Sounds like Wichita St to the AAC... Who gets an Invite?

[unipanther99]

No one school really moves the needle (if you're being realistic). The proposals for multiple schools or re-aligning conferences seem half-baked.

I really hope we do nothing for a year, and carefully consider our options. The league office did next to nothing for a couple of decades, so this really shouldn't be that hard for them.

[squirrel]

No one school really moves the needle (if you're being realistic). The proposals for multiple schools or re-aligning conferences seem half-baked.

I really hope we do nothing for a year, and carefully consider our options. The league office did next to nothing for a couple of decades, so this really shouldn't be that hard for them.

Right. I don't think smaller is sustainable, BUT for one year, going with 9 is a smart move. You'll have to add more non-conference games. Pressure league members to schedule smarter-schedule both for more wins, but better SOS. More home games and better buy games, where possible.

[Cdizzle]

I really hope we do nothing for a year, and carefully consider our options. The league office did next to nothing for a couple of decades, so this really shouldn't be that hard for them.

Yep. Tell a handful of schools the league is interested in adding them. Give them several months to put together plans to invest in their programs. Choose a team that best fits the league profile and puts into motion the best plan for improvement.

Frankly, the same thing needs to happen to a few of the schools currently in the league.

[Cdizzle]

Wright State.

(1) Gets the league in to Ohio. Which is huge.
(2) Adds a team that pretty much perfectly fits the performance profile of the league. Average RPI near 160 over last several years.
(3) Lets everyone keep hating a WSU in the league.
(4) No league rebranding necessary. The yellow WSU already on stuff will be fine. Saves a ton of money for the league office and league members.
(5) Lets Missouri State fans maintain hatred of state-sponsored universities.
(6) Smart marketing departments will maintain super bowl attendance bump by simply marketing 'WSU' as the opponent. Might even luck in to marketing #6 WSU as the opponent if Wright State happens to hold the same Valley ranking as Wichita State holds national ranking that week.
(7) Realistic chance of several court-storms after wins over WSU next season

[squirrel]

LOL...all kidding aside, I think Wright St is going to be in the mix. It's overlooked in Dayton, but a solid program and a committed administration-they fired a successful coach for non-disciplinary reasons after a second-place finish. I don't necessarily like that, but it does show a commitment to winning.

Going back to Brad Brownell, Wright is 213-151 (.585), and despite being overshadowed by Dayton and multiple solid minor league teams, still produce strong attendance.

[Redhawk]

LOL...all kidding aside, I think Wright St is going to be in the mix. It's overlooked in Dayton, but a solid program and a committed administration-they fired a successful coach for non-disciplinary reasons after a second-place finish. I don't necessarily like that, but it does show a commitment to winning.

Going back to Brad Brownell, Wright is 213-151 (.585), and despite being overshadowed by Dayton and multiple solid minor league teams, still produce strong attendance.

I actually like Wright St a whole lot better than Valpo or Belmont!

Here is a scenario where they fit into the mix which could actually happen...

Cinn & UCONN join the BIG12
Dayton & St Louis Join the Big East

The American will want to add the two best Football schools which will preclude UMASS from joining.
A that point a MVC/A10 shuffle would be best for both parties to group the public & private schools
with their peers.

That would add UMASS, Rhode Island, VCU and George Mason to ISUr, ISUb, SIU, MSU & UNI. Would need
one more school to get to 10 which is where Wright St comes in to bridge the gap out east.
The privates would combine in the A10 to make a nice group of 12 competing at the same commitment level.

The current RPI numbers for this new all Public MVC would add up to .531 which would be higher than the American. This is very much in the realm of possibility if Elgin could get everyone on the same page.
That is why Wright St makes a lot more sense for the long term future of the Valley.

[Khan4Cats]

LOL, the current MVC barely crosses into Indiana, no way we jump the Appalachians.

Unfortunately, the most likely scenario I see "bold-thinking" Elgin doing is expanding to 14 teams by adding SE Missouri State, SIU-Edwardsville, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, and Illinois-Chicago.

[Redhawk]

LOL, the current MVC barely crosses into Indiana, no way we jump the Appalachians.

Unfortunately, the most likely scenario I see "bold-thinking" Elgin doing is expanding to 14 teams by adding SE Missouri State, SIU-Edwardsville, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, and Illinois-Chicago.

Sounds like a great fit for Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois. I would hope Illinois State has higher aspirations than that!

[Cdizzle]

Wow. You really ran with that Wright State thing.

I really hope we are moving conferences.

[uniftw]

LOL...all kidding aside, I think Wright St is going to be in the mix. It's overlooked in Dayton, but a solid program and a committed administration-they fired a successful coach for non-disciplinary reasons after a second-place finish. I don't necessarily like that, but it does show a commitment to winning.

Going back to Brad Brownell, Wright is 213-151 (.585), and despite being overshadowed by Dayton and multiple solid minor league teams, still produce strong attendance.

I actually like Wright St a whole lot better than Valpo or Belmont!

Here is a scenario where they fit into the mix which could actually happen...

Cinn & UCONN join the BIG12
Dayton & St Louis Join the Big East

The American will want to add the two best Football schools which will preclude UMASS from joining.
A that point a MVC/A10 shuffle would be best for both parties to group the public & private schools
with their peers.

That would add UMASS, Rhode Island, VCU and George Mason to ISUr, ISUb, SIU, MSU & UNI. Would need
one more school to get to 10 which is where Wright St comes in to bridge the gap out east.
The privates would combine in the A10 to make a nice group of 12 competing at the same commitment level.

The current RPI numbers for this new all Public MVC would add up to .531 which would be higher than the American. This is very much in the realm of possibility if Elgin could get everyone on the same page.
That is why Wright St makes a lot more sense for the long term future of the Valley.

I took a similar approach when I did one. Here's what I got:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit? ... 374999&z=6

It's a mix of MVC/Horizon/A10 for if the AAC/Big East doing some changing and things start to get goofy.
Blue is who would be "in". It's currently set at 10 teams.
Red is back ups/go up to 12 or 14 members.
All fall within the same area for program funding
Northern Kentucky is the odd many out, but they are a recent D1 move and have been exploding in their facilities/commitment to be D1.
I have Wright State, but that was more of a potential close rival for Dayton to entice them? If Wright State causes issues with Dayton I'm good just not going that route and brining a Bradley in for the 10th.

VCU and WSU would be great to get to 12, but both seem to be headed for a potential AAC/Big East type invite - even more so if UCONN/Cinci bolt for the B12. Then again, the AAC would need/want football schools and VCU/WSU are neither. In that case, are VCU/WSU left out for this new conference?

They Philly and Richmond schools are likely a no go - see VCU above, and a foot print that size likely does nothing for Richmond, La Salle and St. Joes.

Bradley is finding a competent coach away from potentially coming back - maybe.
I'd rather not have Drake involved, but like Bradley, it adds a potential private school to help keep the A10 schools comfortable.

That set up would be a great high mid-major conference. Rotate the conference tournament between Chicago/St Louis, Indianapolis/Louisville and Cleveland/Pittsburgh every 3 years so that every fan base has a "close" conference tournament to get too. The B10 seems to have given up on Chicago for a host site for their tournament.

It's likely mostly a pipe dream, but that's a pretty ideal set up.