My OOC Wish List Part 1 - A Rivalry Game

If I was in charge of football out-of-conference scheduling, I would build four games using four principles.

The first priority for me would be a strong annual rivalry.

A strong schedule should have both an in-conference rival and an out-of-conference rival. UB lacks both.

When I think about the team I would like to see UB play every year, only one team comes to mind, Temple.

After a 7 year hiatus, UB and Temple will play again in 2018 in Philadelphia, and the Owls will return to Buffalo in 2019. UB is 12-4 against Temple, wining their first 9 matchups before losing the last game against the Owls before UB ended their football program.

2006 was the low point for both programs, but both UB and Temple improved together. UB won three contests in a row between 2006 and 2008. Turner Gill started his tenure with a raucous crowd and a thrilling walk-off James Starks TD run which would mirror the MAC East clinching run in 2008. In 2007, a UB blowout served as the coming out party for Drew Willy, James Starks and the UB defense. In 2008, the hail mary propelled UB to their first MAC Championship, and is still one of the most memorable moments in UB history. Temple stormed back with 3 straight wins of their own between 2010 and 2012, including back to back shutouts in the final two meetings between these teams.

The series is a good first step, (and credit has to be given to Danny White and Allen Greene for putting the series on the schedule in 2014) but UB and Temple should play every year.

Temple is a great enemy - New York sports fans learn to hate Philadelphia sports teams. When Temple joined the MAC, we learned to quickly hate the team. The play on the field enhanced the rivalry, pairing bitter blowouts with fantastic last-minute finishes. We haven't played in years, and we are no longer in the same conference, yet Temple is still the team we love to see lose, and hate to see win.

Philadelphia is a great location to play - Temple gives UB a close game for fans and alumni from New York City to Washington DC. Additionally, UB has recruited great players from the Mid-Atlantic region, a consistent game in Philadelphia will only aid UB's recruitment in that region. For Buffalo-based fans and those even further away, Philadelphia is a great road trip, a great city, easy to fly into and with plenty to do.

We can audition for the American conference - If Big 12 expansion ever happens, the American could lose a team and look for a replacement. It wouldn't hurt our case to have a relationship with one of the better American teams if we wanted to apply for an upgrade to the American Conference.

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I would open the season each year with the Temple game, a perpetual home and home series with equal money exchanges for travel.

Conrad Future Schedule: