Possible Expansion Scenario

[mvfcfan]

The MAC is a step down in both basketball and football, so it would be realistic for Illinois State to go that route.

[Stickboy46]

The MAC is a step down in both basketball and football, so it would be realistic for Illinois State to go that route.

I know you are trying to take a stab at ISU, but if ISU and UNI bolted to the MAC, i'm not sure it would still be a step down. They will be the 2 carrying the MVC

[BirdsEyeView]

Let's just get this decision over with please. The posturing by the Milwaukee, NDSU, Valpo, and Murray fans selling a message board as to why they should be included (like we have any say in the matter) is getting old.

The Valpo & Murray fans have been great. Fit easily. Haven't had to do much selling at all.

Comparing 2 fan bases with a large presence here yet little selling their soul juxtaposed with another fan base with 1 member here and several 18 paragraph marathons tells you all you need to know.

Good point. I grouped them together as I was tired of reading their pressing into the conference. LakeBison was the main culprit of the agenda pushing.

At any rate, glad they have made a decision, albeit short-sighted IMO

[BirdsEyeView]

The MAC is a step down in both basketball and football, so it would be realistic for Illinois State to go that route.

How is the MAC a step down in Football? FBS conference vs FCS conference

[83Ace]

This league dropped the ball having Loyola join in the first place. Name any mid-major school in a major market to have a successful basketball program not named St. Joe's?

I'm waiting.

Butler?

Not mid-major anymore.

You sort of disproved your own point. A once-mediocre mid-major like Butler was able to have such sustained success that they are not even thought of as mid-major anymore. A similar example would be Xavier (they were not mediocre like Butler was in the 70's-80's, but were certainly a mid-major). I do agree that it can be more difficult in a saturated market where you have to compete with other college and even pro teams.

[mvfcfan]

The MAC is a step down in both basketball and football, so it would be realistic for Illinois State to go that route.

How is the MAC a step down in Football? FBS conference vs FCS conference

MVFC teams usually beat MAC teams whenever they play each other. Recent examples: ILST over EMU, INST over Ball St, WIU over NIU,

MAC games are typically played on Tuesday and Thursday nights that way people might actually watch their games. The MAC is the worst conference in FBS. They went 0-6 in bowl games. The Sun Belt is usually seen as worse but they went 4-2 in bowl games, so arguably they were even better than the MAC last season.

You will be spending a ton of money on a product that is bad and that no one cares about. At least in the MVFC if no one cares at least you are putting a good product on the field that can compete at your level. In the MAC you don't get that. The MAC is basically an FCS conference that plays in terrible bowl games. I'm pretty sure that the MVFC was rated higher than the MAC last year in the Sagarin as well.

MAC basketball is also pretty pathetic. They were a one bid league that had no shot of even getting a second bid.

But if you honestly think the MAC is so much better, have fun leaving. We'll all sit back and laugh at your over inflated egos. I guess someone has to take Wichita's spot as being the next team that "wants to leave". I mean we're 17 years into the 21st century and how many times has ILST made the NCAA tournament this century? Yeah that's what I thought (0).

[JBoss8393]

The post by the Mo State means 9 more months of speculation. Read that there was a push for Murray State. Belief is #12 was the sticking point. Apparently, Milwaukee and Omaha were not strong enough. Gets me thinking that for the MVC to move to 12 its going to take Belmont or St. Louis to pair up with Murray State. Keep watching.

[TheAsianSensation]

The post by the Mo State means 9 more months of speculation. Read that there was a push for Murray State. Belief is #12 was the sticking point. Apparently, Milwaukee and Omaha were not strong enough. Gets me thinking that for the MVC to move to 12 its going to take Belmont or St. Louis to pair up with Murray State. Keep watching.

Now that's interesting - are they ruling out a 11 team format right off the bat? Like they won't do 11 under any circumstances?

[tribecalledquest]

But if you honestly think the MAC is so much better, have fun leaving. We'll all sit back and laugh at your over inflated egos. I guess someone has to take Wichita's spot as being the next team that "wants to leave". I mean we're 17 years into the 21st century and how many times has ILST made the NCAA tournament this century? Yeah that's what I thought (0).

And if you honestly think I-AA football matters a whole heck of a lot in any of this then we too will sit back and laugh at your over inflated egos.

If teams see them selves as big time football schools then go big time, join the MAC or Sun Belt and move on.

[Khan4Cats]

But if you honestly think the MAC is so much better, have fun leaving. We'll all sit back and laugh at your over inflated egos. I guess someone has to take Wichita's spot as being the next team that "wants to leave". I mean we're 17 years into the 21st century and how many times has ILST made the NCAA tournament this century? Yeah that's what I thought (0).

And if you honestly think I-AA football matters a whole heck of a lot in any of this then we too will sit back and laugh at your over inflated egos.

If teams see them selves as big time football schools then go big time, join the MAC or Sun Belt and move on.

Patriot, Colonial, Southern. All conferences with FCS football. The Valley is starting to look a lot more like them than the other way around.