Another Expansion/Realignment Thread

[Chuck A]

The MVC is a basketball-centric league. The MVFC is supposedly a separate entity that focuses on football. Shouldn't we as posters, when considering expansion, focus on programs that are basketball-centric or have no football? This section of the message board site deals with the MVC, NOT the MVFC. My concern is basketball, not football. Go to the MVFC portion for the football stuff. I believe the next move of expansion for The Valley will be programs that are basketball first, ie, Arlington, NKU, Kansas City, St.Thomas, Bellarmine, Oral Roberts, Milwaukee, Lipscomb.

Stop with the Dakota schools. They are not leaving the Summit. Their basketball teams pale in comparison to their football counterparts.

[TylerDurden]

The MVC is a basketball-centric league. The MVFC is supposedly a separate entity that focuses on football. Shouldn't we as posters, when considering expansion, focus on programs that are basketball-centric or have no football? This section of the message board site deals with the MVC, NOT the MVFC. My concern is basketball, not football. Go to the MVFC portion for the football stuff. I believe the next move of expansion for The Valley will be programs that are basketball first, ie, Arlington, NKU, Kansas City, St.Thomas, Bellarmine, Oral Roberts, Milwaukee, Lipscomb.

Stop with the Dakota schools. They are not leaving the Summit. Their basketball teams pale in comparison to their football counterparts.

The MVC and MVFC are separate entities, but if you separate football considerations from expansion you're essentially begging the football schools to explore their options. Take those schools out of the MVC and you've decimated the league.

Murray State's football team mattered in expansion, just like SIU, UNI, ISU red, ISU blue, and Missouri State's will matter moving forward.

The day everything could fall apart may just be the day Patty V retires and new leadership has to manage the football relationships. She's already moved away from her MVC duties and her deal with the MVFC ends in 2025, IIRC. Circle that on your calendars.

[Chuck A]

The MVC and MVFC are separate entities, but if you separate football considerations from expansion you're essentially begging the football schools to explore their options. Take those schools out of the MVC and you've decimated the league.

Murray State's football team mattered in expansion, just like SIU, UNI, ISU red, ISU blue, and Missouri State's will matter moving forward.

Not advocating at all for the removal of or separating from the football schools. What options would they explore? What football considerations should the basketball conference entertain?

I don't understand how the MVFC can't function on their own while still being loyal to their respective universities. Could you elaborate more on the relationships between the basketball and football members that are members of both the MVC and the MVFC?

[mvfcfan]

Funny how people complain about football on this board. Ever since realignment started we've had 3 schools leave and they all have one thing in common: no football. It's very easy for non-football schools to have a few very successful years and jump from conference to conference. It's not so easy when you have a football team to consider.

The only reason there hasn't been a split in the MVC yet is because there aren't any regional FCS schools that equally care about football and basketball. The private schools also haven't split off yet because there aren't enough non-football schools in the region that care as strongly about basketball as the public MVC schools. Simple as that.

[VUGrad1314]

Exactly. That is also very possibly why some schools haven't gone FBS yet even though they've been rumored to because doing so might very well tank their overall athletic departments as they feed the beast that is football. Admittedly this is conjecture on my part. But yes I think all MVC schools realize that we are stronger together than we are apart and are acting accordingly. There was a point raised way back in this thread on why NKU is a better add than South Dakota State and I could not disagree more strongly. NKU has a market and they are a decent program but they are far flung without a travel partner and South Dakota State brings a state flagship albeit a small state and a much better program and overall athletic department. Northern Kentucky has proven that they can get to the tournament but not that they can win. South Dakota State (while admittedly still without a tournament win like Northern Kentucky) has provided several stiff challenges to NCAA Tournament teams and with the boost in recruiting they would get playing in the MVC they would likely win some games. I'm not necessarily against Northern Kentucky as a candidate especially if the supposed rumors of them investing more are true I just think South Dakota State is a far superior add especially when you consider the conference holistically. South Dakota State reminds me a lot of Missouri State as a department in ways that NKU does not. The market is important sure but the MVC has made its living inviting tough strong overlooked programs and letting them sharpen themselves against tough competition and grow. Chasing small presence in big markets isn't going to do as much for the MVC as strengthening the on court product will. That should be the #1 priority in all expansion discussions. if that strategy worked the Horizon League would be a powerhouse and none of the schools that left the HL for the MVC would have done so. If we expand our best options are to the west. (SDSU Oral Roberts St Thomas (admittedly thinking upside here)) That fact is undeniable.

[TBS_20]

100%. That's definitely a better option than NKU or Bellarmine LOL. Except I'd choose NDSU over Oral Roberts. They're only being mentioned again because they signed a unicorn. I don't add because of unicorns. Plus, I love how people say NDSU isn't good. You kidding me? They're literally one of the most recognizable mid-majors/FBS because of their football success. And, theyve proved they're not a unicorn. Oh, they're too far. Cry about it. Same people crying have mentioned Denver, a hockey school on an island. Pardon me if I don't take you seriously.

[BCPanther]

There aren't any people in the Dakotas to draw regular students from, they're flights for everybody and they're not going to give up what they've got in The Summit where they pretty much get to make all the rules and host all the league tournaments. Plus, their basketball budgets would both need to double to get to Valley level.

And trust me, my dad worked in the administration at UNI when we were in the North Central with NDSU and you have zero desire to be in a league with them. Think the delusion of Texas while sitting in Fargo freaking North Dakota.

[TBS_20]

There aren't any people in the Dakotas to draw regular students from, they're flights for everybody and they're not going to give up what they've got in The Summit where they pretty much get to make all the rules and host all the league tournaments. Plus, their basketball budgets would both need to double to get to Valley level.

And trust me, my dad worked in the administration at UNI when we were in the North Central with NDSU and you have zero desire to be in a league with them. Think the delusion of Texas while sitting in Fargo freaking North Dakota.

Like I said, cry about it. You are.

[BCPanther]

There aren't any people in the Dakotas to draw regular students from, they're flights for everybody and they're not going to give up what they've got in The Summit where they pretty much get to make all the rules and host all the league tournaments. Plus, their basketball budgets would both need to double to get to Valley level.

And trust me, my dad worked in the administration at UNI when we were in the North Central with NDSU and you have zero desire to be in a league with them. Think the delusion of Texas while sitting in Fargo freaking North Dakota.

Like I said, cry about it. You are.

Tell me what they bring other than an underfunded basketball program in an area with no people?

[Chuck A]

There aren't any people in the Dakotas to draw regular students from, they're flights for everybody and they're not going to give up what they've got in The Summit where they pretty much get to make all the rules and host all the league tournaments. Plus, their basketball budgets would both need to double to get to Valley level.

And trust me, my dad worked in the administration at UNI when we were in the North Central with NDSU and you have zero desire to be in a league with them. Think the delusion of Texas while sitting in Fargo freaking North Dakota.

Like I said, cry about it. You are.

Tell me what they bring other than an underfunded basketball program in an area with no people?

Neither he, nor VUGrad1314 can!