True at the vast majority of D-I schools - YesI understand football is what drives decisions.
True at Illinois State - No
True at the vast majority of D-I schools - YesI understand football is what drives decisions.
That kind of thinking has set ISU athletics and academics back so far.True at the vast majority of D-I schools - Yes
True at Illinois State - No
When the shakeup happens we have to already be at the FBS level or we'll sitting there on the outside looking in again saying if only we had...I said don't do anything now because the MAC doesn't move the needle and when the shakeup does occur, move then.
Teams that go to the MAC stay there usually. It's not like the AAC C-USA, or somewhat the Sun Belt where it is used as leverage.
And in the new EA College Football video game. Matt Brown says teams are dying to get into it with hopes kids just start to notice their universities. We are missing the boat on so much.MAC would get ISU on weeknight ESPN/ESPN2 -- A REAL BROADCAST -- instead of Saturday AM ESPN+ with 1 camera.
The MAC didn't have a single regular season game on ESPN this year. There were only 7 on ESPN2 -- which averages out to 1 per team with 14 teams.MAC would get ISU on weeknight ESPN/ESPN2 -- A REAL BROADCAST -- instead of Saturday AM ESPN+ with 1 camera.
How many MVFC games not counting playoffs were on anything but ESPN+?The MAC didn't have a single regular season game on ESPN this year. There were only 7 on ESPN2 -- which averages out to 1 per team with 14 teams.
Ok get mad at our fanbase because it is more interested in basketball. Lot of good that will do.That kind of thinking has set ISU athletics and academics back so far.
There is zero evidence for low G5 leagues like the MAC/CUSA being on the right side of a split over upper mid-major BB leagues like the A10/MVC/WCC. The B1G/SEC have zero incentive to include low G5 leagues at the expense of upper mid-major BB leagues.When the shakeup happens we have to already be at the FBS level or we'll sitting there on the outside looking in again saying if only we had...
Decisions made 50-70 years ago were not made with the “fans interests” they were made from a lack of vision and held back the university. There is zero reason a state school with ~20k undergrad is just now adding a college of engineering in 2024. ISU has done a lot well and a lot wrong.Ok get mad at our fanbase because it is more interested in basketball. Lot of good that will do.
It's a fact and so we deal with it.
One of the biggest misconceptions about Redbird Athletics is that the Athletic Dept. has chosen the path when they've really just been responding to the interests of our own fans.
I'm merely correcting a lie that someone was putting out, for the sake of keeping the discussion factually accurate. Instead of people lying about things to push their agenda.How many MVFC games not counting playoffs were on anything but ESPN+?
I think we're talking about apples and oranges. I don't think the level our basketball program is at is germane. The level our football program is at determines what paths are even possible. New world out thereThere is zero evidence for low G5 leagues like the MAC/CUSA being on the right side of a split over upper mid-major BB leagues like the A10/MVC/WCC. The B1G/SEC have zero incentive to include low G5 leagues at the expense of upper mid-major BB leagues.
Since this is an athletics website, I was talking about athletics. Illinois State currently competes in the Missouri Valley Conference. We joined the MVC in 1981 after competing as a D-I Independent. The move was touted as helping all of ILL ST. athletics, but the primary motivation was to find a good conference for men's basketball. Indiana St./Larry Bird had played in the National Championship game in 1979, and so it was felt that the Valley would be a good home for basketball, the sport most of our fans were interested in. It also allowed us to further the Bradley rivalry.Decisions made 50-70 years ago were not made with the “fans interests” they were made from a lack of vision and held back the university. There is zero reason a state school with ~20k undergrad is just now adding a college of engineering in 2024. ISU has done a lot well and a lot wrong.
I thought we were talking football only with those numbers. MVC basketball probably has a bit of a boost over MAC basketball but that’s never been disputed or argued against.I'm merely correcting a lie that someone was putting out, for the sake of keeping the discussion factually accurate. Instead of people lying about things to push their agenda.
As for games on national television, you have to factor in that MVC basketball has more linear tv exposure than MAC basketball.
I have no idea if this is at all viable or practical or anything ... but I like this idea the best. Then work our way into the G5 as a football conference. I think forming a full sport conference will make for better rivalries, and the conference would make far more sense regionally than most these days. It could be sustainable and a path to FBS for football. MVFC as a conference has a great brand name recognition ... we should try to build off of this block of programs.My thinking is very much along these lines. In MAC football, we'd have rivalries with old rivals C.Michigan, Ball State, NIU, but really you'd have to go back quite a ways to remember we were in a conference with these guys. Or remember ISU's big upset win over ranked Akron back in the last century, in the 70's. You'd have to really know your football to know Miami is the "cradle of coaches". ETC. I have long contended for the average fan, especially the average current student there's no functional difference between the MVFC Dakota rivals, SIU, Mo.State and Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Kent State, etc. Or Appalachian State, South Alabama, Sam Houston State or any of those you wanna bring up. On the negative side to me are the weeknight home games.
I'd be much more interested in bringing the Dakotas into the MVC for all sports, cementing the relationship with them and UNI and Mo.State and SIU for future planning. Make that relationship solid and go forward into the great unknown of college football together. You've got arguably the best FCS conference, keep it together whatever the future holds. Two division MVC allowing the non-football schools to stay in the other sports.
If that were the case how come ISU is ranked higher than NIU and most of the MAC in the USNWR?That kind of thinking has set ISU athletics and academics back so far.
Now do the rest of the MVC vs MAC. Say SIU or UNI. It ain’t close.If that were the case how come ISU is ranked higher than NIU and most of the MAC in the USNWR?
Most of the MVC's academically stronger schools are private schools, some of whom are placed in a different ranking system by USNWR. USNWR is not an apples-to-apples comparison because it excludes some of the MVC's higher ranked schools.Now do the rest of the MVC vs MAC. Say SIU or UNI. It ain’t close.
I wonder how Murray State feels about joining the "stronger" MVC. I'm guessing 15+ NCAA appearances and 5 or 6 wins in the tournament while in the OVC? They will NEVER duplicate that in the Valley. Would you rather be 4th or 5th every year in the Valley or have your named called 15 times on selection Sunday? I also noticed that on Kent State's Elite 8 banner that they had an asterisk. *If we would have been in the MVC, we wouldn't have this banner! Imagine if we had an Elite 8 appearance in whatever conference? That topic would be at the top of the message board for 50 years!If those teams were in the MVC they wouldn't be doing as well as they did in most of their tournament appearance seasons.
All of the tournament appearances of the teams you listed were as part of the MAC. The conference goes back to the late 1940s.
Akron - 2021-22 13 seed 1st round
Ball State 1999-00 11 seed 1st round
Bowling Green - 1967-68 1st round (55 years between tournaments is tied for 4th longest between tournament appearances)
Buffalo - 2018-19 6 seed 2nd round
Central Michigan - 2020-21 12 seed 1st round
Eastern Michigan - 1997-98 13 seed 1st round
Kent State - 2022-23 13 seed 1st round
Miami - 2006-07 14 seed 1st round
Northen Illinois - 1995-96 14 seed 1st round
Ohio - 2020-21 13 seed 2nd round
Toledo - 1979-80 9 seed 1st round
Western Michigan - 2013-14 14 seed 1st round
UMass - 2013-14 6 seed 1st round
Actually, Murray State fans love the MVC. Just go to their board and ask them. I read it often.I wonder how Murray State feels about joining the "stronger" MVC. I'm guessing 15+ NCAA appearances and 5 or 6 wins in the tournament while in the OVC? They will NEVER duplicate that in the Valley. Would you rather be 4th or 5th every year in the Valley or have your named called 15 times on selection Sunday? I also noticed that on Kent State's Elite 8 banner that they had an asterisk. *If we would have been in the MVC, we wouldn't have this banner! Imagine if we had an Elite 8 appearance in whatever conference? That topic would be at the top of the message board for 50 years!
You can't make a run in you are not in the dance. The "strength" of the MVC has done nothing for ISU. We missed out on capitalizing on the multiple bid years of the Valley. 25 years and counting...But YAY, MVC! I guess it was fun cheering on Wichita and Loyola.