MVC targeting Valpo & Murray State to create 11 team league

[RacerJoeD]

FargoBison, if we make it into the league, I'll buy you a drink on your first trip to Murray. Bourbon is our specialty!

[Murraygrad05]

I really hope valpo makes the MVC better, but in my biased opinion Murray State would of been the better add. We have more history of success and a fan base that is ready for something new. We are all passionate about our Racers. If the MVC wanted a team with better attendance , better facilities, a longer history of promoting power 5 coaches, and a team that would compete at the top of the MVC they would have picked Murray. I guess they didn't. I never wanted to get my hopes up on this because I didn't think there was a chance. From the outpouring of fans and administration in support of this i know there was a chance. Just didn't happen. Im really dissapointed.

I get your first 3 comparisons in favor of Murray State, but not that you would compete immediately better than Valpo. Our RPI over the last 7 years is higher than yours. We are 3-0 against Murray State in the last 5-6 seasons, including winning by 35 on a neutral floor, against one of your better teams in a long time. You can't say that we would not compete better than or any differently than Murray State, or blame that loss on needing to gel, as we were going through the same thing. I truly hope that you get in, so we can continue to beat you

I really truly believe that we have about the same basketball programs. The 35 point massacre we took in Nashville was not really a good showing but we had some injuries at the point of the season. I'm not making excuses as that day you were definitely the better team and just straight out whipped us. That ended up being a really good team. That same year we beat a good Western Kentucky team as well as Illinois St., SIU, and Evansville and ended the season ranked in the top 25 and a quaterfinal NIT visit and really should have been in the semi's.

But... the two seasons before we lost by a combined 5 points to Valpo. Yes a loss is a loss but playing at your arena is about as tough as playing at ours is. So basically I do not see how if they go just by basketball how you can lean toward one or the other. Our history is more decorated, but yes I will agree Valpo has had the upper hand recently. And like us, your conference hurts you.

Nothing is over until there is an official release made and whatever rumors are going around is just that. We are better across the board in sports but you never know. *ahem Loyola*...

[ValpoTX]

What sports specifically? I don't know much about Murray State in the other sports.

Our volleyball team beat Murray State 3-1 in 2014-2015, 3-0 in 2011-2012, and 3-0 in 2009-2010. Until this last season filled with injuries, we had something like 15 straight seasons of at least 20 wins, and have played in 5 or 6 HL tournament championship games in our 10 seasons. Yes, we lost all 5 or 6, but to solid Milwaukee and Cleveland State teams.

Our Men's Tennis team has won the last 2 regular season and tournament championships, and is 23-3 heading into our NCAA game against Michigan.

Our Softball team has been to 3 NCAA tourneys in the last 5 seasons, including a walk-off loss to #7 Louisville in the 2011-2012 tourney, after leading much of the game. We also won a regional game against a stout Central Michigan team in the 2012-2013 tourney.

Baseball went to the NCAA tourney in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, winning an NCAA regional game against Florida in the 2012-2013 season. We routinely beat a ranked team every season, and even went 1-3 (2 close losses) at MVC member and top 25 team Dallas Baptist last season. We went 2-1-1 at Murray State in 2011-2012.

Our men's and women's soccer teams consistently have a winning record, as well, with the men beating or tying ranked teams each season, before choking a bit in conference.

The only sports that we absolutely suck at are women's basketball, men's and women's swimming/diving, women's tennis, men's CC, and women's T&F/CC.

People should not discount our other sports programs as poor, unless they look at the actual results. Murray State probably does have the better all-around profile, but we aren't bad in everything outside of men's basketball...

Don't get me wrong, I like Murray State and have nothing against your program, but don't make it sound like the school would be heads and shoulders above Valpo in everything else.

[valleydays]

I don't pretend to be a historian, I was just looking at each website and what team sports at both schools did or are doing THIS season. Valpo looks to be a little down across the board in the "other" sports, while Murray had a volleyball conference title and softball looks to be doing well and appears generally OK everywhere else. But maybe Valpo, like Murray MBB, had a better record of success when you look past the current season. I didn't see any sport that Murray "absolutely sucked" in.

As I said, and most of us here at least agree, the MVC should bring in Valpo and Murray. And maybe they will. Plenty of conferences have an odd number of schools, so to use that as an excuse is just dumb.

[Bjhracer]

Maybe the MVC should have brought Valpo in in 2013 and Murray this year. Don't see many Loyola fans chiming in on here.

[mvfcfan]

Maybe the MVC should have brought Valpo in in 2013 and Murray this year. Don't see many Loyola fans chiming in on here.

[Lakesbison]

I'll wait for official word to get upset but if true this is a missed opportunity to boost our basketball strength for better seeds and more bids and weaken our peer conferences (OVC, Horizon).

I have no idea if it's the case but if the Dakotas vetoed Murray State over sour grapes then football just became a huge problem in this conference.

the MVFC didn't want UND, why the hell would they want Murray State? it's what's happening, believe it

[Redhawk]

I'll wait for official word to get upset but if true this is a missed opportunity to boost our basketball strength for better seeds and more bids and weaken our peer conferences (OVC, Horizon).

I have no idea if it's the case but if the Dakotas vetoed Murray State over sour grapes then football just became a huge problem in this conference.

the MVFC didn't want UND, why the hell would they want Murray State? it's what's happening, believe it

If the Dakota's really have blocked Murray State...then I hope you enjoy Summit League Football because that will happen soon too. Believe it!

[JBoss8393]

I think Mark Adams spoke way too soon. He might be connected in the valley but he can be annoying as hell. The basketball coaches might want to keep it 10 team league, but others sports would get a boost adding Valpo, Murray St and Milwaukee. Outside of Men's Tennis every conference sport allows for a conference championship. In fact, you could pull Men's Swimming and Diving back under the MVC banner. Currently, 3 teams swim in the MAC and ISUb swims in the OVC. It especially strengthens baseball and men's soccer

BB: 6 + Dallas Baptist (Valpo, MuSt, Mil)
M-CC: 8 (Valpo, MuSt, Mil)
M-Golf: 8 (Valpo, MuSt,)
M-Soc: 5 + CArk, SIU-E (Valpo, Mil)
M-Ten: 2 (Valpo)
M-S/D: 4 (Valpo, Mil)
SB: 9 (Valpo, MuSt, Mil)
VB: 9 (Valpo, MuSt, Mil)
W-CC: 9 (Valpo, MuSt, Mil)
W-Golf: 9 (Valpo, MuSt)
W-Soc: 7 (Valpo, MuSt, Mil)
W-Ten: 7 (Valpo, MuSt, Mil)
W-S/D: 6 + ArlLR(Valpo, Mil)

In addition, would the Missouri Valley ever consider breaking away from the Summit League regarding football? If the MVC were to add Murray State and keep YSU, they could move football under the MVC banner.

For Football you would have a seven team league:
ISUr
ISUb
MoSt
MuSt
SIU
UNI
YSU

In addition, you could ask Valpo and Drake to elevate their programs from the Pioneer creating a 9 team MVC for football. Thus leaving the Dakotas and WIU out in the wind. WIU would then be a perfect add for the OVC to replace Murray State.

[Bjhracer]

It was a coaches meeting yesterday. What exactly do the coaches decide in conference expansion? Was it a meeting with all coaches from all sports?