VILLANOVA, Pa. – Today (March 7), following a unanimous vote by the Big East Conference's Board of Directors on a motion put forward by Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, Ph.D., Temple University was invited into the conference in football beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year, and as a full member in all sports in 2013-2014.
"Villanova is proud to welcome Temple to the Big East," Fr. Donohue said. "Villanova, the Big East and Temple are all well positioned in the Philadelphia market with this agreement. Students, alumni and fans will also enjoy the increased rivalry between our schools."
As part of the Big East expansion process, Fr. Donohue worked closely with the conference presidents with the shared goals of strengthening the conference overall, inviting Temple to join as a full member, and ensuring that the conference and both universities are prepared to succeed in Philadelphia. The Big East specifically recognized the equity that Villanova, as a founding member with 30 years' standing in the conference, has cultivated within the Philadelphia market, the fourth largest in the nation. Areas of collaboration include assuring that the scheduling of games and television programming maximizes exposure nationally and locally.
"We welcome Temple to the Big East family," said Jay Wright, Villanova head men's basketball coach. "Temple and Villanova will work well together to ensure the Big East's status as an elite conference and to make Philadelphia a great Big East city. We look forward to adding new chapters to our great rivalry with Temple in the years to come."