REPORT: Murray to the Valley?

[lurkingdog]

I would have a hard time believing the MVC would want to be sharing their revenue by admitting a d-2 school, particularly with other d-1 programs that the MVC could easily chose over them.

Agreed. GVSU might have to join Augustana in the D-I waiting room.

On the other hand, do they know something we don't? Do they expect Missouri State to leave for CUSA?

[mvfcfan]

On a related topic, Grand Valley State is doing an athletic study (results in January?). Rumor is that the predetermined result is a recommendation to go D-I, with the MVC as the preferred conference.

A GVSU football recruit tweeted a few weeks ago that they are going to be moving to the OVC in two more seasons. GVSU obviously denied it, but it wouldn't surprise me because the OVC needs football schools.

[Murraygrad05]

On a related topic, Grand Valley State is doing an athletic study (results in January?). Rumor is that the predetermined result is a recommendation to go D-I, with the MVC as the preferred conference.

A GVSU football recruit tweeted a few weeks ago that they are going to be moving to the OVC in two more seasons. GVSU obviously denied it, but it wouldn't surprise me because the OVC needs football schools.

That is saying there even is an OVC in two seasons. At this rate it may have imploded by then. And again is why we need to (and hopefully will soon) jump ship before we take on too much water.

[VUGrad1314]

I know it's just more grist for the rumor mill but.... This could be what's holding everything up. Murray State and the MVC could very well be ready to announce their partnership but the OVC might (somewhat understandably given their current state) be being petty about the Racers' teams vis a vis autobid qualifications in sports. I don't understand why conferences do this. All it does is delay the announcement it doesn't make them reconsider and just creates ill will and hurt feelings while accomplishing nothing.

https://csnbbs.com/thread-934351.html

[30ASaluki]

Murray needs the MVC, the MVC doesn’t need Murray. Maybe it’s just that simple. The MVC can afford to wait and choose who they want, they are in the driver’s seat. People may as well forget all the grassy knoll theories, it doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.

[All-MVC Fan]

With all due respect to “markets” and those who think they’re important to a conference whose teams barely make a media or viewership dent in their existing markets, Belmont over Murray, if that turns out to be the case, was a stupid add. Murray has proven the ability to sustain success over multiple decades and multiple head coaches, while the jury is still out on Belmont’s long term viability. Both schools would be a great package, but Belmont without Murray is short sighted. A bad decision without more of a track record sans Rick Byrd.

But when leaving important decisions to university presidents, one is likely to get stupid decisions.

[BEARZ77]

But when leaving important decisions to university presidents, one is likely to get stupid decisions.

Yeah, they're University presidents because they make lots of stupid decisions ; gimme a break. And Belmont's track record of 15 out of the past 16 years winning 20+ games[ and 19 the yr they didn't] clearly needs more establishing. And that Casey Alexander only has 5 straight 20+ win years including 52-11 in his 2 Belmont years. Have any opinion you want, but calling University presidents stupid and then having a post so devoid of any accurate info is probably not gonna win the argument.

[BCPanther]

With all due respect to “markets” and those who think they’re important to a conference whose teams barely make a media or viewership dent in their existing markets, Belmont over Murray, if that turns out to be the case, was a stupid add. Murray has proven the ability to sustain success over multiple decades and multiple head coaches, while the jury is still out on Belmont’s long term viability. Both schools would be a great package, but Belmont without Murray is short sighted. A bad decision without more of a track record sans Rick Byrd.

But when leaving important decisions to university presidents, one is likely to get stupid decisions.

Markets matter a ton, especially to University presidents. It's all about prospective students for general University enrollment and getting your University visibility in major markets where there are exponentially more people is incredibly beneficial. That's why I think we're much more likely to see an Arlington or a Little Rock or someone we haven't even discussed than Murray. It's also the reason SLU chooses to be the outlier in the A10.

As for your Belmont take. Woof, man, woof.

[30ASaluki]

Has anyone considered the fact that maybe there is not anymore fan support than what currently exists is because Belmont plays in the OVC? Who wants to waste time and money watching low majors?

[BEARZ77]

With all due respect to “markets” and those who think they’re important to a conference whose teams barely make a media or viewership dent in their existing markets, Belmont over Murray, if that turns out to be the case, was a stupid add. Murray has proven the ability to sustain success over multiple decades and multiple head coaches, while the jury is still out on Belmont’s long term viability. Both schools would be a great package, but Belmont without Murray is short sighted. A bad decision without more of a track record sans Rick Byrd.

But when leaving important decisions to university presidents, one is likely to get stupid decisions.

Markets matter a ton, especially to University presidents. It's all about prospective students for general University enrollment and getting your University visibility in major markets where there are exponentially more people is incredibly beneficial. That's why I think we're much more likely to see an Arlington or a Little Rock or someone we haven't even discussed than Murray. It's also the reason SLU chooses to be the outlier in the A10.


I think a number of people have a rather myopic view of how these decisions are made, like it's all simply how good a basketball program a school has or what their attendance is like . If those were the main issues we wouldn't have Loyola in the MVC , because those metrics were not very favorable when they joined. Markets matter, potential non-athletic related student recruitment matters , academics matter, facilities matter, potential to increase funding for sports matter. Just a lot of factors other than "gee they have a good basketball team". Again nothing against Murray St, I'd like to add them; just saying the decisions are a little more complex that some seem to think.
As for your Belmont take. Woof, man, woof.