dbackjon wrote:clenz wrote:Sounds as though Denver is now out of the equation.....
I'm going to alter my list slightly, due to an omission earlier....this is a combination of who I want to see and who i think will happen
1. Belmont - really seems to be a lock at this point, multiple sources are saying it to be the case.
2. Murray State - their fan board didn't seem excited about the travel to to the MVC, don't know about their admin.
3a. Valpo - seems to be thrown out more and more?
3b. Detriot - Likely more popular with fans than Valpo
3C. ORU - Not really popular, but would work
6. UW-M - More attractive than the Dakota's - nothing on the above mentioned though
Of course if Dayton can be sweet talked...then move everyone down a spot.
Belmont - NAIA school 12 years ago - growing rapidly now that they have decoupled from the Southern Baptist Convention - big city, but really stretches the footprint.
Murray State - consistantly good, basketball crazy. Pain in the ass to get too. Where to put football?
Valpo - what have they done post Drew?
Detroit/ORU/UMW - don't see the attraction.
1. Belmont is 23-6 this year, 26-7 last year, 30-4 2 years ago, 19-12, 19-12, 24-9, 22-9, 20-10, 14-16, and 20-10 going back to the 03-04 season. Now, they haven't played the quality conference that they will have in the MVC but they have shown they can be very good and very consistent. The footprint does stretch, but for a private, basketball, school that is okay. Still closer to every MVC school than NDSU except for UNI/Drake (taking Creighton out of the picture). Less than 4/5 hours by car for almost every eastern MVC school.
2. Football may be a hold up, but I'd bet the OVC would keep them for football - as the MVC doesn't have football. The MVFC has zero interest in more schools right now. Football doesn't matter to the MVC. By pain in the ass to get too you mean within a couple hours of almost half of the MVC, and closer than Belmont? It's literally 15 miles from Evansville campus to Murray States campus.....just across the river/boarder. Not any harder to get to than Evanvsville...good try though. If football does become a concern don't be shocked to see YSU *encouraged* to find a new home and replaced with MSU. Though the travel costs of going to NDSU, SDSU, and USD may keep them from moving to the MVFC - there's that damn Dakota's are a long fucking way away problem again.
3. Valpo is 24-7 this year with a top 60 RPI, playing in the conference title game this year. 20-11 last year with post season, 22-11 with post season, 19-12 as well. They struggeled right after the Bryce Drew player years. However, the last 3 years have been very good for Valpo, and looks like it's going to continue that way with Bryce Drew as HC. Well within the footprint as they are less than an hour east of Chicago...and to be honest with where Chicago really ends they are less than a half hour outside.
The other 3 I don't see much of it either. UW-M is right in the footprint and that's about it...but it's a basketball school that the conference doesn't have to worry about where it's loyalties within the AD lay.
Detroit gets a lot more love from other MVC fans than I give them. The love is coming from somewhere, I don't know where though.
ORU gives us a southern partner for WSU, and is a solid program. The religion piece doesn't bother the MVC...the extreme part of it may.
It really sounds like it's Belmont at this point though.
I'll also add the opinion of NAU fans that live in Phoenix are taken very seriously by commissioner Elgin though.