Missouri State leaving MVC for CUSA

[Birdfan2018]

The BIG Question is “Are we replacing Misery State in Football? If so, will that University be the same one that replaces Misery State in Basketball?

[MoneyPower]

I think we can nitpick schools to death - but to me the two that make the most sense are Milwaukee and St. Thomas. Major cities. Have all the sports. Milwaukee especially is in a great location for most everyone. St. Thomas has huge upside.

Not that I care, but UWM does not have football if that's what you meant. They're a good market and the school has an excellent location in MKE and great enrollment. They have always played second fiddle to Marquette. I could see them being OKAY as an add in the future. But standing pat makes more sense imo.

[ReZyNeZy]

The conference likely knew about this change a year in advance. That being said I know we discussed NKU as being a replacement. I would say Oakland and Youngstown, but those places are arenas that are about the same as the ARC and, well, there has already been various comments on the quality there. The best bet to poach someone would have to be NKU, Wright State, Milwaukee, or Green Bay. From a former Horizon League look, I would have to favorite NKU and Green Bay. They have both displayed constant strings of success. Good Arena Size and fan support as well. I would ad PFW onto this list, but they split time at Memorial Coliseum and their on campus gym the Gates Center.
\
EDIT AFTER READOING POST WHILE WRITING

Don't think UTA is a good pick. or St Thomas. Those Schools would be a HIKE for games. Id prefer staying in the mid west. The Most likely add is going to be Youngstown I believe. They are already in the MVCFC. Easy transition to being a full time MVC

This line of thinking is outdated and there's no way the Valley is considering any of those Horizon schools. (except maybe UWM). Location-wise they are not in regions that are massively populated. And if they are, they play third or fourth fiddle in their own regions. Importantly, schools like Oakland, NKU and Wright State have had nice seasons, but they aren't capable of an at-large bid. That's what set Murray State and Belmont apart at the time they were added.

Also, the geography and logistics are WAY OFF here. It is easier for me as Drake fan to get to a game at UST than it is at any other Valley school except UNI. But get this, it's easier and cheaper for me to get to a game at UTA than it is for games at 80% of other conference schools. DFW and MSP are major hubs with multiple daily flights to every Valley school with an airport. Athletic Departments know this fact as they are reminded of it when they are trying to get a volleyball team to a mid-week road match.

Finally, UST is one of two D1 schools in a state that a high population. And they just got a $75 million to build an arena. That is Notre Dame type money for a donation. That sets them apart. And UTA is in a massively populated area. Enrollment is a huge issue for a lot of schools. For Drake, even getting 10 more qualified students to come to Des Moines would be a big deal.

After doing more research into St. Thomas, I dont think they are a bad get. Arlington is still a bad get. They are simply too far away. Texas is a long ways outside the market range of the MVC

[MissouriValleyUnite]

I think we can nitpick schools to death - but to me the two that make the most sense are Milwaukee and St. Thomas. Major cities. Have all the sports. Milwaukee especially is in a great location for most everyone. St. Thomas has huge upside.

UTA, NKU, Wright State - none of those make as much sense really.

Only team I will add to this list is Green bay.

Green Bay is not within the realm of possibility. Not only do they not fit the market size MVC presidents are looking for to attract potential students, their athletic budget is one of the lowest in the country.

Not attacking them, they have a nice fan base. But that's not a realistic addition given the market and when the presidents run the budget numbers.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

The conference likely knew about this change a year in advance. That being said I know we discussed NKU as being a replacement. I would say Oakland and Youngstown, but those places are arenas that are about the same as the ARC and, well, there has already been various comments on the quality there. The best bet to poach someone would have to be NKU, Wright State, Milwaukee, or Green Bay. From a former Horizon League look, I would have to favorite NKU and Green Bay. They have both displayed constant strings of success. Good Arena Size and fan support as well. I would ad PFW onto this list, but they split time at Memorial Coliseum and their on campus gym the Gates Center.
\
EDIT AFTER READOING POST WHILE WRITING

Don't think UTA is a good pick. or St Thomas. Those Schools would be a HIKE for games. Id prefer staying in the mid west. The Most likely add is going to be Youngstown I believe. They are already in the MVCFC. Easy transition to being a full time MVC

This line of thinking is outdated and there's no way the Valley is considering any of those Horizon schools. (except maybe UWM). Location-wise they are not in regions that are massively populated. And if they are, they play third or fourth fiddle in their own regions. Importantly, schools like Oakland, NKU and Wright State have had nice seasons, but they aren't capable of an at-large bid. That's what set Murray State and Belmont apart at the time they were added.

Also, the geography and logistics are WAY OFF here. It is easier for me as Drake fan to get to a game at UST than it is at any other Valley school except UNI. But get this, it's easier and cheaper for me to get to a game at UTA than it is for games at 80% of other conference schools. DFW and MSP are major hubs with multiple daily flights to every Valley school with an airport. Athletic Departments know this fact as they are reminded of it when they are trying to get a volleyball team to a mid-week road match.

Finally, UST is one of two D1 schools in a state that a high population. And they just got a $75 million to build an arena. That is Notre Dame type money for a donation. That sets them apart. And UTA is in a massively populated area. Enrollment is a huge issue for a lot of schools. For Drake, even getting 10 more qualified students to come to Des Moines would be a big deal.

The bolded here in ColonialBulldog's post is what people need to pay attention to. The presidents simply aren't adding schools in Youngstown/Green Bay/Fort Wayne-sized markets given their mission to drive enrollment unless the school in question has the history and fan support of Murray St to make an exception. Those schools aren't even being entertained.

[TylerDurden]

Can we try our best to not turn this into the Horizon League 2.0? Pretty please.

We're far too close as it is.

[ReZyNeZy]

The bolded here in ColonialBulldog's post is what people need to pay attention to. The presidents simply aren't adding schools in Youngstown/Green Bay/Fort Wayne-sized markets given their mission to drive enrollment unless the school in question has the history and fan support of Murray St to make an exception. Those schools aren't even being entertained.

Then really there are only 3 candidates worth adding. UWM, St. Thomas., or NKU. All others are just not feasible because of market

[DUBulldog]

I know they are Midwest. Minneapolis just seems a little out of the way. I know Youngstown is also out of the way, but they are a member of MVCFC so I gave them an acception.

The campus at St Thomas is barely 3 hours from Cedar Falls. It's not out of the footprint at all.

Tell Belmont to take that drive and see how they feel. The small private guys have minimal travel budgets already.

Pretty sure there are plenty of flights from Nashville to Minneapolis

Drake and Valpo play in a football conference that is literally coast to coast, and they find a way. If Drake can fly 60-80 people to San Diego or Florida or New York a few times a year, I think Belmont could find a way to get 20-25 people from Nashville to Minneapolis.

[tribecalledquest]

For sure my first choice is St. Thomas. Milwaukee would be second.

[ReZyNeZy]

Pretty sure there are plenty of flights from Nashville to Minneapolis

Drake and Valpo play in a football conference that is literally coast to coast, and they find a way. If Drake can fly 60-80 people to San Diego or Florida or New York a few times a year, I think Belmont could find a way to get 20-25 people from Nashville to Minneapolis.

Yeah I just went over the Valpo travel budget and changed my thinking on st thomas.