Once garbage the Big East carried out to the curb, the Temple Owls now look more and more like the solution to the conference's problems.
Eight years after being kicked out of the Big East for an underachieving athletics program, Temple is reportedly in discussions to return to the conference in time for the 2012-13 academic calendar. The New York Times originally reported the discussions, and CBS Sports' Brett McMurphy adds that Temple is indeed close to rejoining the conference.
One source even told McMurphy that Temple to the Big East "is done."
The Big East has been searching diligently for a university that could join the conference by 2012-13 to fill the void left by the departing West Virginia Mountaineers. Without a replacement, the Big East's football schedule would be a mess and schools would be left scrambling to fill their schedules.
If the discussions continue to progress into a done deal, Temple is expected to join the conference in all sports.
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