REPORT: Murray to the Valley?

[valleydays]

In 2017 it was “if Murray can do A, B, C, And D they are a shoe-in…”. We did all those and the MVC came back with a “yea but we’ve altered the deal and added an E so no.” The E was to get Belmont to come along. E has happened now and now it’s “yea, but we added an F now…”

I hope there are still talks going on in the background but with every “yea, but…” I see or read it’s very disheartening.

But, really, who is saying this? It doesn't really matter if message board posters are saying these things. The thing is, the Missouri Valley, Murray State, the OVC ... they are saying NOTHING. Sure, we saw some cryptic quotes out of a Missouri Valley school president and Murray State's AD which gave us a little hope ... and we saw Matt Jones' tweet, which he hasn't followed up on ... but nothing over the last several weeks.

For all we know, Murray State isn't seriously looking to move (insane, if so). For all we know, the MVC isn't wanting to expand past Belmont (shortsighted, if so). OR, maybe Murray and the MVC have already made an agreement but can't -- for whatever reason -- say anything right now.

It's fun to speculate but, in reality, WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

[BCPanther]

That's a good point. There's the very real possibility that it's done but Murray wants to wait until after the school year so that the OVC can't f*** with their auto-bid possibilities.

Now, I've heard differently from UNI people but it's certainly a possibility.

Could also be a situation where there's no hurry because they aren't joining the league until 23-24 or 24-25 to lessen exit fees. I would imagine Murray's cash on hand situation is quite a bit different than Belmont's.

Or the league's gone all crazy and they announce that we've added Northeastern out of nowhere...

[BEARZ77]

I'd like to thank Bradley and Drake for insisting on a private in 2017 rather than taking the best available option (after Belmont said no). No offense VU, you're a great dude.

There's Murray hesitancy and it's not just SIU, it's UNI and Missouri State not wanting to be tied to the Dakotas in football in perpetuity. The East Division would be laughably easy in comparison to a 4 Dakotas, UNI, MSU division that would end up cannibalizing itself.

We're all basketball schools but those of us that play football have to be good there in order to keep sponsorship and donation money moving.

In fairness, at the time Valpo was coming off 2 NCAAs and 2 NITs the previous 5 years.

Football is a money pit and the best thing Wichita ever did was disband their program. What do the best midmajors this century have in common? They either don't have football or don't emphasize it. Gonzaga, Creighton, Butler, Wichita, Loyola, Belmont. If Gonzaga had a football program to suck out revenues from its athletic dept it wouldn't be where it is today. Programs like Ohio State and Michigan can be good at both. Not at our level. If you chase both you'll get mediocrity.

All those you mention are privates except WSU; big difference. UNI doesn't have any problem being good at both, Memphis doesn't, New Mexico State plays both, San Diego St plays both, South Dakota St has excelled at both. I don't disagree about football being a money pit, but when you talk to those representing large state universities, they all see football as an integral part of that image.

[Murraygrad05]

In 2017 it was “if Murray can do A, B, C, And D they are a shoe-in…”. We did all those and the MVC came back with a “yea but we’ve altered the deal and added an E so no.” The E was to get Belmont to come along. E has happened now and now it’s “yea, but we added an F now…”

I hope there are still talks going on in the background but with every “yea, but…” I see or read it’s very disheartening.

But, really, who is saying this? It doesn't really matter if message board posters are saying these things. The thing is, the Missouri Valley, Murray State, the OVC ... they are saying NOTHING. Sure, we saw some cryptic quotes out of a Missouri Valley school president and Murray State's AD which gave us a little hope ... and we saw Matt Jones' tweet, which he hasn't followed up on ... but nothing over the last several weeks.

For all we know, Murray State isn't seriously looking to move (insane, if so). For all we know, the MVC isn't wanting to expand past Belmont (shortsighted, if so). OR, maybe Murray and the MVC have already made an agreement but can't -- for whatever reason -- say anything right now.

It's fun to speculate but, in reality, WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

I’ll agree with this. My post was just a rant I had to get out. I would still love to cling on to the hope that something is brewing in the cellar that is about to come out.

That's a good point. There's the very real possibility that it's done but Murray wants to wait until after the school year so that the OVC can't f*** with their auto-bid possibilities.

Now, I've heard differently from UNI people but it's certainly a possibility.

Could also be a situation where there's no hurry because they aren't joining the league until 23-24 or 24-25 to lessen exit fees. I would imagine Murray's cash on hand situation is quite a bit different than Belmont's.

Or the league's gone all crazy and they announce that we've added Northeastern out of nowhere...

Considering in 2017 we were just awaiting the “come on over”, had already voted to move and everything, I don’t think the exit fee is the hold up. Or we can just pull an EKU or Jacksonville game and refuse to pay it.

[smidge34]

Murray State’s Foundation has a nice account balance, money isn’t the holdup.

[VUGrad1314]

Sounds like Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State could be moving to the MAC very soon. If that's the case the impetus to add Murray State to the MVC will and should be very strong. A conference in our general neighborhood will have added two solid programs to its ranks (yes I know Middle Tennessee is down but look where they were when they had a decent coach additionally the decreased travel expenditures for them (I have to believe going to Michigan and Ohio would cost less than going to Louisiana and Texas for them though that benefit is less clear cut than it is for WKU to be sure) should help their program. Even with the Belmont addition I would feel like the MAC+WKU and MTSU would be closer to where the MVC is than our stated goal of being the seventh best conference. Hopefully we'll start to hear something when all the FBS realignment dies down but the lack of extra opened affiliate slots in other FCS conferences is a bit disconcerting if football really is the holdup.

[squirrel]

It's possible a bunch of schools join the MAC in the short-term, only with the intent to split and form a new league long-term. . .similar to when a bunch of schools split from the WAC to form the Mountain West. The idea being that there are continuity rules, that members must have been together in the same league for a certain period of time.

I could see some of the more football-oriented schools doing something like that.

UMass (and maybe Temple, if they are interested in the long-term move), Buffalo, Toledo, Bowling Green etc. . .

Would be a league with teams in Chicago, Boston and Philly (if Temple would do it) markets.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Continuity rules were removed from the DI manual circa 2011 during the WAC raid.

[VUGrad1314]

In my best Professor Hubert Farnsworth from Futurama voice: Good news everyone!

Matt Brown who has been really on it this realignment cycle (had the Belmont news before pretty much everyone for instance) has said that the WAC is expected to vote on adding McNeese State and University of the Incarnate Word both Southland members on Tuesday. That would leave the Southland very desperate for immediate membership. Murray State football affiliation and MVC invite incoming? (He hasn't said anything about Murray State partnering with the Southland that is my own speculation but it WOULD make sense if Murray State is willing to make the commitment).

https://csnbbs.com/thread-919257-page-21.html

[IllinoisState]

In my best Professor Hubert Farnsworth from Futurama voice: Good news everyone!

Matt Brown who has been really on it this realignment cycle (had the Belmont news before pretty much everyone for instance) has said that the WAC is expected to vote on adding McNeese State and University of the Incarnate Word both Southland members on Tuesday. That would leave the Southland very desperate for immediate membership. Murray State football affiliation and MVC invite incoming? (He hasn't said anything about Murray State partnering with the Southland that is my own speculation but it WOULD make sense if Murray State is willing to make the commitment).

https://csnbbs.com/thread-919257-page-21.html

Unless it directly involves Murray State to the MVC I would say that it doesn't affect Murray State going to the MVC. And I mean this in a serious way.