The Temple Owls are trying to schedule a football game at Hawaii this December, the Star-Advertiser has reported.
Temple’s 2012 schedule currently consists of only 11 games. When it was released in March, the Owls were still actively seeking a 12th game.
“It’s very far from a done deal. We’re going through the due diligence,” Rockne Freitas, Hawaii’s acting athletic director said.
A source at Temple confirmed the report to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Enquirer, who also spoke to Owl athletic doirector Bill Bradshaw.
“One of the challenges we had in joining the Big East was going from eight conference games to seven,” Bradshaw said. “And we worked diligently to schedule a 12th game.”
Hawaii currently has 12 games on their 2012 football schedule. But under The Hawaii Exemption, Hawaii and teams that play at Hawaii are allowed to schedule 13 games. The extra game allows both teams to offset travel costs to and from the island.
If the game is approved by the MWC and the NCAA, it would be played on Saturday, Dec. 8 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
It would also serve as a de facto postseason for both schools since neither is likely to be bowl eligible. Hawaii is currently 1-5 on the season, while Temple is 3-3. But the Owls have tough games remaining against Pittsburgh, Louisville, Cincinnati, Army, and Syracuse.
Football Schedules
You’re telling me Temple is 3-3 but unlikely to go to the postseason? They have Army, Syracuse, Pitt, and (possibly) Hawaii left on their schedule. If Temple wins 3 of those, they’re bowl eligible.
Totally agree. Even as a Syracuse fan myself, I can’t say for certain that we can beat Temple.
Still, intriguing concept that may have legs for other teams going forward. With larger conferences, Hawaii will struggle to fill 13 games, so why not put together an arrangement like this mid-season? Depending on the rules, it would work well for schools ineligible for a bowl game (I know PSU was talking about this after the sanctions were laid down).
Well, I obviously didn’t put much thought into it. I guess it’s possible they could be eligible.
you know if the NCAA allows this they will make a new rule to stop it from happening mid-season in the future
Looks like Kevin Kelley was right on. Temple probably will finish its 11-game season with three wins.