REPORT: Murray to the Valley?

[Herd]

Another school I have heard linked to the OVC is Grand Valley State. Tifwiw

Grand Valley State has great all around athletics. They have won the NACDA Directors' Cup 15 times since 2001-02. The 5 years they didn't win they came in 2nd. They also have the endowment and academics.

Yes Grand Valley has been good, but they are also football centric. A move to DI isn't for the fait of heart when football is a priority. Lots of $ needed unless you go nonscholly or don't care like GVSU does. Many moving to DI have seen the need to drop football, especially if DI hockey is involved.

[Roberts Stadium]

Reading through all the teams considering moving up to Div I on here (which shocks me considering how many schools were rumored to be wanting to downgrade after COVID) I'm surprised Northwest Missouri State isn't thinking about it. They have dominated the Div II tournament at the Ford Center for the last few years. I don't know much about their football team but I'm sure it'd be a good MVFC team.

[BearsCountry]

Reading through all the teams considering moving up to Div I on here (which shocks me considering how many schools were rumored to be wanting to downgrade after COVID) I'm surprised Northwest Missouri State isn't thinking about it. They have dominated the Div II tournament at the Ford Center for the last few years. I don't know much about their football team but I'm sure it'd be a good MVFC team.

Northwest has an enrollment of around 5k and is in a town of 11k. They are your classic D2 school and they know their place. And this isn't me worried about another D1 school in Missouri. Central Missouri would fit perfectly in the OVC other than its on the wrong side of the state. Lindenwood would probably make the move.

[VUGrad1314]

More hope for Murray State joining the MVC in the near future? If football is indeed the hurdle (as BCPanther has suggested getting them into the MVFC over the next year or two could be difficult) IF McNeese and\or SELA do bolt, perhaps the Southland would need to consider Murray State on a temporary FB only basis to keep their numbers stable while they plumb D2 for more candidates. That would surely solve a lot of problems if Murray State would be willing to do it (it would be quite the travel investment but at least it would be only football and only temporary).

https://www.americanpress.com/2021/10/0 ... s-schools/

Matt Brown follows up and says that McNeese St and Incarnate Word made pitches to the WAC recently as well. Not sure if anything will come of it but maybe some more movement in the Southland could make the football issue less relevant if Murray State can find (and is willing to accept) a split membership FB in one conference and Olympic Sports in the MVC. They shouldn't have to jump through these hoops but if that is what it takes I really hope they do it. Hopefully they can get into the MVFC at a later time.

https://csnbbs.com/thread-931515.html

[VUGrad1314]

According to Matt Brown there is support among some MVC institutions for Murray State but the concerns of others are surrounding football and market not necessarily academics the concerns are about student recruitment not TV. Sigh... That is going to be hard for the Racers to overcome if true. He says they potentially overcome it but he hasn't heard that it's imminent or anything.

Also I don't know if this has been said before but a recent article in Stl Today says that an 11 team 20 game conference schedule is likely for the 2022-23 season according to Commissioner Jackson. Sigh... This really feels like a missed opportunity. I know Murray State isn't likely to go anywhere but it feels wrong to let such a high quality program that can help the conference twisting in the wind.

https://csnbbs.com/thread-930963-page-2.html

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/b ... 70828.html

if this truly is the case then I guess I can't be too terribly upset because we DID get Belmont and that's terrific but it feels like we're leaving meat on the bone if we don't take Murray State too.

[RacerJoeD]

If the presidents' plan is to go after metro areas to somehow help recruitment, I think that is more than little misguided. The NEC is an example.

The key is to be on TV more. That is how you raise your profile. Belmont has very little buy in from the greater Nashville area. Even their students aren't gung ho about their basketball. But they are a good program. They win games. People who want to watch college basketball will want to see them play against the rest of the MVC. They will tune in across the country. Fans, punters, and sports fanatics alike will want to see them play in packed gyms (not theirs obvs) in the winter. They will be must see. Their games will be shown on national TV and people will tune in.

Matt Brown had a fantastic article on this. its a recommended read. https://www.extrapointsmb.com/mid-major ... streaming/

The ratings of being on national TV via ESPN (flagship, 2, or U) CBS sports or CBS are measured in the hundreds of thousands to the millions. That is where you raise your profile. That is where you build a national brand. And you only get there by being good, playing good competition, and doing that night in and night out in conference.

Im a Racer homer, that much should be plain, but this should be the plan of every basketball school. Play against good competition, try to get on national TV, and build the profile of the school and the program. That leads to enrollment increases and better financial situations for all. The OVC never understood that- there were programs who thought that being the best in second tier football would do it (it doesn't), or that just showing up is enough (it isn't). That is why Murray wants the MVC. Not because its our only option (I have it on very good authority that others have offered), but because its the BEST option for all involved. Just like Belmont.

I still think this is going to happen, BTW.

[RacerJoeD]

Also, this video has so much info on it. The one to look at is the slide talking about the media packages and the ratings of nationally televised games. Eye opening considering the streaming numbers that Matt Brown puts out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3en4npeWKZ4

[VUGrad1314]

If the presidents' plan is to go after metro areas to somehow help recruitment, I think that is more than little misguided. The NEC is an example.

The key is to be on TV more. That is how you raise your profile. Belmont has very little buy in from the greater Nashville area. Even their students aren't gung ho about their basketball. But they are a good program. They win games. People who want to watch college basketball will want to see them play against the rest of the MVC. They will tune in across the country. Fans, punters, and sports fanatics alike will want to see them play in packed gyms (not theirs obvs) in the winter. They will be must see. Their games will be shown on national TV and people will tune in.

Matt Brown had a fantastic article on this. its a recommended read. https://www.extrapointsmb.com/mid-major ... streaming/

The ratings of being on national TV via ESPN (flagship, 2, or U) CBS sports or CBS are measured in the hundreds of thousands to the millions. That is where you raise your profile. That is where you build a national brand. And you only get there by being good, playing good competition, and doing that night in and night out in conference.

Im a Racer homer, that much should be plain, but this should be the plan of every basketball school. Play against good competition, try to get on national TV, and build the profile of the school and the program. That leads to enrollment increases and better financial situations for all. The OVC never understood that- there were programs who thought that being the best in second tier football would do it (it doesn't), or that just showing up is enough (it isn't). That is why Murray wants the MVC. Not because its our only option (I have it on very good authority that others have offered), but because its the BEST option for all involved. Just like Belmont.

I still think this is going to happen, BTW.

Well said Joe. I agree with every word. Are you hearing anything concrete? Do you have anything you can share?

[RacerJoeD]

There is complete silence. Not a wink, a smile and "we'll see"- its complete and total silence. To me that means that the people behind the scenes are working something that is pretty tricky and until it gets set in stone, they are afraid to blow it up. My feeling is, and this was confirmed with the folks I have spoken to, that there is a negotiation going on about associate membership in the OVC for football (and rifle I would bet) for a couple years in exchange for a decreased exit fee. That would help all parties, but I have no direct info on this, not form a lack of trying.

[VUGrad1314]

There is complete silence. Not a wink, a smile and "we'll see"- its complete and total silence. To me that means that the people behind the scenes are working something that is pretty tricky and until it gets set in stone, they are afraid to blow it up. My feeling is, and this was confirmed with the folks I have spoken to, that there is a negotiation going on about associate membership in the OVC for football (and rifle I would bet) for a couple years in exchange for a decreased exit fee. That would help all parties, but I have no direct info on this, not form a lack of trying.

That would be so great and would solve (hopefully) the only remaining hurdle! I hope it's true! It would be the best way forward for both Murray State and the OVC. Murray State could rule the new OVC in football for as long as it remains while getting its long desired and well earned basketball upgrade while the OVC gets more time to plot its next steps without being "on the clock" to search for new members. I think the OVC should definitely accept Murray State as a FB only member. They really aren't in a great position to say no if we're being honest. They have to know that Murray State isn't the only remaining flight risk so it's not as easy as telling the Racers to pound sand and adding Western Illinois in their place. Tennessee State I would guess could leave for the SWAC today if they wanted to. So they need time to maybe look at the landscape and see if there's a D2 callup or two that can be made to bolster the ranks. It would also give the MVFC (which I would assume is Murray State's destination conference in football even if it will be much harder to win) the time it needs to get its own house in order for the Racers' potential inclusion by resolving whatever scheduling hurdles need to be resolved to make it happen. It would also be a great gesture of goodwill on the part of Murray State to help out the conference it helped found even on its way out the door. I hope this is exactly what's happening assuming a direct move into the MVFC can't happen right now. For what it's worth EVERYONE around Valpo with ANY connection prior to when we were added did the exact same thing. It was all quiet and very little got out until everything was signed sealed and delivered. I hope that's the case here too. It would make sense as well because that seems to be how the MVC operates. Also I would think if it was a flat no and Murray State was left to survey its options and was possibly stuck in the OVC they would say something to that effect and\or the OVC would have put out a statement after Belmont left. The fact that neither of these things has happened suggests to me as well that something akin to the scenario you've described is happening right now and we just need to wait until it's finalized. I know I keep saying this but I really hope so. This marriage makes so much sense and has made so much sense for such a long time that it's hard to remain patient and wait for it to actually happen as an ardent fan and supporter of the MVC a lover of mid major hoops in general and an admirer of what the Racers have built and achieved over their history.


Another thought that occurred to me: I think the renewal of the series with WKU which I'm given to understand has been dormant for some time could be a sign that things are moving in a positive direction. I think Middle Tennessee would be another good get for the Racers as a regional home and home with a team from a decent conference even though the Blue Raiders have been down for the past couple years. Just a thought. WKU is the big important get there though so kudos on that.