MVC Expansion

[TBS_20]

that is why I think the MVC should ask Edwardsvile to join

I actually would be okay with that as a 14th. But, somehow im sure SIU-C would block it especially if Murray is accepted.

 

[ISU86]

Can't agree more. This is not the MVC my ISU or y'alls ISU joined back in the late 70's and early 80's. Back then it was ISU red, ISU blue, SIU, Tulsa, NM St, West TX State, Wichita, Bradley, Drake, and Creighton. I believe Bradley and Creighton were the only two schools without football. Assuming Murray St is left out we're going to be in a conference of 5 football and 7 non-football.

I'd also like to point out that this isn't the MVC of the first decade of the 2000's either. The MVC used to take pride in having schools with basketball tradition and passionate fan bases. Since then the past 5 adds will be schools with hardly any fans and once again none of them have football.

SIU can eat rocks if they're blocking MSU, but ILSU, MOSU, and INSU need to find a better home for our programs. The MVC is slowly becoming a dumpster fire.

The 1969-70 Missouri Valley consisted of Bradley, Cincinnati, Drake, Louisville, Memphis State, North Texas State, Saint Louis, Tulsa, Wichita State. I dare say that MVC membership looks better than the late-70s/early-80s MVC membership. Bradley and Drake are the only current members that were part of it.

Look at 1974-1975, the season prior to Southern Illinois joining. The remaining members at that time, with Bradley and Drake, were Louisville, New Mexico State, North Texas State, Tulsa, West Texas State, Wichita State. Louisville and North Texas State then left, being replaced by Southern Illinois, with Creighton and Indiana State coming in the next season. Cincinnati, Memphis State and Saint Louis had left a few seasons before.

Heck, even at is formation the Big 8 was made-up almost entirely of former Missouri Valley members.

One interesting point made above is the last four adds were all either non-scholarship or no football (Evansville, Loyola-Chicago, Valparaiso, Belmont); prior to that, twelve of the last thirteen adds had scholarship football (Houston, Cincinnati, North Texas State, Louisville, Memphis State, New Mexico State, West Texas State, Southern Illinois, Indiana State, Illinois State, Missouri State, Nothern Iowa (only Creighton did not)).

Maybe it is not private v public but no/non-scholarship v scholarship football (the dropping of football in 1985 as a conference sport may have more of an impact than originally expected).

I do think it may be time to participate in a conference where all members participate in the so-called revenue sports.

 

[E-Villan]

So the two schools closest to Murray are trying to block them? I know Murray offers regional scholarships and Maybe that hurts SIU attendance. I don't get why Evansville would block them.

MVC baseball will be better with UIC and Texas Arlington. We will get to see a game in Chicago.
I don't see any upsides other than that. If Murray doesn't get added it's time to join a conference that thinks about all of the sports

Guys,

I can say with about 90% certainty that Evansville is in no way blocking Murray. Everyone I have spoken to in the athletics department over the years have always been in favor of them, and our AD has publicly stated more than once they should be in the MVC.

There are a lot of Murray alums in the Evansville metro. Murray offers in-state tuition to Evansville and the adjoining counties in Southern Indiana. They have an extension campus across the river in Henderson, which is literally less than 10 miles from the Ford Center. As a small college, we need to sell tickets to support our athletics department. There will be a lot more tickets sold to our fans, as well as theirs to see Murray here than UTA or Omaha.

 

[Dmills]

UTA is on ESPN+ right now playing a quality South Alabama school. They are up 41-40 at halftime. Looks like a tiny crowd. I don't know if there is much we can do at this point, but rout for their success. I think they would be a cool addition IF they become a solid athletics program. I have strong doubts that will happen as most of you do, but hopefully they can elevate their program if them joining the Valley is inevitable.

 

[Dmills]

UTA with nice home wins on Thursday against South Alabama and today against Troy. Average attendance between the two games was about 1,400. They are now 2-0 in the Sun Belt, 6-7 overall.

Murray St. won by 25 against SEMO on Thursday. Attendance was 3,600. They are now 1-0 in the OVC, 11-2 overall.

 

[TBS_20]

My guess is UTA and Murray and UIC guaranteed a spot when they can find a 14th. Which I'm hoping is NKU, St. Thomas, or SFA or all.

 

[Birgs]

Particularly concerning pandemic issues; budgets; the passe notion of TV markets in a "streaming era" why the in the H-E-double hockey sticks is UT-A so desireable? Murray and UIC are such easy choices. Screw Carbondale, That campus is in Edwardsville anyway.

Further, I say go small rather than expand.

UIC-Valpo
ISU-Bradley
UNI-Drake
SIUE - Oral Roberts
INDy St.-Evansville
Murray-Belmont

12 teams even; public/private; travel pals - football is gonna get crazy and I'm guessing Mo. State is going Sun Belt/C-USA or whaatever that conglomerate becomes anywho.

...not realistic just some fun talk.

 

[TBS_20]

St. Thomas, Murray, UIC, Northern Kentucky, UTA, Stephan F. Austin or Lamar for UTA

 

[MadBird]

St. Thomas, Murray, UIC, Northern Kentucky, UTA, Stephan F. Austin or Lamar for UTA

What made you change your mind from pg. 1 about privates? St. Thomas, division III last year, hasn't proven a damn thing in first year of DI. If you love Valpo's gym, you'll love UST's - 1800 seats.

 

[TBS_20]

I'm not against privates. This league however has a weird dynamic. There is actually a way for the league to expand to 16 while keeping the league mostly in the Midwest and keeping a 8-8 split. It also means lesser additions. Oral Roberts, St. Thomas, Detroit could be added with Murray State, UIC, and UTA.

 

[DaveBird10]

According to Kyle Brennan on WGLT today he said his priority is a strong team and program to add that's not far away so they don't have travel burdens. He then added that the University Presidents will decide on what schools to invite to join the MVC.

 

[StLRedbird]

According to Kyle Brennan on WGLT today he said his priority is a strong team and program to add that's not far away so they don't have travel burdens. He then added that the University Presidents will decide on what schools to invite to join the MVC.

I wish he would have said that football was a consideration for ISU. Maybe it's not a consideration when Brennan has his MVC hat on, but I sure hope that's not the case.

 

[Birgs]

There is quite a significant entry sight on Main St. from the Bowman days - that east side of Hancock, and an almost equally substantial pending practice structure that provides cause to myself that football is not only remaining, but almost priority equal if not more than hoops.

My bet: 5 years from now, The Valley is all small, basically metro-centrics and privates.

ISU, Mo St., UNI, whatever incarnation of SIU and InSU blue get grabbed by the other football cast-offs.

 

[TBS_20]

Loyola has private school money and had been doing way better than UMKC is and probably better than UTA. We can make sure we're bringing in the best teams at the same time as trying to improve our program.

Redbirds 211. UMKC 196

 

[RBFANTOO]

How many remember that Bradley did have football?

• Bradley's last football season was 1970 (A grade school friend played for Bradley on a football scholarship).

 

[ISUBird]

Redbirds 211. UMKC 196

That doesn't have anything to do with what I said. ISU is not trying to get into the MVC and UMKC currently being ranked better than ISU doesn't make it a better program than other schools or a good program at all.

 

[MadBird]

How many remember that Bradley did have football?

• Bradley's last football season was 1970 (A grade school friend played for Bradley on a football scholarship).

How many were at the final ISU-Bradley FB game??

 

[Seven]

According to Kyle Brennan on WGLT today he said his priority is a strong team and program to add that's not far away so they don't have travel burdens. He then added that the University Presidents will decide on what schools to invite to join the MVC.

He’s making it obvious without saying it directly that ISU wants Murray St in. That’s great news, but we all suspected that.

 

[Seven]

I wish he would have said that football was a consideration for ISU. Maybe it's not a consideration when Brennan has his MVC hat on, but I sure hope that's not the case.

He did. He literally said an IPF is his top priority in 2022. He also gave a description of who he wants the MVC to add that fit Murray like a T. To me, his answers were perfect.

 

[TBS_20]

From BCPanther from MVC board

Notes from Matt Brown today.

1--The Valley has no interest in any of the Dakotas due to distance, budget and population.

2--Milwaukee and Northern Kentucky were contacted early on but could not commit to increased budgets across all Valley major sports (MBB, WBB, VB, Baseball) so they were quickly dismissed.

3--No strong consensus for any individual applicant in 12/19 meeting. Arlington, UIC and Murray (if they can figure out football) still likely to be added at some point this spring. Arlington is the only one school that could potentially start in the league in 22-23 with the others coming in 23-24.

4--Kansas City's presentation and plan was the most impressive of any of the applicants and has caused the schools on the fence about them to be willing to take a deeper look.
BCPantherMVC Hall Of Famer

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