C-USA, is it worth it?

[RacerJoeD]

Matt Brown Tweeted a couple days ago that MSU and the CUSA were no longer in discussions. He was also told that MSU was the ones to end the discussions. Sounds like MSU is staying in the MVC for a little while longer.

I think our Administration feels they are in a very good position to be ready but discerning; in the meantime using the idea to continue to fund raise for the football facility upgrades necessary. They released a rendering of what the south endzone enclosure might look like and contain this week. I'm glad we're on hold , as it doesn't change anything but keeps us from making perhaps a bad impulsive move. I keep in mind Prez Smart is heading the MVC expansion committee , so who knows what his overall vision is if the MVC can continue to advance it's own product. I still personally think , and it may be years away, that G-5 FBS and top level FCS become one level because of the huge gap between G-5 and P-5 in spending and resources. For many schools that gap is close to a 100 million a year in budgets. Regardless, it's clear realignment will continue to make for some wild rumors and weird bedfellows in the coming years.

Those who have moved with urgency have looked at the coming college sports schism as happening sooner than later and they assume that once it happens, movement “up” will not have the same ease as it does now. They are staking a claim.

[BCPanther]

Matt Brown Tweeted a couple days ago that MSU and the CUSA were no longer in discussions. He was also told that MSU was the ones to end the discussions. Sounds like MSU is staying in the MVC for a little while longer.

I think our Administration feels they are in a very good position to be ready but discerning; in the meantime using the idea to continue to fund raise for the football facility upgrades necessary. They released a rendering of what the south endzone enclosure might look like and contain this week. I'm glad we're on hold , as it doesn't change anything but keeps us from making perhaps a bad impulsive move. I keep in mind Prez Smart is heading the MVC expansion committee , so who knows what his overall vision is if the MVC can continue to advance it's own product. I still personally think , and it may be years away, that G-5 FBS and top level FCS become one level because of the huge gap between G-5 and P-5 in spending and resources. For many schools that gap is close to a 100 million a year in budgets. Regardless, it's clear realignment will continue to make for some wild rumors and weird bedfellows in the coming years.

Clearly "Prez Smart" should be removed as head of the MVC expansion committee as he clearly is not concerned with the long term future of the Valley. Should be someone who is not looking to jump ship asap.

That's a bad take.

Dude just helped add Belmont.

Plus, Bradley and Drake had their chance to lead and that's how we ended up with Valpo.

UNIs President was chair of the committee that selected Jeff Jackson and Smart got Belmont. I'd say that's a couple of pretty solid moves from the lowly public administrators.

[BEARZ77]

Drakey can have whatever views he wants, but when you don't have a clue what you're talking about and accuse someone of having no integrity, then you're gonna get called out. I don't agree with everything Cliff Smart does, but obviously the people in charge of the MVC trust his abilities and integrity to lead what is an extremely important committee for the Valley, partly I'm sure, based on how well he's led MSU. The man gets things done.

[VUGrad1314]

Yeah disagree with the remove Smart as chair calls. I agree that his helping the MVC get Belmont shows that he is interested in making the league better. Even if you believe that anybody in that seat would have added Belmont given the opportunity (fair enough) if he were truly disinterested in the long-term future of the Valley his school would have jumped to whatever's left of CUSA by now. That they are staying (and MSU is the team that ended discussions) shows they're still interested in the Valley. They have also said repeatedly that they are happy in the MVC (maybe the MVC should consider an FBS move itself so that everyone can live out their football dreams and we all stay together. I don't know if all the schools could afford that though.) I'm just really sorry we've been such a bad addition. I wish we would start contributing something. I mean our Volleyball and women's soccer teams have been pretty good this year (and Volleyball was pretty good before) Women's basketball is improving a lot (had no choice but still) Baseball is getting better and men's basketball was (before losing to a D2) slowly getting better. Still I wish we would be doing more for this conference and I hope we will start pulling our weight soon but it doesn't look good.)

[BCPanther]

I don't think Valpo was a 'bad' add.

I think Valpo needs to follow through on some of the budget and facilities assurances they made when they got in. When your foundation is stronger, it makes winning easier.

Though, being a UNI fan, I understand it's a very chicken and egg scenario. The timeline for our rise is really murky as the infusion of cash happened as we got better and the McLeod Center happened after we were good. Though we're probably headed back to the bottom after Jake leaves and the realization hits that we've got the 10th nicest of 11 arenas in the league...

[VUGrad1314]

Two things working against Valpo are its relatively small alumni base and that most of the more well heeled donors tend to be more academically oriented (not that that's a bad thing but it does mean that athletics isn't going to get the attention or upgrades they need with as much speed as we all want to see) Our new president has said he wants to announce a fundraising drive including a plan for basketball facilities (whether that's a renovation or a new building entirely remains to be seen) within the next year I think. I hope they follow through on that. It's way overdue. We are slowly taking positive steps but it's been really really slow and we Valpo fans are just as frustrated as anyone else if not more so. Believe me on that.

[Drakey]

[quote

Clearly "Prez Smart" should be removed as head of the MVC expansion committee as he clearly is not concerned with the long term future of the Valley. Should be someone who is not looking to jump ship asap.[/quote]

That's a bad take.

Dude just helped add Belmont.

Plus, Bradley and Drake had their chance to lead and that's how we ended up with Valpo.

UNIs President was chair of the committee that selected Jeff Jackson and Smart got Belmont. I'd say that's a couple of pretty solid moves from the lowly public administrators.[/quote]

You are really extrapolating to come up with this argument. Did I say something about UNI? Did I say something about Jeff Jackson? I mentioned one person from one school, who if their posters on this board are to be believed, has a primary goal of going FBS and getting out of the conference, because other Valley members are not their "peer" institutions. If you think improving the Valley is their primary concern, that is your prerogative.

[BEARZ77]

I guess you don't understand the concept that someone can be working towards multiple goals and serve both fairly because they are not diametrically opposed. Perhaps beyond your grasp though.

[VUGrad1314]

This is the litmus test for whether or not it's worthwhile: If you're a football school like Sam Houston State Jacksonville State and let's say Eastern Kentucky for instance you should absolutely go FBS because it will help you grow your flagship sport but if you're a basketball school in any way (Missouri State Chattanooga East Tennessee State for example) you should NOT go FBS because you could tank your programs. Liberty and New Mexico State are different because New Mexico State is already FBS and has pined for a conference home since being kicked out of the Sun Belt and Liberty has enough money to make it work regardless. I'm not saying a school like Missouri State doesn't have the money I just think the risk to the overall athletic department by making the move is greater than it would be for a school like Liberty.

[ColonialBulldog]

I guess you don't understand the concept that someone can be working towards multiple goals and serve both fairly because they are not diametrically opposed. Perhaps beyond your grasp though.

That's not how any of this works. A fiduciary for two groups has two act in the best interests for both, not merely do a pretty good job for both. If, and I have no idea if this is true, Missouri State is actively soliciting invitations from other conferences and/or is in discussions to join other conferences, President Smart should absolutely withdraw as part of the expansion group. At this stage it might not be necessary but the second it crosses that line I mentioned, it would not make any sense for him to serve in both roles. This is kind of hyperbole, but, you wouldn't want the President of Texas or OU leading the Big 12 expansion committee would you?