http://www.mvc-sports.com/softball/news/...y-chicago/

Horizon League, you're on the clock...

Interesting move by Loyola. Wonder if Missouri State will leave to go FBS in the Sun Belt soon?

Remember, the Horizon League actually needs two since Butler has not been replaced.

(04-20-2013 01:45 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Interesting move by Loyola. Wonder if Missouri State will leave to go FBS in the Sun Belt soon?

Yes I do. The Sun Belt is going to be just as competitive as CUSA in the future and at least in the SBC they would have two schools within driving distance (Ark State, UALR).

That really starts to put Wichita State out on an island in the MVC.

Consider these moves:

SBC (adds Missouri St)
MVC (adds Valpo)
Horizon (adds Oakland, IPFW, IUPUI)

The MVC starts to look a lot more like the Horizon League and the Horizon like the Summit Conference.

Men's volleyball? Interesting

Wichita State has no where to go. I dont think the A10 is interested.

(04-20-2013 08:22 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(04-20-2013 01:45 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Interesting move by Loyola. Wonder if Missouri State will leave to go FBS in the Sun Belt soon?

Yes I do. The Sun Belt is going to be just as competitive as CUSA in the future and at least in the SBC they would have two schools within driving distance (Ark State, UALR).

That really starts to put Wichita State out on an island in the MVC.

Consider these moves:

SBC (adds Missouri St)
MVC (adds Valpo)
Horizon (adds Oakland, IPFW, IUPUI)

The MVC starts to look a lot more like the Horizon League and the Horizon like the Summit Conference.

the Summit would be on life support then. So does the WAC take Western Illinois and UNO? The Dakotas look like BSC members although going to 16 isn't exactly the wisest thing for them. And what about Denver?

(04-20-2013 08:07 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  the Summit would be on life support then. So does the WAC take Western Illinois and UNO? The Dakotas look like BSC members although going to 16 isn't exactly the wisest thing for them. And what about Denver?

In some ways it would be cleaner if Idaho were staying in the WAC, then the Big Sky could take all 3 Dakota orphans from the Summit to go to 14 for all sports.

If the 3 Dakota orphans wind up in the WAC, the Big Sky could attempt to split its league for FCS football by having Cal Poly SLO and UC Davis join the WAC for football only. That would get the WAC to 5, but it would need at least one Big Sky school to jump to the WAC at least as a football-only member.

Since Denver also would need a home, Denver could try to get the WAC to take North Dakota for all sports, and then DU replaces UND in the Big Sky. Denver would be a viable travel partner for Northern Colorado, and neither Denver nor Idaho would have to return to the WAC (more an issue for Denver than Idaho). I'm not sure how quickly the WAC could get an FCS autobid, but it would have the minimum of 6 schools counting the two football-only members. Utah Valley would probably start FCS football down the road given its size, and either the WAC or MPSF could accept whatever women's sports UVU added. This scenario would leave Omaha unaccounted for, although I think the WAC would go to 13 or 14 for them. If the MVC or Horizon goes to 12 that issue would likely take care of itself.

Depending on with whom the Horizon League reloads, IUPUI could also be available. The OVC might entertain going to 14 with some combination of IUPUI, Northern Kentucky, and Western Illinois. IUPUI could also work as a travel partner for NKU in the Atlantic Sun, as the schools are only about two hours apart. IUPUI is also only about 4.5 hours from Lipscomb in Nashville.

The MVC continues with its excellent basketball tradition. Even though they've been irrlevant for a long time, Loyola Chicago does have a national title and was a top 4 seed in the 1985 NCAAT, advancing to the Sweet 16 before losing to national runner-up Georgetown.

Beats the pooh out of Illinois-Chicago, whose biggest claim to fame was being an single digit seed at-large selection in their first NCAA Tournament back in 1998.

(04-20-2013 09:44 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(04-20-2013 08:07 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  the Summit would be on life support then. So does the WAC take Western Illinois and UNO? The Dakotas look like BSC members although going to 16 isn't exactly the wisest thing for them. And what about Denver?

In some ways it would be cleaner if Idaho were staying in the WAC, then the Big Sky could take all 3 Dakota orphans from the Summit to go to 14 for all sports.

If the 3 Dakota orphans wind up in the WAC, the Big Sky could attempt to split its league for FCS football by having Cal Poly SLO and UC Davis join the WAC for football only. That would get the WAC to 5, but it would need at least one Big Sky school to jump to the WAC at least as a football-only member.

Since Denver also would need a home, Denver could try to get the WAC to take North Dakota for all sports, and then DU replaces UND in the Big Sky. Denver would be a viable travel partner for Northern Colorado, and neither Denver nor Idaho would have to return to the WAC (more an issue for Denver than Idaho). I'm not sure how quickly the WAC could get an FCS autobid, but it would have the minimum of 6 schools counting the two football-only members. Utah Valley would probably start FCS football down the road given its size, and either the WAC or MPSF could accept whatever women's sports UVU added. This scenario would leave Omaha unaccounted for, although I think the WAC would go to 13 or 14 for them. If the MVC or Horizon goes to 12 that issue would likely take care of itself.

Depending on with whom the Horizon League reloads, IUPUI could also be available. The OVC might entertain going to 14 with some combination of IUPUI, Northern Kentucky, and Western Illinois. IUPUI could also work as a travel partner for NKU in the Atlantic Sun, as the schools are only about two hours apart. IUPUI is also only about 4.5 hours from Lipscomb in Nashville.

Omaha seems WAC bound whether the Summit collapses or not. In any case your scenario of a Big Sky breakup or having a few schools absorbed by the WAC could very well happen. I can see Utah Valley starting football up - it was 50/50 between that and men's soccer - and maybe they'll keep soccer around anyway; Pac-12 could always use an extra affiliate if it comes down to it... However, Denver is not starting football anytime soon and we don't know how the Big Sky folks view non-fb members not named Idaho.

Oakland's next move will dictate what happens in this area and the effects could find their way out west too.

(04-20-2013 09:44 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(04-20-2013 08:07 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  the Summit would be on life support then. So does the WAC take Western Illinois and UNO? The Dakotas look like BSC members although going to 16 isn't exactly the wisest thing for them. And what about Denver?

In some ways it would be cleaner if Idaho were staying in the WAC, then the Big Sky could take all 3 Dakota orphans from the Summit to go to 14 for all sports.

If the 3 Dakota orphans wind up in the WAC, the Big Sky could attempt to split its league for FCS football by having Cal Poly SLO and UC Davis join the WAC for football only. That would get the WAC to 5, but it would need at least one Big Sky school to jump to the WAC at least as a football-only member.

Since Denver also would need a home, Denver could try to get the WAC to take North Dakota for all sports, and then DU replaces UND in the Big Sky. Denver would be a viable travel partner for Northern Colorado, and neither Denver nor Idaho would have to return to the WAC (more an issue for Denver than Idaho). I'm not sure how quickly the WAC could get an FCS autobid, but it would have the minimum of 6 schools counting the two football-only members. Utah Valley would probably start FCS football down the road given its size, and either the WAC or MPSF could accept whatever women's sports UVU added. This scenario would leave Omaha unaccounted for, although I think the WAC would go to 13 or 14 for them. If the MVC or Horizon goes to 12 that issue would likely take care of itself.

Depending on with whom the Horizon League reloads, IUPUI could also be available. The OVC might entertain going to 14 with some combination of IUPUI, Northern Kentucky, and Western Illinois. IUPUI could also work as a travel partner for NKU in the Atlantic Sun, as the schools are only about two hours apart. IUPUI is also only about 4.5 hours from Lipscomb in Nashville.

I like that idea. And I like the idea of splitting the Big Sky for football. I don't like the megasized FCS conference at all because there is no CCG. But I don't think there is any chance western FCS schools will willingly separate themselves from Montana and Montana State.

The school I most want to join the WAC is Sac St. I think it would be good for them and I would love to have them as a rival for Cal State Bakersfield. But I don't think the BSC would let them go and am not sure Sac would leave even if the BSC let them move their olympics.

Horizon makes invites in the following order:

Oakland
Belmont (doubtful, but could consider joining if there is a bridge school in Kentucky or on Ohio River)
either Evansville (rumored last fall)
or N Kentucky (only gets consideration if Belmont has interest)
or Murray St (needs a spot for football)
Robert Morris (doesn't have baseball)
SIU-Edwardsville (a bit of St Louis presence)
IPFW (dead center of conference, limited success but has baseball)
Omaha / UMKC as a pair (pushes footprint west, but still urban)

Rather apparent that Wichita State wanted (1) Denver, then (2) Oral Roberts, with Loyola getting the votes of Ind / Ill schools.

http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...souri.html

Quote:“One of them expressed tremendous interest and we expressed tremendous interest in them, and in terms of immediate competitiveness, they would have been better,” Bardo said. “For the rest of the conference, the geography would not have been as good. So we ended up backing off of that, obviously, because we were one vote and that wasn’t going anywhere good.”

He declined to name specific schools, although he did say the University of Denver appealed to WSU.

“They are certainly somebody we would have had interest in, but there are others, too,” he said. “There were schools that we had great interest in that were not of interest to the other members of the Valley. You compromise on where you’re looking and what you’re looking at.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...rylink=cpy

(04-21-2013 04:11 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Rather apparent that Wichita State wanted (1) Denver, then (2) Oral Roberts, with Loyola getting the votes of Ind / Ill schools.

http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...souri.html

Quote:“One of them expressed tremendous interest and we expressed tremendous interest in them, and in terms of immediate competitiveness, they would have been better,” Bardo said. “For the rest of the conference, the geography would not have been as good. So we ended up backing off of that, obviously, because we were one vote and that wasn’t going anywhere good.”

He declined to name specific schools, although he did say the University of Denver appealed to WSU.

“They are certainly somebody we would have had interest in, but there are others, too,” he said. “There were schools that we had great interest in that were not of interest to the other members of the Valley. You compromise on where you’re looking and what you’re looking at.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...rylink=cpy

Unfortunately, the MVC is a commuter bus conference and many of the members either don't have the money or don't want to spend the money on travel.

(04-21-2013 04:11 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Rather apparent that Wichita State wanted (1) Denver, then (2) Oral Roberts, with Loyola getting the votes of Ind / Ill schools.

http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...souri.html

Quote:“One of them expressed tremendous interest and we expressed tremendous interest in them, and in terms of immediate competitiveness, they would have been better,” Bardo said. “For the rest of the conference, the geography would not have been as good. So we ended up backing off of that, obviously, because we were one vote and that wasn’t going anywhere good.”

He declined to name specific schools, although he did say the University of Denver appealed to WSU.

“They are certainly somebody we would have had interest in, but there are others, too,” he said. “There were schools that we had great interest in that were not of interest to the other members of the Valley. You compromise on where you’re looking and what you’re looking at.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...rylink=cpy

Except the vote for Loyola was unanimous. There needed to be a team that benefited everyone or most. and Oral Roberts was never a real option and Denver turned down the MVC.

(04-21-2013 06:35 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 04:11 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Rather apparent that Wichita State wanted (1) Denver, then (2) Oral Roberts, with Loyola getting the votes of Ind / Ill schools.

http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...souri.html

Quote:“One of them expressed tremendous interest and we expressed tremendous interest in them, and in terms of immediate competitiveness, they would have been better,” Bardo said. “For the rest of the conference, the geography would not have been as good. So we ended up backing off of that, obviously, because we were one vote and that wasn’t going anywhere good.”

He declined to name specific schools, although he did say the University of Denver appealed to WSU.

“They are certainly somebody we would have had interest in, but there are others, too,” he said. “There were schools that we had great interest in that were not of interest to the other members of the Valley. You compromise on where you’re looking and what you’re looking at.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...rylink=cpy

Except the vote for Loyola was unanimous. There needed to be a team that benefited everyone or most. and Oral Roberts was never a real option and Denver turned down the MVC.

Conference votes are always unanimous at the end, but not at the beginning. Show one credible media report that said Denver turned down the MVC because they didn't want in the MVC. Denver knew that it wouldn't gain support of Ill or Ind schools because they want to limit plane travel for all conference sports.

(04-21-2013 07:10 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 06:35 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 04:11 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Rather apparent that Wichita State wanted (1) Denver, then (2) Oral Roberts, with Loyola getting the votes of Ind / Ill schools.

http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...souri.html

Quote:“One of them expressed tremendous interest and we expressed tremendous interest in them, and in terms of immediate competitiveness, they would have been better,” Bardo said. “For the rest of the conference, the geography would not have been as good. So we ended up backing off of that, obviously, because we were one vote and that wasn’t going anywhere good.”

He declined to name specific schools, although he did say the University of Denver appealed to WSU.

“They are certainly somebody we would have had interest in, but there are others, too,” he said. “There were schools that we had great interest in that were not of interest to the other members of the Valley. You compromise on where you’re looking and what you’re looking at.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...rylink=cpy

Except the vote for Loyola was unanimous. There needed to be a team that benefited everyone or most. and Oral Roberts was never a real option and Denver turned down the MVC.

Conference votes are always unanimous at the end, but not at the beginning. Show one credible media report that said Denver turned down the MVC because they didn't want in the MVC. Denver knew that it wouldn't gain support of Ill or Ind schools because they want to limit plane travel for all conference sports.

Only 7/9 schools were required to vote in a new school.

http://milehighmids.tumblr.com/post/4491...conference

http://milehighmids.tumblr.com/post/4500...-valley-no

(04-21-2013 07:54 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 07:10 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 06:35 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 04:11 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Rather apparent that Wichita State wanted (1) Denver, then (2) Oral Roberts, with Loyola getting the votes of Ind / Ill schools.

http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...souri.html

Quote:“One of them expressed tremendous interest and we expressed tremendous interest in them, and in terms of immediate competitiveness, they would have been better,” Bardo said. “For the rest of the conference, the geography would not have been as good. So we ended up backing off of that, obviously, because we were one vote and that wasn’t going anywhere good.”

He declined to name specific schools, although he did say the University of Denver appealed to WSU.

“They are certainly somebody we would have had interest in, but there are others, too,” he said. “There were schools that we had great interest in that were not of interest to the other members of the Valley. You compromise on where you’re looking and what you’re looking at.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...rylink=cpy

Except the vote for Loyola was unanimous. There needed to be a team that benefited everyone or most. and Oral Roberts was never a real option and Denver turned down the MVC.

Conference votes are always unanimous at the end, but not at the beginning. Show one credible media report that said Denver turned down the MVC because they didn't want in the MVC. Denver knew that it wouldn't gain support of Ill or Ind schools because they want to limit plane travel for all conference sports.

Only 7/9 schools were required to vote in a new school.

http://milehighmids.tumblr.com/post/4491...conference

http://milehighmids.tumblr.com/post/4500...-valley-no

Please. No one should believe "unanimous" is really truly UNANIMOUS, but rather "possibly best we could make of the situation."

Case in point:

Quote:The BIG EAST Board of Directors, by a unanimous vote of its Presidents, extended the invitation to Tulane, which will begin competing in the BIG EAST in the 2014-15 academic year.

http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Ar...rence.aspx

Within a week, practically every C7 President and AD was publicly bitching about it. University Presidents are extraordinarily good liars with a different face to every audience: that's how the vast majority of them obtained their positions.

(04-21-2013 08:36 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 07:54 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 07:10 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 06:35 PM)BirdstheWord Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 04:11 PM)NoDak Wrote:  Rather apparent that Wichita State wanted (1) Denver, then (2) Oral Roberts, with Loyola getting the votes of Ind / Ill schools.

http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...souri.html


Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/04/19/2769254...rylink=cpy

Except the vote for Loyola was unanimous. There needed to be a team that benefited everyone or most. and Oral Roberts was never a real option and Denver turned down the MVC.

Conference votes are always unanimous at the end, but not at the beginning. Show one credible media report that said Denver turned down the MVC because they didn't want in the MVC. Denver knew that it wouldn't gain support of Ill or Ind schools because they want to limit plane travel for all conference sports.

Only 7/9 schools were required to vote in a new school.

http://milehighmids.tumblr.com/post/4491...conference

http://milehighmids.tumblr.com/post/4500...-valley-no

Please. No one should believe "unanimous" is really truly UNANIMOUS, but rather "possibly best we could make of the situation."

Case in point:

Quote:The BIG EAST Board of Directors, by a unanimous vote of its Presidents, extended the invitation to Tulane, which will begin competing in the BIG EAST in the 2014-15 academic year.

http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Ar...rence.aspx

Within a week, practically every C7 President and AD was publicly bitching about it. University Presidents are extraordinarily good liars with a different face to every audience: that's how the vast majority of them obtained their positions.

Until I hear complaints from an actual university I will have to believe that the pick was fine with those in charge. Also, if a team doesn't want them, you just don't vote for them.

Interesting fact about Loyola: They averaged about ~2770 fans this year.
Extra interesting fact: Wichita State's women's team averaged ~2790 fans last year.

Granted, this isn't an apples to apples comparison. Still, I think it shows a lack of general fan support for Loyola. It seems like they have a lot of rich alumni support, but little connection to the broader Chicago market. Their attendance should go up next year though; if nothing else other MVC fans will make the trip to see their team play.