Which of these team would you be okay with joining the MVC?

[Drakey]

I don't understand the football issue. I also think it should not even be a consideration. If we are going to let football be a factor in deciding the future of the conference, the conference is dead. The Valley is a Basketball conference. Rebranding the Gateway as the Valley was something I did not understand, because it created affiliations for the Valley with schools that don't belong. The Atlantic Ten gets how t build a basketball league and that is why we are losing Loyola. FCS football becomes more irrelevant every year.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

I don't understand the football issue. I also think it should not even be a consideration. If we are going to let football be a factor in deciding the future of the conference, the conference is dead. The Valley is a Basketball conference. Rebranding the Gateway as the Valley was something I did not understand, because it created affiliations for the Valley with schools that don't belong. The Atlantic Ten gets how t build a basketball league and that is why we are losing Loyola. FCS football becomes more irrelevant every year.

That’s assuming his source is correct. I wouldn’t make that assumption. His source said the Valley has a dormant FBS ticket, but the NCAA by-laws show that isn’t the case. His source said that Chicago is 6th in number of UNI alumni, turns out data shows Chicago is 2nd.

I wouldn’t believe everything you read on message boards. Sources aren’t meaningful if their information is fictitious.

[BCPanther]

I don't understand the football issue. I also think it should not even be a consideration. If we are going to let football be a factor in deciding the future of the conference, the conference is dead. The Valley is a Basketball conference. Rebranding the Gateway as the Valley was something I did not understand, because it created affiliations for the Valley with schools that don't belong. The Atlantic Ten gets how t build a basketball league and that is why we are losing Loyola. FCS football becomes more irrelevant every year.

That’s assuming his source is correct. I wouldn’t make that assumption. His source said the Valley has a dormant FBS ticket, but the NCAA by-laws show that isn’t the case. His source said that Chicago is 6th in number of UNI alumni, turns out data shows Chicago is 2nd.

I wouldn’t believe everything you read on message boards. Sources aren’t meaningful if their information is fictitious.

That's the rub here. People that have been very connected in the past with the Elgin regime think they know what's going on but the new regime works a little different which was to be expected.

As for the Alumni thing, that's literally what was on the latest round of fundraising mailers so I have zero idea where the truth lies on that one. I'd assume the UNI Alumni Association would be on top of it.

I'm 1000000000% with everybody that football shouldn't be a consideration. However, the reality is that those of us with football still have to fundraise and football is driver on that side. As a basketball add, I think Arlington is a good one. Their facilities fit right in, their budget is going to fit right in, and once their away from the hodge podge misfit football conference to athletic departments that are more like they are they're going to be just fine.

I mean, if this doesn't look like the perfect Valley arena, I don't know what

http://lawnstarter.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/college-park-center-2.jpg

[tribecalledquest]

I don't understand the football issue. I also think it should not even be a consideration. If we are going to let football be a factor in deciding the future of the conference, the conference is dead. The Valley is a Basketball conference. Rebranding the Gateway as the Valley was something I did not understand, because it created affiliations for the Valley with schools that don't belong. The Atlantic Ten gets how t build a basketball league and that is why we are losing Loyola. FCS football becomes more irrelevant every year.

That’s assuming his source is correct. I wouldn’t make that assumption. His source said the Valley has a dormant FBS ticket, but the NCAA by-laws show that isn’t the case. His source said that Chicago is 6th in number of UNI alumni, turns out data shows Chicago is 2nd.

I wouldn’t believe everything you read on message boards. Sources aren’t meaningful if their information is fictitious.

That's the rub here. People that have been very connected in the past with the Elgin regime think they know what's going on but the new regime works a little different which was to be expected.

As for the Alumni thing, that's literally what was on the latest round of fundraising mailers so I have zero idea where the truth lies on that one. I'd assume the UNI Alumni Association would be on top of it.

I'm 1000000000% with everybody that football shouldn't be a consideration. However, the reality is that those of us with football still have to fundraise and football is driver on that side. As a basketball add, I think Arlington is a good one. Their facilities fit right in, their budget is going to fit right in, and once their away from the hodge podge misfit football conference to athletic departments that are more like they are they're going to be just fine.

I mean, if this doesn't look like the perfect Valley arena, I don't know what

http://lawnstarter.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/college-park-center-2.jpg

I'm all in with UTA.

[TBS_20]

Half the teams currently are football playing schools. It 100% has to be considered. I'd rather they split up. I don't care if the mvc dies. Not my problem.

[BCPanther]

Half the teams currently are football playing schools. It 100% has to be considered. I'd rather they split up. I don't care if the mvc dies. Not my problem.

But where does anybody go that improves their situation? That's the thing.

We don't have the population or sheer numbers they have in the east or south where everybody can find a league that fits their ideal niche.

The Valley has made is 110 years as a coalition of like minded though not identical schools, I don't think that losing a school that's been around for all of 8 years is going to be the straw that finally breaks the camel's back nor is inviting/not inviting a rural regional school from Kentucky. Plus, we've all seemed to forget that Belmont is already in and they're an absolute slam dunk that brings basketball, facility AND market.

[jsaluki080]

Half the teams currently are football playing schools. It 100% has to be considered. I'd rather they split up. I don't care if the mvc dies. Not my problem.

I get it. You like football and want a Big East style split. Noted. But I'm guessing many of the people posting on a message board called MVC Fans are fans of the MVC and don't share your sentiment of just letting it die.

[usmcsaluki]

Like others have already eloquently stated, I can't find a font size or bold setting that's large or loud enough to scream NO to the suggested league football split. Just no.

I like the idea of grabbing all the best basketball schools within the region as we can, but there's only one that falls into that category: Murray. IMO we should move to 11 to grab Murray, and nothing more: that keep the highest level of quality and we end up grabbing hands down the BEST basketball program available in the region. I would only consider UIC due to the qualities already noted; not the best program, but to round back up to 12 schools and get back in the Chicago market is something I would consider.

Absolutely no to a football split, UTA, KC, or any others mentioned. Aim for expansion, but retain the highest level of quality standards.

[Drakey]

I think the academic considerations are pretty pointless also. The only thing sports can do as far as recruiting students is to get your name out there so prospective students have heard of your school. That is only done by winning and getting in the tournament or being ranked in the top 25. Drake was at it's strongest in the 60s and 70s when the Valley had a bunch of questionable academic schools with great basketball programs. Those schools all left with the name recognition and publicity that went with them.

[valleydays]

Right. I'm sure other schools have similar stories, but every time Murray State wins an NCAA men's basketball tournament game, the university shares that it is inundated with interest from prospective students who are suddenly interested in attending. On the other hand, I can't recall a single mention of a Nashville-area student enrolling because Murray is in the same athletic conference as Belmont.

It's a shame the MVC presidents don't seem to understand this.