MSU to Conference USA?

[TylerDurden]

It all started when Brian Banowsky was in springfield this weekend. He met with the school and according to some people at the meeting left a sealed letter to be opened by the BOG. 3 different MSU athletic staff members admit to being asked if they would support a move to c-usa. this past spring it was mentioned that a one time 11 million dollar upgrade cost with an increase of the athletic budget of 2.5mil. This plan does include football if the offer was truly for everything except football MSU can stay in the MVFC and still play in the C-USA. The C-USA ahead of the MVC with or without memphis really you cant go any lower than the MVC your either an automatic qualifier or a multi bid conf.

I think you'd be surprised by how few bids CUSA gets outside of Memphis.

[Bluejay09Bear06]

UNI or even SIU seems like a better fit to me. Both. Are 1-AA powers with good followings plus basketball history.

I agree to an extent, but I think this analysis misses the point of conference expansion. Of course, recent success is relevant but just one factor. The problem with UNI and SIU is that they are not in major media markets and they are located in regions that are either stagnant or losing population. Southwest Missouri is growing rapidly, becoming a rising political and economic force in Missouri, and Springfield is the 74th largest media market, not to mention a huge alumni presence in both K.C. and St. Louis. C-USA leadership may be acknowledging Missouri State's strong basketball history, both recent and long-term, and realizing that a market for FBS football exists. I think that's why a school like Missouri State would be a better candidate than other Valley schools that may seem like better fits on paper.

At any rate, I agree at this point the entire C-USA rumor is nothing more than an offhanded tweet that is being taken way too seriously. We will see if there is any fire with this smoke. I personally would have extremely mixed feelings about leaving the Valley, since I am a college basketball nut, and could not care less about college football. But I'm also a realist and I know that football money drives the bus.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

This fella that seems to know things on an MSU board just basically guaranteed it. Very interesting. Told everyone to get ready to eat crow. Coming from him I think this might actually mean something.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I heard that MSU only averages 9,000 people for football games. Is that true? If so, I don't see them being much of an appeal to anyone.

Like MVJ, I believe if CUSA adds teams it will be dictated by football first, just like all of the other big conferences are. Right now, MSU does not have that cachet. Similarly, media market 74 is not going to push the meter, especially when that same market only gets 9,000 people to a FB game now.

Remember, the big 10 passed on Mizzou even though St Louis and KC media markets would presumably included, in favor of Nebraska, which only has one real media market and, in size, it pales in comparison.

[DoubleJayAlum]

This fella that seems to know things on an MSU board just basically guaranteed it. Very interesting. Told everyone to get ready to eat crow. Coming from him I think this might actually mean something.

Haven't you been burned enough by relying on rumors in the past?

PS - Ricky Kreklow says, "Hi."

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

This fella that seems to know things on an MSU board just basically guaranteed it. Very interesting. Told everyone to get ready to eat crow. Coming from him I think this might actually mean something.

Haven't you been burned enough by relying on rumors in the past?

PS - Ricky Kreklow says, "Hi."

That was a salesman yanking my chain. This might be too, but this guy has more credibility at least. He's the head honcho on that bears board.

[beatingrillz]

kc hates mizzou

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

kc hates mizzou

Not my experience at all. There are MUtards all over that place. Maybe not as many as Kansas fans but they are both annoying. The paper loves them and that DeArmond guy is insufferable for the Star.

[DoubleJayAlum]

This fella that seems to know things on an MSU board just basically guaranteed it. Very interesting. Told everyone to get ready to eat crow. Coming from him I think this might actually mean something.

Haven't you been burned enough by relying on rumors in the past?

PS - Ricky Kreklow says, "Hi."

That was a salesman yanking my chain. This might be too, but this guy has more credibility at least. He's the head honcho on that bears board.

In that case, Matt Perrault say, "Hi".

[valleychamp]

Regarding MBB, CUSA is a 1 bid league without Memphis. A quick google search shows that the last time a school from that conference not named Memphis won an NCAA tournament game was 2005.

Plus, with more members, the NCAA money is spread even thinner.

What does MSU average in football attendance anyway? IS MSU FB even a draw?

MSU football has the potential to draw tremendously. I think football is our future. But also do not overlook academics in the equation too.

Has "potential" to draw? Yeah, who doesn't? Fact is, they never have drawn, and they never have won.