(03-09-2015 01:10 PM)bearcat29 Wrote: I am pulling for NKU. I think they would be a good addition to the league. They seem to fit the profile, and I can watch my Raiders close to home. I have not given a thought of the Indiana schools (ie iupui or indy FW). I don't know that much about them, but either make more sense geographically.
Is the guess they only add 1? I don't see anyone poaching any more teams.
In following the Horizon League from a distance (I grew up in Detroit and still follow the Titans, so I'll visit the Titans and Horizon League message boards occasionally) ---- it seems like most schools are predisposed against the Indiana schools. They think IUPUI or IPFW are both beneath them. Meanwhile, NKU has a pretty good reputation.
That said, if the Horizon chose just 1 school, most Horizon fans would prefer either Belmont or Murray State over NKU. Every once in awhile I'll see someone advocating a school like IUPUI, IPFW, Robert Morris, Canisius, Niagara, Morehead State, SIU-E, Eastern Illinois, et cetera ....... But Belmont, Murray State and NKU are by far the preferred three.
Now, adding ALL of Murray State, Belmont and NKU would be a bold move, and would allow a split into 2 divisions (parantheses surrounding travel partners):
East/South: (Belmont, Murray St), (NKU, Wright St), (Cleveland St, Youngstown St)
North/West: (Detroit, Oakland), (Valpo, UIC), (Green Bay, Milwaukee)
One could flip the (Belmont, Murray St) and (Detroit, Oakland) pods --- either geography is theoretically viable. I would guess Belmont & Murray State would prefer being paired with the KY and OH schools. Detroit & Oakland could probably go either way.
Note that Murray State would need to find a home for their football team if they left the OVC. I do not think the Missouri Valley Football Conference would really want them.