Another Expansion/Realignment Thread

[VUGrad1314]

If we can walk out of this realignment cycle having held together and even picking up 2-4 of SDSU St Thomas NDSU and ORU I would be beyond thrilled. Even though in the grand scheme of things it probably won't matter because the Big XII potentially adding schools of Arizona's and UConn's caliber who have both been rumored additions) is exactly the kind of move a league like ours doesn't need to see when we're fighting for our tournament lives when it comes the at large pool. I still think adding quality schools is the play here to make the conference as strong as possible and prepare our champion for the rigors of postseason play as thoroughly as possible as well as for potentially stoking greater fan interest in conference play. But I do understand the geography\institutional arguments as well as the idea of possibly splitting a single bid 14-16 ways instead of 12 makes the idea unpalatable. I do think however if the realignment is large enough it will lead to an expansion of the postseason tournaments especially the NCAA Tournament but that probably doesn't benefit us no matter what we do. I am still pro-expansion but not as vociferously so because there is not a school with Murray State's resume available (ORU comes closest and has the biggest institutional hurdles) and only St Thomas (the least proven at the D1 level) can approximate Belmont's potential. But this would be about adding solid all around athletic departments for me because I for one enjoy all that the MVC is and has to offer not just Men's basketball so the idea of getting stronger in sports like Women's basketball volleyball baseball etc) is appealing to me. That's why the Dakotas but especially SDSU) are so high on my list and the Jackrabbits are my favorite potential addition.It feels like we'd be adding another Missouri State which would be great for the conference as a whole as the Bears are one of our best if not our best overall athletic departments.

[Chuck A]

VUGrad1314, if you don't stop talking about adding the Dakotas...! Come on! I'm sure you've read the posts in this thread. The XDSUs have more negative posts against their inclusion than positive ones. They are not a hotbed for regular students and the Presidents have to be concerned about dwindling student bodies and tuition payments.

[TBS_20]

Texas-Arlington

[VUGrad1314]

VUGrad1314, if you don't stop talking about adding the Dakotas...! Come on! I'm sure you've read the posts in this thread. The XDSUs have more negative posts against their inclusion than positive ones. They are not a hotbed for regular students and the Presidents have to be concerned about dwindling student bodies and tuition payments.

I am a fan first and foremost and the identity of this conference is strong programs that take on all comers but are overlooked primarily based on their location. I would rather see my team go to Brookings, South Dakota and play a great program in front of passionate fans than go to some large city where no one cares and play an lesser program than they could play in the former scenario. At our level realignment should be about taking the best programs. Period. Why? Iron sharpens iron and the more prepared our representative(s) are for the tournament the more likely they are to win. The more they win the more money our athletic departments get and the more interest there is in the schools that win and to a lesser extent the MVC at large. It also helps the MVC improve its negotiating position in a media deal. A handful of extra houses in a large city means less than higher quality games and better metrics and more high profile wins for the league. My position remains unmoved and will remain unmoved. Any expansion should be about expanding league competitiveness on a national level or as in the case of UIC and St Thomas a program that has legitimate potential to do that. I do not see the same potential in programs like Milwaukee or NKU or KC or even Wright State (as much as that one pains me because they are another really solid all around athletic department).

[BCPanther]

VUGrad1314, if you don't stop talking about adding the Dakotas...! Come on! I'm sure you've read the posts in this thread. The XDSUs have more negative posts against their inclusion than positive ones. They are not a hotbed for regular students and the Presidents have to be concerned about dwindling student bodies and tuition payments.

I am a fan first and foremost and the identity of this conference is strong programs that take on all comers but are overlooked primarily based on their location. I would rather see my team go to Brookings, South Dakota and play a great program in front of passionate fans than go to some large city where no one cares and play an lesser program than they could play in the former scenario. At our level realignment should be about taking the best programs. Period. Why? Iron sharpens iron and the more prepared our representative(s) are for the tournament the more likely they are to win. The more they win the more money our athletic departments get and the more interest there is in the schools that win and to a lesser extent the MVC at large. It also helps the MVC improve its negotiating position in a media deal. A handful of extra houses in a large city means less than higher quality games and better metrics and more high profile wins for the league. My position remains unmoved and will remain unmoved. Any expansion should be about expanding league competitiveness on a national level or as in the case of UIC and St Thomas a program that has legitimate potential to do that. I do not see the same potential in programs like Milwaukee or NKU or KC or even Wright State (as much as that one pains me because they are another really solid all around athletic department).

Except we don't have a league if schools can't keep their doors open.

As a fan of the school that burns the most jet fuel in the league, I have no desire to burn even more to send our teams to places where there are no people especially the one in Fargo who have a history of trying to bully and force every issue to go their way in every league they've been in. They think they're Texas.

[TBS_20]

Denver

[squirrel]

Denver

Yep. Denver is a school with an endowment that is close to having a b in front of -illion.

[unipanther99]

The problem with the University of Denver is that it's an hour drive to the airport.

[TBS_20]

Hello Murray state

[IllinoisState]

The problem with the University of Denver is that it's an hour drive to the airport.

I'd say the real problem is that the only sport they really care about is hockey.