How Committed to the MVC Do You think Your School Is?

[glm38]

MOValley John, you shouldn't have said that until last year Missouri State hadn't accomplished much. Those folks have a really high opinion of themselves so I am afraid bodily harm for you lurks just around the corner.

I'm sure he's just quaking in fear. But I disagree too. I think both UNI and MSU are solid Valley schools in basketball. Both with ups and downs but fairly solid. If you compare WSU to MSU since MSU joined the Valley - I don't think there's that much difference in their w/l and achievements? At least in that timeframe. Both have made a sweet 16 appearance (WSU more recently) and both have won a regular season championship (MSU more recently). MSU has placed a couple of players in the NBA too although not recently - but all of WSU's were some time ago too I believe. I'm not knocking WSU. Just sticking up for my Bears.

And I think MSU and UNI's financial problems are both overstated. Challenges yes but a lot of the same challenges facing colleges and college athletics nationwide.

[Bluejay09Bear06]

To be sure, Wichita State has a good basketball program and is an asset to the Valley. But there is no merit to the argument that Missouri State and UNI are somehow inferior. MSU has accomplished more since they joined the Valley than Wichita, so I'm not sure where this inflated sense of superiority comes from.

[DoubleJayAlum]

All the Valley added were a bunch of no money spending, Division 2 programs in the 90s, so I don't see how the next round would be any different.

Whatever happens if CU were to happen to bolt, the Valley will be weaker, much weaker than it is today, just like the last time we added teams, and the time before that.

The D-2 comment aside, what do you mean by "no money spending?" Last I checked, UE, MSU, and UNI have the 3 newest arenas in the league and have comparable athletic budgets to the other schools in the conference.

UNI's arena is just barely bigger than the arena Creighton just built for volleyball and Women's basketball and my not be as nice. The funniest thing about McLeod (other than the fact that its namesake went bankrupt) is that the "luxury Suites" consist of raised seating that is, without question, the worst seating in the whole arena. By the way, the scoreboard is smaller and less informative than most of the high schools scoreboards in Omaha.

I've heard that MSu's arena doesn't have locker rooms. Seriously.

UE's arena is a city arena and wasn't financed by UE. I have nothing against public arena's, but you can't use them as a counter to a "no money spending" accusation.

[sixth ace]

yepp UE is spending @$180000 just in mens basketball rental fees to the city of Evansville. Actually that is quite a savings over building and maintaining a stadium for limited purpose. So 'no money spending' accusation is more of a smart spending of less money situation in these times. UE may someday build their own campus arena, but at this time that looks like foolish money spent .

The State Of Indiana has build a very nice arena on the Westside of Evansville at USI. It doesn't compare to the Ford Arena nor does UE have to maintain it.

[DoubleJayAlum]

yepp UE is spending @$180000 just in mens basketball rental fees to the city of Evansville. Actually that is quite a savings over building and maintaining a stadium for limited purpose. So 'no money spending' accusation is more of a smart spending of less money situation in these times. UE may someday build their own campus arena, but at this time that looks like foolish money spent .

The State Of Indiana has build a very nice arena on the Westside of Evansville at USI. It doesn't compare to the Ford Arena nor does UE have to maintain it.

Sixth,

I agree completely! If a school can take advantage of a city's arena and save the funds, they should do it every time. That is even more true for private schools that have to raise funds to pay all of their bills and don't get the government handouts that the state schools receive.

Ultimately though, UE has to play somewhere. I don't think that in general terms however, a school gets to count the rent paid as a significant investment in the program as they have to play somewhere. Of course, if a school is going to play a Bradley and deliberately choose to play a regular season game in a smaller on campus arena instead of paying rent for the community arena, that is even worse.

[unipanther99]

UNI's arena is just barely bigger than the arena Creighton just built for volleyball and Women's basketball and my not be as nice. The funniest thing about McLeod (other than the fact that its namesake went bankrupt) is that the "luxury Suites" consist of raised seating that is, without question, the worst seating in the whole arena. By the way, the scoreboard is smaller and less informative than most of the high schools scoreboards in Omaha.

I've heard that MSu's arena doesn't have locker rooms. Seriously.

UE's arena is a city arena and wasn't financed by UE. I have nothing against public arena's, but you can't use them as a counter to a "no money spending" accusation.

The McLeod Center (named for the family, not McLeod-USA) holds over 7000, Sokol Arena holds less than 3000. The suites at McLeod aren't any further from the court than at Quest, and the point of McLeod was to put the general fans and students close to the court. We're mostly teachers and accountants, not doctors and lawyers. And yes, the scoreboards are quite goofy, but they still have the same information as every other scoreboard. McLeod is a good fit for UNI, looks pretty decent on TV, is usually fairly full, and that should be all that matters.

As for UE... Whether you rent or buy, you're still spending money.

[DoubleJayAlum]

The McLeod Center (named for the family, not McLeod-USA) holds over 7000, Sokol Arena holds less than 3000. The suites at McLeod aren't any further from the court than at Quest, and the point of McLeod was to put the general fans and students close to the court. We're mostly teachers and accountants, not doctors and lawyers. And yes, the scoreboards are quite goofy, but they still have the same information as every other scoreboard. McLeod is a good fit for UNI, looks pretty decent on TV, is usually fairly full, and that should be all that matters.

Let's be frank here - the "luxury suites" at Mcleod are neither "suites" nor are they "luxurious" at all. They are really just grandstands situated in a worse location thatn all other seats in the arena. When I've been there for Creighton games, those suites usually pretty empty as well. The only thing coming close to a typical luxury suite is that closed in room behind one of the baskets.

Why the pity party for accountants? From what I've seen, CPAs have pretty healthy incomes, often in excess of attorneys, without the additional graduate school debt. If UNI can't get them to donate any money, that would seem to be more of a failure on the part of the UNI development office, as the poverty claim seems pretty weak. The biggest problem for UNI is that most of the graduates immediately leave the area and flock to Omaha, Des Moines and other nearby areas and become supporters of the teams where they reside as opposed to their own alma maters. I know several Omaha residents that graduated from UNI, but have Creighton season tickets and support the Jays, even when UNI comes to town. It is pretty strange and I don't really understand the whole dynamic, but it certainly exists.

[unipanther99]

You'll notice I just called them suites, and not "luxury suites."

I really don't know who sits up there, but I know they get some sort of hospitality treatment. There are like 3 rows of about 4 seats in each private box. I really don't see how that's much different than any other suite I've seen at sporting events. If your point is to say Century Link Center has better suites, I would probably agree. Personally I'd rather sit in the stands with everyone else, but some people like the privacy and special treatment. That's why those things are there.

The point I was trying to make is that UNI is investing in it's program. The arena was built with donations (no public money), they've bumped Jake's salary up to at least the middle range of the Valley, and support to the Panther Scholarship Club is at an all time high, despite the weak economy. UNI could always do more, but they aren't exactly sitting on their hands.

[2livewu]

They are a very pedestrian school in a dull, declining state too. They have to brag about something I guess, if the NIT title makes them feel good then they should shout from some mountain somewhere, although there are none in Kansas. But I am all for there enthusisasm. Look they have a fine baseball program, a fine bowling team I hear, and a good aeronautical engineering program. Those are all things to take pride in. They have a slightly better than mediocre basketball tradition which isn't all bad, but they try to make it bigger than it is. I wouldn't go as far as to say they are deluded, but they have an inflated sense of self worth in some ways. They have this peculiar combination of brash arrogance combined with deep seeded insecurities. Interesting bunch to converse worth. Sometimes I wonder if the Valley neighborhood really needs them, RPI be darned but in the end I don't mind them. I always get a chuckle at their boisterous bravado but it makes things fun around these parts.

Comments from a guy that hasn't sniffed being correct in about 2 years on this board (or likely anywhere else).

You and like minded morons don't get that winning a few games here and there doesn't equate to investing and not being a drag on some of us. UNI nutjobs, for instance, like to bring up the fact they have football and WSU dropped football. You want to know one of the biggest reasons we dropped football? Because the entire Valley BAILED on WSU, leaving them as an independent along with Notre Dame, Army, Navy and the like. Not exactly a blueprint for long term success and we aren't interested in 1AA or FBS or D2 or whatever it is or was at the time. Nobody outside of Cedar Falls cares or ever will care. Creighton thinks and acts big, so does WSU even when they don't win. Bradley used to, but that's been in serious question for sometime. Illinois State could but doesn't. Tulsa did and got the hell out. The Valley added 3 programs that will NEVER sustain success for any length of time and have no chance at any kind of national attention. You can like it or not, but the Valley was weakened, substantially, when they added SWOMO, Evansville and Northern Iowa. The Valley has always been a lot better for those programs than those programs have been for the Valley.

[valleychamp]

The McLeod Center (named for the family, not McLeod-USA) holds over 7000, Sokol Arena holds less than 3000. The suites at McLeod aren't any further from the court than at Quest, and the point of McLeod was to put the general fans and students close to the court. We're mostly teachers and accountants, not doctors and lawyers. And yes, the scoreboards are quite goofy, but they still have the same information as every other scoreboard. McLeod is a good fit for UNI, looks pretty decent on TV, is usually fairly full, and that should be all that matters.

Let's be frank here - the "luxury suites" at Mcleod are neither "suites" nor are they "luxurious" at all. They are really just grandstands situated in a worse location thatn all other seats in the arena. When I've been there for Creighton games, those suites usually pretty empty as well. The only thing coming close to a typical luxury suite is that closed in room behind one of the baskets.

Why the pity party for accountants? From what I've seen, CPAs have pretty healthy incomes, often in excess of attorneys, without the additional graduate school debt. If UNI can't get them to donate any money, that would seem to be more of a failure on the part of the UNI development office, as the poverty claim seems pretty weak. The biggest problem for UNI is that most of the graduates immediately leave the area and flock to Omaha, Des Moines and other nearby areas and become supporters of the teams where they reside as opposed to their own alma maters. I know several Omaha residents that graduated from UNI, but have Creighton season tickets and support the Jays, even when UNI comes to town. It is pretty strange and I don't really understand the whole dynamic, but it certainly exists.

What are you talking about? Those suites in Mcleod are no different than suites in any other sports arena, and are also situated just like any other suite in any other arena. There are a few rows of seating in front, along with a suite right behind them with a bar, kitchen, food, etc.

You have the laugh at the Creighton fans knocking other arena's when they don't even have their own. And I've been to that new "arena" that Creighton built a couple years ago. LOL at bragging about that gym.