Loyola Leaving for A-10

[Blers42]

Y'all this wouldn't have been leaked to Norlander if it weren't happening.

I mean, the pearl clutching doesn't do any good. Arlington has said they're ready to spend and we're obviously requiring KC to show it.

The sky isn't falling. Belmont and Murray are both better historically than Loyola. We're going to be fine.

There will continue to not be much difference between the A10 and the Valley, they just have the advantage of that east coast media machine.

I love the Valley and will always be a fan, I'm happy about the move to the A10 but I will miss the valley matchups and Arch Madness. With that being said, you can't say in recent history that there hasn't been much of a difference between the A10 and the Valley.

- 24 at large bids for the A10 in the last 10 years
- 5 at large bids for the MVC in the last 10 years

[TylerDurden]

This move is about institutional alignment first and foremost, and isn't all that surprising - though I, like many of you, hoped that it would not have happened so soon.

Understandably, we tend to look at things from an athletics perspective on this board, but moves like this are only secondarily (if that) about athletics/basketball. It's the same line of thinking for SLU and why they scoff at the Valley.

For those who may not be aware, the A10 has:
Fordham (Jesuit)
La Salle (Catholic)
St. Bonaventure (Catholic)
St. Joseph's (Jesuit)
SLU (Jesuit)
Dayton (Catholic)
Duquesne (Catholic)

Plus:
Davidson (Presbyterian)
George Washington (Private - non-sectarian)
Richmond (Private - non-sectarian)

Loyola (and every other Jesuit/Catholic school) would love to be in the Big East, but with DePaul and Marquette already there, I'm not sure that's a realistic option without some additional movement from above (not a God joke). That leaves the A10 as the next-best option.

The question is who fills the void? Who is willing and able to invest to take control of the league?

[municup14]

Wichita St. moving hasn't been real beneficial to them so far.Sometime it's
better being a big fish in a small pond and not just another fish in the ocean.

[Kyle_Saluki_17]

Wichita St. moving hasn't been real beneficial to them so far.Sometime it's
better being a big fish in a small pond and not just another fish in the ocean.

Yes but at least Loyola's move makes more sense. They are moving to a conference with basketball focused athletic departments and fit institutionally. Wichita State moved to a football focused conference and is now paying the price for it (or at least will in a few years).

[BEARZ77]

MSU is a large State University approaching 30,000 students. It has great facilities, a nationally ranked football team, a nationally ranked soccer team, a nationally ranked hockey team and a nationally ranked WBB team. Think what you want, but we will have several opportunities to move if we chose to. I really think[ and I'm not saying we will get that chance] that the Administration wants an AAC bid down the line if WSU and Tulsa remain part of that conference. Just makes sense , but who know at this point. Congrats to Loyola, a sensible move for them that might ultimately put them in the BE discussion.[/quote]

Of those close to 30,000 students you mention, approximately how many were at the game vs UNI? Win a couple of FCS National Championships and then we'll discuss further a move for Da Bearz.[/quote]

9000, but if you think that's the criteria that will fuel a move,or if you think winning a FCS championship is a prerequisite, then I think you're a bit naive about the process. But think what you like; I'm fine if we stay in the Valley, I'm a life long Valley fan and I'm old as dirt, but our administration is serious and have, and continue to, put the pieces in place to put us in position to move if the right situation come along. Just the facts.

[bradley_townie]

Y'all this wouldn't have been leaked to Norlander if it weren't happening.

I mean, the pearl clutching doesn't do any good. Arlington has said they're ready to spend and we're obviously requiring KC to show it.

The sky isn't falling. Belmont and Murray are both better historically than Loyola. We're going to be fine.

There will continue to not be much difference between the A10 and the Valley, they just have the advantage of that east coast media machine.

I love the Valley and will always be a fan, I'm happy about the move to the A10 but I will miss the valley matchups and Arch Madness. With that being said, you can't say in recent history that there hasn't been much of a difference between the A10 and the Valley.

- 24 at large bids for the A10 in the last 10 years
- 5 at large bids for the MVC in the last 10 years

There are more A10 schools, so not exactly apples to apples. Yes, the A10 is better but not significantly. I do not think a league with Loyola, Belmont, UNI, Drake, and Missouri State is that far off from today's A10 competition wise.

[BCPanther]

Oh yeah, this move makes WAY more sense than Wichita's. Not even close.

Fact of the matter is that we can't offer exposure in Philadelphia, New York, DC and Pittsburgh and the opportunity to be with other Jesuit institutions.

This move makes all the sense in the world for Loyola and I hope they do well.

[BCPanther]

You could even just not invite 13th place.

We aren't some low rent low-major. Everybody goes.

[MSUBear42]

Of those close to 30,000 students you mention, approximately how many were at the game vs UNI? Win a couple of FCS National Championships and then we'll discuss further a move for Da Bearz.[/quote]

This is so strange to me, what's up with attacking our crowd of 9,100 on a day with wind chills below freezing? As far as I could see, the 9,100 was one of the 5 largest FCS crowds this past weekend.

It is also an 65% increase over our average November crowd since 2013. Amazing what winning can do.

[IllinoisState]

I don't get how those in charge of the private schools can say that the public schools might take the conference in a direction they don't want, which hasn't happened, and then say they want "big market teams" and then go suggest 2 of the worst possible.

I would argue Kansas City is already in or just outside the MVC's footprint and they are the worst suggested team and then UTA doesn't add much in sports and there are other big markets they could tap into with better teams. Adding a team without a big following in Texas is not a cure all for enrollment and adding better players.