Updated 1/6/18: MVC Expansion Poll

[LMS]

Dayton is far more logical

If you buy the assertion that the TV networks have a hand in these decisions, most suggest that SLU is more attractive to the Big East than Dayton is. St Louis helps bridge the league to Creighton whereas Dayton is close to Cincinnati where Xavier is. Plenty of people think XU would block Dayton from ever being added and I think that’s probably correct.

[IWokeUpLikeThis]

UCONN going to the Big East as the sole addition and all of the possible instability in the A10 this could create might just MIGHT shake St Louis loose for us. Belmont isn't far enough west to be of much help if we're looking for a western school. I REALLY hope it's not ORU or UALR or UMKC (Who just went to the SL so I doubt it's them). If we're focused only on adding western schools we need to add Murray State only unless St Louis is available or something crazy happens like a team like Air Force needs a basketball home. They're not a great program but it's really good for the Valley's prestige to have them as an Olympic member. Hoping against hope that South Dakota State would consider themselves for MVC membership if we're looking west but that seems really unlikely.

Air Force would never join the MVC (there are more geographically fit leagues to park their sports), but it would be pretty cool.

Air Force tried joining MVC in 2011 but under different leadership when Nebraska/Kansas connected MVC to Colorado.
https://www.denverpost.com/2011/10/08/m ... -big-east/

[mvfcfan]

If Jacksonville State was closer to the MVC footprint I'd strongly vouch for them.

Their basketball has been really good the past few years. Honestly they were more talented than Murray State and Belmont this past season. Unfortunately they played up to the competition and down to the competition. They wen't 3-0 against Belmont (played Belmont twice) and Murray State during the regular season. I thought they were going to beat the Racers in Evansville too during the tournament. Had they not lost to either UTM or EKU they would have been the #1 seed in the OVC tournament this past season.

Their football has been in the top 10 every season for the past 8 years at least. That might be viewed as a negative to some on here, but it's yet another sport they are good at.

Their baseball team also just won the OVC regular and tournament championships this past season and made it to the regional finals.

It's too bad they aren't farther north. I guess we were interested in UAB after they dropped football, but regardless I think Alabama is too far.

[RacerJoeD]

JSU football is legit, but their basketball is more tenuous than any other in the OVC. They have only had minor recent success, they have a very small arena and while the fans flock for football, basketball doesn’t get the same amount of love.

[uniguy]

UCONN going to the Big East as the sole addition and all of the possible instability in the A10 this could create might just MIGHT shake St Louis loose for us. Belmont isn't far enough west to be of much help if we're looking for a western school. I REALLY hope it's not ORU or UALR or UMKC (Who just went to the SL so I doubt it's them). If we're focused only on adding western schools we need to add Murray State only unless St Louis is available or something crazy happens like a team like Air Force needs a basketball home. They're not a great program but it's really good for the Valley's prestige to have them as an Olympic member. Hoping against hope that South Dakota State would consider themselves for MVC membership if we're looking west but that seems really unlikely.

Air Force would never join the MVC (there are more geographically fit leagues to park their sports), but it would be pretty cool.

Air Force tried joining MVC in 2011 but under different leadership when Nebraska/Kansas connected MVC to Colorado.
https://www.denverpost.com/2011/10/08/m ... -big-east/

Huh. The more you know.

[Mikovio]

If we're to add a Jacksonville I'd prefer it to be of the Florida variety.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Jacksonville’s retro uniforms are Drake/ISUb-esque legendary.

[VUGrad1314]

I know I have advocated for expansion based on the prospects for bids,,, But let's forget bids for one second... With the Big Ten ACC and Big East all going to 20 by next year and the PAC 12 and SEC (I'm sure) exploring the idea what is the rational SCHEDULE BASED argument for not adding Murray State to the league? Why shouldn't we boost the league's collective schedule strength by adding a quality program?

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Because we have the only conference that are bitches about travel in an 11 team league. Conferences and schools with far less money can handle it but not the MVC. It's the same mentality that is holding the MVC back in other areas. They view themselves as right after the AAC. The 8th best conference. They are blind to the fact that they are falling to the mid teenss due to poor management.

[Drakey]

I know I have advocated for expansion based on the prospects for bids,,, But let's forget bids for one second... With the Big Ten ACC and Big East all going to 20 by next year and the PAC 12 and SEC (I'm sure) exploring the idea what is the rational SCHEDULE BASED argument for not adding Murray State to the league? Why shouldn't we boost the league's collective schedule strength by adding a quality program?

The more it becomes apparent what the power 5 conferences are doing, the more sense it makes to add every decent program you can come up with. Eventually it might be best to play 24 or 26 conference games. It is not going to be any more disadvantageous then what is happening currently.