REPORT: Murray to the Valley?

[MSUDuo]

No name calling here. Just read his posts here and at Purple Ace Place and form your own opinion.
BTW, UE alum, 68 yrs old and a season ticket holder since 1980.

You literally called him "a fu**ing idiot"...

[BCPanther]

They can't just work something out with the OVC as a temporary arrangement? or the Southland? Or the Big South? Why can't we just trade WIU for Murray State between the MVFC and the OVC and everybody's happy? Just have WIU play Murray's OVC schedule and have Murray play WIU's MVFC schedule. I know I'm a fan of an (essentially) non football private school (PFL is barely a step above not having football at all) but the prospect that FCS football is holding up the league's progress in basketball is very annoying.

In the past, the OVC has said they won't be 'a parking lot' for teams moving beyond their level. That could have changed with the crisis they're in.

The OVC is shifting so far south and east with their D2 call-ups that Western Illinois doesn't fit there at all any more and is more or less stuck in The Summit/MVFC until they decide what they're going to do. There have been some rumors that they are looking at D2.

I also don't think it's holding any progress. Belmont was the perfect storm of getting somebody in and somebody in quick. We're WAY later in the game than you'd usually see a league move be effective, more or less, immediately. It's frustrating but things have to happen how they happen. Let's get a formal announcement and go from there.

[VUGrad1314]

I don't see the OVC sliding south and east I see the opposite shift happening. I think the league is shifting west. The remaining members (EIU SEMO UT-Martin Tennessee Tech Tennessee State Murray State (for now) SIUE Morehead State) would seem to be a great fit for WIU especially compared to traveling all the way to the Dakotas and Denver not to mention the fact that if Murray (and possibly Tennessee State to the SWAC) follow the rest of the departed OVC members out the door WIU's budget would be right in line with the rest of the OVC when it is thoroughly outstripped by most of the members of the Summit League. It's the right move for both school and league.

[BCPanther]

I don't see the OVC sliding south and east I see the opposite shift happening. I think the league is shifting west. The remaining members (EIU SEMO UT-Martin Tennessee Tech Tennessee State Murray State (for now) SIUE Morehead State) would seem to be a great fit for WIU especially compared to traveling all the way to the Dakotas and Denver not to mention the fact that if Murray (and possibly Tennessee State to the SWAC) follow the rest of the departed OVC members out the door WIU's budget would be right in line with the rest of the OVC when it is thoroughly outstripped by most of the members of the Summit League. It's the right move for both school and league.

But they're also looking at Delta State, West Florida, Valdosta State, UA-Huntsville and North Georgia. The league is just simply in shambles. I also think it's BS that inviting D2s is a get out of jail free card. We're going to get to 400 DIs in the next decade and, frankly, that's about 250 too many.

Frankly Western's best fit is to make the drop and join the GLVC but they're going to hang on, kicking and screaming, for as long as they can.

[Salukimadness86]

I don't see the OVC sliding south and east I see the opposite shift happening. I think the league is shifting west. The remaining members (EIU SEMO UT-Martin Tennessee Tech Tennessee State Murray State (for now) SIUE Morehead State) would seem to be a great fit for WIU especially compared to traveling all the way to the Dakotas and Denver not to mention the fact that if Murray (and possibly Tennessee State to the SWAC) follow the rest of the departed OVC members out the door WIU's budget would be right in line with the rest of the OVC when it is thoroughly outstripped by most of the members of the Summit League. It's the right move for both school and league.

After the awful display by the Saluki football team vs WIU this past Saturday, I'd be totally fine with them joining the OVC. Dawgs never play well in Macomb!

[VUGrad1314]

I don't see the OVC sliding south and east I see the opposite shift happening. I think the league is shifting west. The remaining members (EIU SEMO UT-Martin Tennessee Tech Tennessee State Murray State (for now) SIUE Morehead State) would seem to be a great fit for WIU especially compared to traveling all the way to the Dakotas and Denver not to mention the fact that if Murray (and possibly Tennessee State to the SWAC) follow the rest of the departed OVC members out the door WIU's budget would be right in line with the rest of the OVC when it is thoroughly outstripped by most of the members of the Summit League. It's the right move for both school and league.

But they're also looking at Delta State, West Florida, Valdosta State, UA-Huntsville and North Georgia. The league is just simply in shambles. I also think it's BS that inviting D2s is a get out of jail free card. We're going to get to 400 DIs in the next decade and, frankly, that's about 250 too many.

Frankly Western's best fit is to make the drop and join the GLVC but they're going to hang on, kicking and screaming, for as long as they can.

I can't see West Florida (who I think has a legitimate shot at the Atlantic Sun) taking an OVC invite. Those other ones are possible I guess because they have nowhere else to go. Of those I would guess North Georgia is the best fit (Valdosta is in the southern part of the state). I'm surprised they aren't just embracing and leaning into their new geography and looking at schools in Illinois and Missouri if any would move up or possibly UIndy in Indiana. Maybe none of them are interested.

[BCPanther]

I don't see the OVC sliding south and east I see the opposite shift happening. I think the league is shifting west. The remaining members (EIU SEMO UT-Martin Tennessee Tech Tennessee State Murray State (for now) SIUE Morehead State) would seem to be a great fit for WIU especially compared to traveling all the way to the Dakotas and Denver not to mention the fact that if Murray (and possibly Tennessee State to the SWAC) follow the rest of the departed OVC members out the door WIU's budget would be right in line with the rest of the OVC when it is thoroughly outstripped by most of the members of the Summit League. It's the right move for both school and league.

But they're also looking at Delta State, West Florida, Valdosta State, UA-Huntsville and North Georgia. The league is just simply in shambles. I also think it's BS that inviting D2s is a get out of jail free card. We're going to get to 400 DIs in the next decade and, frankly, that's about 250 too many.

Frankly Western's best fit is to make the drop and join the GLVC but they're going to hang on, kicking and screaming, for as long as they can.

I can't see West Florida (who I think has a legitimate shot at the Atlantic Sun) taking an OVC invite. Those other ones are possible I guess because they have nowhere else to go. Of those I would guess North Georgia is the best fit (Valdosta is in the southern part of the state). I'm surprised they aren't just embracing and leaning into their new geography and looking at schools in Illinois and Missouri if any would move up or possibly UIndy in Indiana. Maybe none of them are interested.

Now that, I totally agree with. There are some real candidates in the midwest/great lakes. GO GET THEM!

UIndy, Southern Indiana, Truman State, Lindenwood, etc...

[squirrel]

I don't see the OVC sliding south and east I see the opposite shift happening. I think the league is shifting west. The remaining members (EIU SEMO UT-Martin Tennessee Tech Tennessee State Murray State (for now) SIUE Morehead State) would seem to be a great fit for WIU especially compared to traveling all the way to the Dakotas and Denver not to mention the fact that if Murray (and possibly Tennessee State to the SWAC) follow the rest of the departed OVC members out the door WIU's budget would be right in line with the rest of the OVC when it is thoroughly outstripped by most of the members of the Summit League. It's the right move for both school and league.

But they're also looking at Delta State, West Florida, Valdosta State, UA-Huntsville and North Georgia. The league is just simply in shambles. I also think it's BS that inviting D2s is a get out of jail free card. We're going to get to 400 DIs in the next decade and, frankly, that's about 250 too many.

Frankly Western's best fit is to make the drop and join the GLVC but they're going to hang on, kicking and screaming, for as long as they can.

I can't see West Florida (who I think has a legitimate shot at the Atlantic Sun) taking an OVC invite. Those other ones are possible I guess because they have nowhere else to go. Of those I would guess North Georgia is the best fit (Valdosta is in the southern part of the state). I'm surprised they aren't just embracing and leaning into their new geography and looking at schools in Illinois and Missouri if any would move up or possibly UIndy in Indiana. Maybe none of them are interested.

The Atlantic Sun is likely targeting and the preferred option for that entire bunch. The A-Sun has a big plan to expand to 22 or more teams (on the backs of reclassifications) with several eventually joining Liberty and going FBS in football, and then the remainder being a new league entirely, but helping organize a variety of Olympic sports for a disparate collection of institutions who are otherwise scattered across a number of various leagues.

Southern Indiana has already announced it is reviewing the feasibility of going DI. UIndy would be another logical choice for the OVC, along with Lincoln Memorial, who could also be of possible interest to the A-Sun.

[VUGrad1314]

But they're also looking at Delta State, West Florida, Valdosta State, UA-Huntsville and North Georgia. The league is just simply in shambles. I also think it's BS that inviting D2s is a get out of jail free card. We're going to get to 400 DIs in the next decade and, frankly, that's about 250 too many.

Frankly Western's best fit is to make the drop and join the GLVC but they're going to hang on, kicking and screaming, for as long as they can.

I can't see West Florida (who I think has a legitimate shot at the Atlantic Sun) taking an OVC invite. Those other ones are possible I guess because they have nowhere else to go. Of those I would guess North Georgia is the best fit (Valdosta is in the southern part of the state). I'm surprised they aren't just embracing and leaning into their new geography and looking at schools in Illinois and Missouri if any would move up or possibly UIndy in Indiana. Maybe none of them are interested.

The Atlantic Sun is likely targeting and the preferred option for that entire bunch. The A-Sun has a big plan to expand to 22 or more teams (on the backs of reclassifications) with several eventually joining Liberty and going FBS in football, and then the remainder being a new league entirely, but helping organize a variety of Olympic sports for a disparate collection of institutions who are otherwise scattered across a number of various leagues.

Southern Indiana has already announced it is reviewing the feasibility of going DI. UIndy would be another logical choice for the OVC, along with Lincoln Memorial, who could also be of possible interest to the A-Sun.

I've heard the Lincoln Memorial to the OVC rumors. I have also heard about USI going D1 soon but I don't see why the A-Sun wouldn't be interested in them themselves. They're a really good D2 program (I know Lincoln Memorial is too) and would form a ready rivalry with Bellarmine which would help the A-Sun a lot in their growth plans. The OVC makes more sense geographically for USI but I think if they want to grow their programs they should go to the A-Sun if they have the opportunity.

[RacerJoeD]

Another school I have heard linked to the OVC is Grand Valley State. Tifwiw