voted one of the country’s ugliest campuses back in the day. Now it’s beautiful. If you’re keeping the program you need to figure out a way to build a stadium.

Finally, they need to get way better about NIL. From everything I’ve heard the athletic department stinks at this. How the AD comes from Texas and stinks at NIL is ironic. A lot of it seems to be on the coaches, players, and generosity from alumni. We’ve got people on the board of trustees that don’t even give money to NIL. Hell there’s an alum with a new stake in the Phillies, Mitchell L. Morgan, who hasn’t given a cent to the athletic program (allegedly). I’m not gonna tell people how to spend their money, but don’t you think a guy who obviously has an interest in sports should be engaged by the athletic department to find some way to get some money in transfers and recruits pockets? We’re in a top-5 media market in the country. Half the sports media in this town has a Temple degree. If they got their shit together we’d promote the hell out of these programs. You think North Korea has a propaganda problem? Let Temple make a deep run in the tournament this year. Adam Fisher will be my Supreme Leader.