I've got friends in low places.

by **Redbird Recon** » July 19th, 2013, 8:37 pm

I know on here we spend a lot of time talking about what the MVC isn't, but I wanted to take a few minutes and talk about what it is and what it means to me...

I grew up in Peoria and have lived there my whole life (other than a college stint in Normal). My mom received her undergraduate degree from Bradley and her Master's from Illinois State. I followed suit and got my undergrad from Illinois State in 2012. We've had season tickets at both schools since I was toddler. Most of the friends I have are either die-hard Redbird or Bradley fans. I probably enjoy the rivalry more than most, and we get through the lean years with our original MVC fantasy league. Between ISU, Bradley, road games and Arch Madness, I probably attend around 20-25 MVC games a season. Wichita remains the lone school I haven't visited.

The proximity: All games, other than Wichita, are a reasonable Saturday drive from Central Illinois. (I'm aware that the eastern shift of the new member is a stick in the craw of some Shockers.)

The access: The Valley TV package allows me to watch most game I can't get to and lets me watch marquee match-ups from around the conference. When you add those in, I probably watch 30-35 MVC games a season.

The affordability: I had some sad conversations with Creighton fans this season. The move to the Big Priest allows for more exposure, $$$, etc., but a conference tourney in NYC prices out some upper-middle class families from Omaha.

For posters looking for their school to get out now, I understand your sentiment. The grass always looks greener on the other side, and it may be. I just think it's worth looking down every once and awhile and realizing the green that's under our feet in The Valley.

**Sponsor**

by **AngryWheat=FTW=** » July 19th, 2013, 9:01 pm

You've never gone to a WSU game in Wichita? Man, you're missing out!

by **Redbird Recon** » July 19th, 2013, 9:28 pm

AngryWheat=FTW= wrote:You've never gone to a WSU game in Wichita? Man, you're missing out!

Definitely on my To-Do list! Long drive, weekend game, available ticket, good weather, etc.

by **iSASO** » July 19th, 2013, 9:32 pm

#TravelAngry!

by **rlh04d** » July 20th, 2013, 1:06 pm

So you made a few points that lead towards the "WSU fans should realize how good we have it" ... and then listed points that don't apply to WSU or would be even better if WSU moved to a stronger conference

Seriously, though, I can definitely appreciate the value of being in a regional conference that you can travel to so many games for. There's definitely a value to the closeness of it all, and I'm sure it's nice being a diehard fan in that area. Unfortunately, WSU doesn't get that benefit.

My mom's side of the family are all WSU graduates, and my dad's side all from Florida State. I ended up graduating from FSU, but my entire basis as a sports fan is from going to the Roundhouse with my grandparents throughout the 90s. Even with how terrible WSU was back then, the experience was always amazing. For the last decade, I make it back to my hometown to catch a few games around Christmas time, and lately I struggle to watch games from wherever the military has me at any given moment. Thankfully, WSU's recent rise has coincided with ESPN3 and significantly better internet access that let me follow them religiously from Hawaii.

by **Redbird Recon** » July 20th, 2013, 3:12 pm

rlh04d wrote:So you made a few points that lead towards the "WSU fans should realize how good we have it" ... and then listed points that don't apply to WSU or would be even better if WSU moved to a stronger conference

That wasn't my intention.
Thank you for your service.

by **rlh04d** » July 20th, 2013, 4:42 pm

Redbird Recon wrote:
rlh04d wrote:So you made a few points that lead towards the "WSU fans should realize how good we have it" ... and then listed points that don't apply to WSU or would be even better if WSU moved to a stronger conference

That wasn't my intention.
Thank you for your service.

I know you weren't. Just jealous that WSU doesn't get to enjoy one of the big benefits of the MVC. I would probably be more positive regarding the MVC if we were an Illinois school and had the benefit of easy travel. I'm also much more focused on WSU becoming more nationally prominent because I'll probably never live in Wichita again and need national coverage to follow the program.

And thanks.

by **Redbird Recon** » July 20th, 2013, 8:31 pm

rlh04d wrote:I would probably be more positive regarding the MVC if we were an Illinois school and had the benefit of easy travel.

Missouri State (4:15 hours) & Drake (5:30 hours) are manageable drives from Wichita.

by **rlh04d** » July 20th, 2013, 8:58 pm

Redbird Recon wrote:
rlh04d wrote:I would probably be more positive regarding the MVC if we were an Illinois school and had the benefit of easy travel.

Missouri State (4:15 hours) & Drake (5:30 hours) are manageable drives from Wichita.

A standard by which 8 other Valley teams are manageable drives from Normal, and six are closer than Missouri State is to Wichita. Not quite the same, is it?

by **glm38** » July 20th, 2013, 9:06 pm

Redbird Recon wrote:
rlh04d wrote:I would probably be more positive regarding the MVC if we were an Illinois school and had the benefit of easy travel.

Missouri State (4:15 hours) & Drake (5:30 hours) are manageable drives from Wichita.

We probably see more WSU fans at our home games than any other schools fans.

Good original post. My family is solid middle class with a kid in college (3rd generation at MSU on partial academic scholarship) . But No way could we afford season tickets to a BCS type program. And as the years go by I find myself getting more immersed in the MVC's other teams. WSU'S final 4 run last year was incredible. Bears fan 1st but there's a lot to like about the mvc overall.