Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

I don't think so!

MO State has never been a strong FB school--NAIA or D2 and now D1 FCS. SW MO has never been a strong, good but not strong, high school FB area. The clamor for MO State to go to FBS has died down with their money problems and since they fired Lusk and hired Ford. FBS was nothing but a very small bunch (2 or 3) vocal Bear FB fans. Plus, the Sun Belt is shifting east and shut MO State out. A move to CONF USA makes no sense--again FBS foot ball and no better BB.

The only thing I can see the Bears doing is if the Texas and western schools in the Sun Belt and Conf USA (TEX Ar, N. TEX, TEX State, UTSA, Tex El Paso, plus Tulsa U and N MEX State) would pull out and form a new SW Conf I could see Mo State signing on as a BB and FCS FB school. Could possibly pull in WSU. Potentially a number 9 or 10 conference in both BB and FB.

This becomes a stronger argument as the MVC keeps talking adding N Kentucky, Wright state, and whom ever--moving the foot print east---may cause UNI looking to the MT West or, YES, the Summit. That will make UNI fans scream!

UNI's long term dream league is the Mountain West (again long term goal, nothing imminent or anything remotely close to it at this point just a goal of where the administration wants budget and resources to get to). There would be a full on fan base revolt if UNI even looked at the Summit League. We left the old North Central Conference in the early 80s for a reason and there is not a chance in hell we want to go back to having to deal with Dakota schools again. SDSU is the only one that is forward looking and most of that is because all of their athletics administration came from UNI.

The amount that NDSU spends on football to be the tallest midget is both embarrassing and astounding plus they are going to find life without Chris Klieman to be something totally different than they're used to.

They said the same thing after their last coach won 3 championships and went to wyoming. 4 championships later.....

[UNDfan]

Mo St admin should get ready for a CUSA west in likely 2025 and go FBS soon. It would be smart to attach itself to a Texas conference rather than the MVC.

UNI should move fb with the Dakotas. The MVFC could see a crisis soon.

[MOST]

If Mtn West could pull Utah and Colorado, and drop 2 or 3 of their lower performers: Air Force, San Jose State (WY maybe, but they play good FB) the conference could move up to P status--maybe to tough for UNI, certainly in FB, probably in BB.

[MOST]

If the MVC moves the footprint east with increased travel costs that will force the western outliers: MO State, UNI and Drake to look for new homes. A new SW Conference centered in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, and places in between, is a natural for MO State. Most travel distances, except to New Mex State and UTEP, are only slightly bigger that the MVC travel distances. But every school is a big state university! But look at the recruiting possibilities for all sports, and for Texas HS students and parents looking for new schools and academic possibilities.
If UNI can't grow to be competitive in the Mtn West than they are between a rock and a hard space--it would be the MVC or the Summit. UNI might be a good candidate for a new SW Conf but the travel costs would be a lot more than currently for MVC travel.

[UNDfan]

Could UALR be invited? They just finished a study that said FBS was not feasible.

UALR would be a good travel partner for Mo St and open up a new state.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Being 4 hours away is not a good travel partner

[Kyle@MOState]

Being 4 hours away is not a good travel partner

SIU Carbondale is like 5 hours away. They are currently out travel partner.

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Being 4 hours away is not a good travel partner

SIU Carbondale is like 5 hours away. They are currently out travel partner.

That's like saying Stalin is better than Hitler

[uniguy]

Nobody is getting picked from the mvc. I'm 100% sure about that

That is an awfully strong and ,eternal statement.

Mo St had offers from the Belt and maybe CUSA to move up. They have made major gains against Mizzou as far as student,preference and Missouri can feed another FBS school.

Illinois St should move to FBS, as they are one of one a few schools in that state that have gotten stronger. The MAC is a natural for them.

Loyola can jump to the A10 now. The academis and prestige a re so much better than the MVC.

Do you really think Loyola has an A-10 offer just sitting there and they haven't taken it?

They have made the tournament once in the last 30 years. Yeah, it was an absolutely awesome run. But I think they have to have more consistent success (and the support that comes from it) before they're ready to jump conferences again. Not saying they can't get to that point, but if I'm any league looking to add I am going to want to see more than one tournament run since Reagan.

[uniguy]

If the MVC moves the footprint east with increased travel costs that will force the western outliers: MO State, UNI and Drake to look for new homes. A new SW Conference centered in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, and places in between, is a natural for MO State. Most travel distances, except to New Mex State and UTEP, are only slightly bigger that the MVC travel distances. But every school is a big state university! But look at the recruiting possibilities for all sports, and for Texas HS students and parents looking for new schools and academic possibilities.
If UNI can't grow to be competitive in the Mtn West than they are between a rock and a hard space--it would be the MVC or the Summit. UNI might be a good candidate for a new SW Conf but the travel costs would be a lot more than currently for MVC travel.

Where are you getting this new southwest conference from? Is it anything more than something in your head?