30 MVC games to be aired on ESPN networks

[TheAsianSensation]

MAC currently has 13 teams because of Temple's bolting. They have a vacancy.

I think the relative values of UNI, MSU, and ISU are close enough such that I think the MAC would take first available. However, I think an eastern team is more in their interests than the midwest. If James Madison or Delaware ever gets their act together and tells the MAC they're almost ready, they'll ignore all 3 of UNI, MSU, and ISU.

If I were ranking them on market, it's probably 1) MIssouri St, 2) Illinois St, 3) Northern Iowa in preference. I think getting into Missouri and having that state open up for recruiting and exposure if slightly more beneficial than downstate Illinois or Iowa, everything else being equal. And if I'm a TV exec, I might care slightly about a MSU or ISU game on a Wednesday night in the middle of the season than I would a game in Iowa.

Based on on-field productivity, it's probably 1) Northern Iowa, 2) Illinois St, 3) Missouri St. Which matters a bit. Not a lot, but a bit. MAC doesn't want a team limping to the barn at 2-10 every year if it can help it. But this ranking doesn't matter as much as the other one.

[valleychamp]

Maybe you guys can do it, but Illinois State is much more attractive and so is Missouri State.

In what possible way are they more attractive? Much, much worse football programs and they too are both 2nd-3rd fiddle in their own states. What's the difference? In that regard, UNI is the far superior option. Sure, Springfield and Bloomington are slightly bigger communities. But we are still talking about mid-major media markets going to another mid-major conference. The media/TV markets argument is way overblown for schools our size. Much more relevant with all of the major college realignment with the B10 and what not these last few years because of the major TV contracts, than it is with MVC, MAC, CUSA level conferences.

You obviously don't realize that it is not about winning games. It is about winning contracts. ISUr and MSU put 2 times the alumni out every year than UNI does. Why would any school that is going to come in and weigh them down from a TV contract perspective? UNI Is one of the least desirable schools in the MVC. they are not going anywhere.

Yeah, they are the same alumni that don't give a crap about their football programs right now.

I love this faulty notion that MSU and Ill St can miraculously attract a bunch of attention and money.

[MoValley John]

MAC currently has 13 teams because of Temple's bolting. They have a vacancy.

I think the relative values of UNI, MSU, and ISU are close enough such that I think the MAC would take first available. However, I think an eastern team is more in their interests than the midwest. If James Madison or Delaware ever gets their act together and tells the MAC they're almost ready, they'll ignore all 3 of UNI, MSU, and ISU.

If I were ranking them on market, it's probably 1) MIssouri St, 2) Illinois St, 3) Northern Iowa in preference. I think getting into Missouri and having that state open up for recruiting and exposure if slightly more beneficial than downstate Illinois or Iowa, everything else being equal. And if I'm a TV exec, I might care slightly about a MSU or ISU game on a Wednesday night in the middle of the season than I would a game in Iowa.

Based on on-field productivity, it's probably 1) Northern Iowa, 2) Illinois St, 3) Missouri St. Which matters a bit. Not a lot, but a bit. MAC doesn't want a team limping to the barn at 2-10 every year if it can help it. But this ranking doesn't matter as much as the other one.

Very well put. And as some here know, I have both bought and sold media for More than 20 years. I tried to dumb it down, asking the question, Other than a winning football program, what does does UNI bring to the Table? You very politely giftwrapped the answer, not a whole lot.

I know some UNI fans will take it as a dig, but it isn't, UNI offers the MAC little. They are good enough to steal bowl bids and an occasional NCAA basketball bid, but that won't bring in any more revenue, or potential revenue than they currently get. Therefore, each current member gets less money and fewer bowls and NCAA bids.

Another concern would be travel. UNI is way out of the way. Missouri State is further out yet, but you are in a more populated area, with more tv's and many more potential recruits.

I respect what UNI has done, they are a very well run program, but at the end of the day, they are out in the middle of nowhere and aren't enhancing the conference. If being a solid program mattered that much, then the Dakota schools would be 1-A Right now. On the flipside, you wouldn't see all the Texas and Florida schools jump. USF, FIA, UCF, Texas State? No way based on their history were they 1-A, but they had all of the intangibles that UNI doesn't.

[MoValley John]

I love this faulty notion that MSU and Ill St can miraculously attract a bunch of attention and money.

Nobody is saying they will, but they have more potential. The potential upside to either of those schools is much greater than UNI's. And yes, Missouri State fans will attest to the fact that I don't throw credit to their school very often. The MAC isn't a great conference, but you could sell ESPN on the potential of drawing viewers in Kansas City and St. Louis to a Wednesday night game featuring the only other 1-A school in the state. Mediocre numbers in those markets, plus bigger numbers in Springfield equals more advertising revenue than UNI can deliver. Ever.

[TheAsianSensation]

Very well put. And as some here know, I have both bought and sold media for More than 20 years. I tried to dumb it down, asking the question, Other than a winning football program, what does does UNI bring to the Table? You very politely giftwrapped the answer, not a whole lot.

I know some UNI fans will take it as a dig, but it isn't, UNI offers the MAC little. They are good enough to steal bowl bids and an occasional NCAA basketball bid, but that won't bring in any more revenue, or potential revenue than they currently get. Therefore, each current member gets less money and fewer bowls and NCAA bids.

Another concern would be travel. UNI is way out of the way. Missouri State is further out yet, but you are in a more populated area, with more tv's and many more potential recruits.

I respect what UNI has done, they are a very well run program, but at the end of the day, they are out in the middle of nowhere and aren't enhancing the conference. If being a solid program mattered that much, then the Dakota schools would be 1-A Right now. On the flipside, you wouldn't see all the Texas and Florida schools jump. USF, FIA, UCF, Texas State? No way based on their history were they 1-A, but they had all of the intangibles that UNI doesn't.

I wouldn't necessary say they bring no revenue, but it would be less than Missouri St or Illinois St, IMO. I also think travel is a wash for everybody. I don't think anyone but *NIU is bussing to any of the sites.

*(does this board autocorrect Northern Illinois' abbreviation into Northern Iowa's? )

Also, to be fair, they offer some basketball value. Have you seen the MAC West lately? They could make the NCAA tourney every other year by just trucking that entire division. But the MAC doesn't care about basketball, given how much they've let their product erode the last decade.

[valleychamp]

UNI has said that they are not interested in leaving the Valley. If UNI were to ever make a football move, it will likely be a football only move. At least, under ideal circumstances.

[uniftw]

UNI has said that they are not interested in leaving the Valley. If UNI were to ever make a football move, it will likely be a football only move. At least, under ideal circumstances.

A billion times this....which is why I don't understand the "market" issue nearly as much as people want to push it.

The MAC is at 13 - wants 14 soon.....and are on record saying that they want to get to 18 not too long after getting to 14. That leaves 5 spots open - Illinois State, UNI, Missouri State, James Madison, Delaware, and Appalachian State are really the "top" contenders for it, with Liberty, Stony Brook, Georgia Southern, Elon, and William and Mary all looking at FBS moves as well. . App State and Missouri State might be outside of their wanted footprint.


Here is a map of the listed schools that are likely "on the short list".




Illinois State fits well in the footprint, UNI really isn't that far out of it, Delaware fits only because of UMASS, JMU, MSU, and ASU are are just as outside (if not more) than UNI.


App State and Georgia Southern are likely Sun Belt bound at some point.
William and Mary is a ways from being "Ready"
Elon is dreaming at this point
I don't see many FBS conferences touching Liberty for a couple reasons that have zero to do with football
Stony Brook is a LONG ways away, but has said they want too at some point.


Also, UNI currently being an affiliate member in wrestling doesn't hurt....It might not help a ton, but it won't hurt.

[DoubleJayAlum]

UNI has said that they are not interested in leaving the Valley. If UNI were to ever make a football move, it will likely be a football only move. At least, under ideal circumstances.

If UNI moving causes instability within the MVFC, I'd have no problem with the MVC telling NIU that you if move FB, you move everything. They already don't play soccer or baseball, so as far as other spectator men's sports go, they don't really offer the MVC anything outside of basketball. I'd be more concerned with losing certain other MVC FB playing schools than I would UNI as I think those other schools bring a lot more to the table. I also doubt UNI could afford the additional travel to move their entire athletic department to the MAC, although I admit I don't know the full financial impact of the additional travel.

I always found it a bit ironic when UNI posters were weighing in on the Evansville to the Horizon thread with suggestions that Evansville didn't present any value to the MVC, despite the fact that UNI's attendance was less than Evansville's.

[DoubleJayAlum]

*(does this board autocorrect Northern Illinois' abbreviation into Northern Iowa's? )

Pathetic. I knew the UNI fans were an insecure whiny lot, but throwing a fit to the extent that they wanted this autocorrected would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.

[MVCfans]

*(does this board autocorrect Northern Illinois' abbreviation into Northern Iowa's? )

Pathetic. I knew the UNI fans were an insecure whiny lot, but throwing a fit to the extent that they wanted this autocorrected would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.

There was a poster (who no longer resides here) who used *NI U as a way to antagonize UNI fans, so we just made it auto correct. I can change it back if anyone wants me to.