Welcome Murray State to the MVC!

[RacerJoeD]

Shouldn’t you guys try being the dominant school in your system first?

Btw, what part of 30A? Part of my work is in Rosemary

[tribecalledquest]

First, welcome aboard Murray.

It's weird. When Loyola announced they were leaving, of course I was upset. But they have cool fans, and I understand, A10 is a slightly better league at the top so probably more consistent multiple bids and exposure to East Coast Market.
But after the additions of Belmont and now Murray, staying at 12 with Loyola, I feel confident that we'd consistently be a multiple bid league, at least on par with the A10. ... so as I dwell on this, I've become upset once again (edit: still wish the best for loyola in the A10. Go dominate there and tell them how much better the MVC was )

Well, one of the MVC teams needs to really step it up, now. Murray? Belmont? one of the existing members that hasn't done much in years?

Regardless if we're a multiple bid league or not or whatever,
next year will be an exciting year.

SIU (not the one that almost beat Murray this past weekend, but the real SIU) will be the dominant team in the Valley sooner rather than later. Book it.

We've heard this for a while now. Just let us know when we should tune in to see it actually happen.

[30ASaluki]

Shouldn’t you guys try being the dominant school in your system first?

Btw, what part of 30A? Part of my work is in Rosemary

The first question does even deserve an answer. The answer to the second question is three miles west of the town center of Rosemary Beach. Fewer Range Rovers in my neighborhood.

[30ASaluki]

First, welcome aboard Murray.

It's weird. When Loyola announced they were leaving, of course I was upset. But they have cool fans, and I understand, A10 is a slightly better league at the top so probably more consistent multiple bids and exposure to East Coast Market.
But after the additions of Belmont and now Murray, staying at 12 with Loyola, I feel confident that we'd consistently be a multiple bid league, at least on par with the A10. ... so as I dwell on this, I've become upset once again (edit: still wish the best for loyola in the A10. Go dominate there and tell them how much better the MVC was )

Well, one of the MVC teams needs to really step it up, now. Murray? Belmont? one of the existing members that hasn't done much in years?

Regardless if we're a multiple bid league or not or whatever,
next year will be an exciting year.

SIU (not the one that almost beat Murray this past weekend, but the real SIU) will be the dominant team in the Valley sooner rather than later. Book it.

We've heard this for a while now. Just let us know when we should tune in to see it actually happen.

As you are well aware, it’s not like we haven’t been there before. It will be before the Gargoyles though, rest assured.

[RacerJoeD]

Shouldn’t you guys try being the dominant school in your system first?

Btw, what part of 30A? Part of my work is in Rosemary

The first question does even deserve an answer. The answer to the second question is three miles west of the town center of Rosemary Beach. Fewer Range Rovers in my neighborhood.

Well I sure have burned up a lot of gas running right by you going from Inlet to Grayton, that’s for sure

[30ASaluki]

Shouldn’t you guys try being the dominant school in your system first?

Btw, what part of 30A? Part of my work is in Rosemary

The first question does even deserve an answer. The answer to the second question is three miles west of the town center of Rosemary Beach. Fewer Range Rovers in my neighborhood.

Well I sure have burned up a lot of gas running right by you going from Inlet to Grayton, that’s for sure

Especially if you have been stuck driving through Seaside most times of the year! Locals avoid that place like the plague, 98 still works. Grayton is easier to party in more user-friendly than than Rosemary, Alys Beach, etc. If you haven't been there, Cuvee 30A is my standby, great happy hour, a lot closer to Rosemary without the hassle. Great staff, friendly, like all of the Panhandle, And outstanding food. It looks really high brow, but it's real people.

[Action10]

Did we ever get a better answer about why a few SIU posters were so angry about adding Murray State? That kind of craziness can't stem from recruiting the same students. Someone had to pee on a statue or curse a mother or something.....

[siudawgs]

Did we ever get a better answer about why a few SIU posters were so angry about adding Murray State? That kind of craziness can't stem from recruiting the same students. Someone had to pee on a statue or curse a mother or something.....

I'd put it this way. Not saying it's the gospel, but I'm bored, so here's my 2 cents:

The issue about recruiting the same pool of students in the region is a real one and carries heightened sensitivity because SIU's enrollment, and overall financial health, has taken a major hit over the past 10-20 years. There are legit concerns about the university's well-being, and any school (like Murray) that is a threat to pull students from the university/region is not taken lightly given the concerning trendlines.

From a sports standpoint, there is some lingering silly hard feelings about bad blood between the football programs going back several years, under at least two former SIU football coaches that I know of. Some SIU fans view Murray football as a renegade program, at least in the past. I don't think most SIU fans these days give a damn about all that, but some have long memories.

And then basketball-wise, in recent history (the last 10-15 years), Murray has had a lot more to be puffy-chested about than Southern, and that doesn't sit well with SIU fans, who were used to being the big dog (no pun intended) in the region. The current 14-year postseason drought has made for a Saluki fan base that is a bit ... on edge, and then you've got Murray thriving down the road and Ja Morant on Sportscenter every night.

Again, not trying to speak for anyone else, just my take. Personally, I welcome Murray into the Valley and think a heated local rivalry is a good thing for both programs. Southern needs to raise its game, both from a student recruitment and hoops standpoint, and I'm good with the competition, along with adding another strong hoops program to the Valley.

[jsaluki080]

Did we ever get a better answer about why a few SIU posters were so angry about adding Murray State? That kind of craziness can't stem from recruiting the same students. Someone had to pee on a statue or curse a mother or something.....

I'd put it this way. Not saying it's the gospel, but I'm bored, so here's my 2 cents:

The issue about recruiting the same pool of students in the region is a real one and carries heightened sensitivity because SIU's enrollment, and overall financial health, has taken a major hit over the past 10-20 years. There are legit concerns about the university's well-being, and any school (like Murray) that is a threat to pull students from the university/region is not taken lightly given the concerning trendlines.

From a sports standpoint, there is some lingering silly hard feelings about bad blood between the football programs going back several years, under at least two former SIU football coaches that I know of. Some SIU fans view Murray football as a renegade program, at least in the past. I don't think most SIU fans these days give a damn about all that, but some have long memories.

And then basketball-wise, in recent history (the last 10-15 years), Murray has had a lot more to be puffy-chested about than Southern, and that doesn't sit well with SIU fans, who were used to being the big dog (no pun intended) in the region. The current 14-year postseason drought has made for a Saluki fan base that is a bit ... on edge, and then you've got Murray thriving down the road and Ja Morant on Sportscenter every night.

Again, not trying to speak for anyone else, just my take. Personally, I welcome Murray into the Valley and think a heated local rivalry is a good thing for both programs. Southern needs to raise its game, both from a student recruitment and hoops standpoint, and I'm good with the competition, along with adding another strong hoops program to the Valley.

I welcome Murray and think they are a great add but, to further expand on the enrollment issue, Murray used to offer in-state tuition rates to students living /from Southern Illinois to poach from the area.

[smidge34]

Did we ever get a better answer about why a few SIU posters were so angry about adding Murray State? That kind of craziness can't stem from recruiting the same students. Someone had to pee on a statue or curse a mother or something.....

I'd put it this way. Not saying it's the gospel, but I'm bored, so here's my 2 cents:

The issue about recruiting the same pool of students in the region is a real one and carries heightened sensitivity because SIU's enrollment, and overall financial health, has taken a major hit over the past 10-20 years. There are legit concerns about the university's well-being, and any school (like Murray) that is a threat to pull students from the university/region is not taken lightly given the concerning trendlines.

From a sports standpoint, there is some lingering silly hard feelings about bad blood between the football programs going back several years, under at least two former SIU football coaches that I know of. Some SIU fans view Murray football as a renegade program, at least in the past. I don't think most SIU fans these days give a damn about all that, but some have long memories.

And then basketball-wise, in recent history (the last 10-15 years), Murray has had a lot more to be puffy-chested about than Southern, and that doesn't sit well with SIU fans, who were used to being the big dog (no pun intended) in the region. The current 14-year postseason drought has made for a Saluki fan base that is a bit ... on edge, and then you've got Murray thriving down the road and Ja Morant on Sportscenter every night.

Again, not trying to speak for anyone else, just my take. Personally, I welcome Murray into the Valley and think a heated local rivalry is a good thing for both programs. Southern needs to raise its game, both from a student recruitment and hoops standpoint, and I'm good with the competition, along with adding another strong hoops program to the Valley.

I welcome Murray and think they are a great add but, to further expand on the enrollment issue, Murray used to offer in-state tuition rates to students living /from Southern Illinois to poach from the area.

We did that to a block of border counties in SE Missouri, NW Tennessee and I believe southern Indiana too. I actually had no idea we stopped doing that if we did?