glm38 wrote:Redbirdgrad wrote:Championz wrote:Get over it or ask me out already.
Ask you out?!? I think I'm finally seeing the intellectual level that I'm dealing with here.
To the others on here, I'd agree with what several others have stated above me as reasons this board is seeing less activity lately. I joined not to obsess, but to hopefully start putting in check certain mannerisms that were driving many away since the mods don't see it as a problem (to each their own). The majority of the MVC is frustrated with either where their program currently sits in the pecking order, or the direction in which it's headed. The MVC as a whole is frustrated with where the conference sits in the national pecking order, and it's a cycle which is hurting both the teams as well as the conference.
The only way out of this cycle is for quality teams to retain quality coaches. Without Wichita retaining Marshall this offseason we'd actually be in a bigger world of hurt right now. What we need is an actual rival to Wichita, and for that coach to be locked up long term as well too so the quality of recruiting could parallel Wichita's. Could be UNI, could be Evansville. Probably wont be others for a while. SIU's showing some fight, as is Indiana State, but we're a ways away from seeing anything on the level of Wichita. I'm talking 5 years out. In the meantime we have to schedule even better as a conference. Land a couple in state kids per team that can actually make a difference, and make the weakest link of the conference NOT a laughing stock. A lot of things have to go right to pull us out of this funk, but it's doable.
IMO UNI is already a decent rival to Wichita. No they aren't at Wichita's level. They don't have the resources for that. They won't compete for the Valley championship and be known nationally every year. But they have retained a top notch coach and I see them being a serious rival to the Shockers supremacy every few years.
I don't think it's possible to get another team to the Shockers level from a financial standpoint. IMO we need more teams like UNI. Teams that hire and retain excellent coaches, schedule up, etc. If the MVC had 3 or 4 teams at the UNI level to complement WSU - wow.
I long for the day that my alma mater gets to the level UNI has been at the last decade.
I will attempt not to sound like a total ass here, but will fail. The eight Valley schools not named WSU or UNI should strive to be UNI. WSU is in the midst of the glory years. It is a rare time for a fan and a time I am trying not to take for granted. All other schools (as of right now) sans Bradley can't compete financially with the Shockers.
UNI on the other hand has hired an excellent coach that keeps them near the top of the league every year and in competition for a championship most years. Post season success seems to come about once per each player tenure (4 years). They brought in a coach at a reasonable salary and kept him long term with modest pay increases. With some luck most schools can make this happen right now. With some more luck, they can continue and/or improve upon it with the next hire. Mark Turgeon was similar (though not as good) to Jacobson.
Lansing isn't a bad start. Bradley has the funds to increase their odds at finding a good coach. Hopefully good hires are at their current school or soon to be hired.
