(03-21-2017 01:36 PM)SubGod22 Wrote:  

(03-21-2017 12:52 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(03-20-2017 11:08 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(03-20-2017 10:44 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  MO St will threaten to leave if UMKC isn't added.

UMKC is added.

MO St leaves.

Leaves---to where?

There is a school of thought on this board that confuses Missouri State with Michigan State or something. Who says CUSA or the Sun Belt wants Missouri State?

Consider how much realignment is driven by a conference *deciding* to expand to improve themselves, compared to how much is driven by conference backfilling to fix a hole created by someone else's expansion.

Or is Missouri State going to leave the Valley to join some other one-bid FCS/nonfootball league? What would be the point of that?

There's also the issue of - who cares if Missouri State leaves?

Missouri State draws below the Valley's average attendance (and has for years). And they haven't been to the NCAA tourney in nearly 20 years.

Sure, they have better attendance than the potential replacements (Valpo, UIC, NKU, Belmont, the Dakota schools), but that's it.

MSU is seen as one with a fair amount of potential. They just need a change in leadership and to just commit to doing what is necessary. There's really no reason that MSU shouldn't be near the top of the MVC every year. They have pretty good facilities and fan support. Granted, with the current HC their attendance has continued to decline and the AD or president came out and said that they don't care and they're sticking with the underachieving guy leading the basketball program. So attendance will probably dip again. If they ever get things pointed in the right direction they'll easily average over 8k.

Did I really just defend the Bears? I need a shower.

The Shocker fan has the right answer. More frustrating is our boosters had Steve Forbes in their sights. Bradley is the other one that needs to kick in gear. But they made the right hire. Shouldn't be long before they are good in Peoria again.

(03-20-2017 02:19 PM)Shox Wrote:  

(03-20-2017 01:15 PM)Policiious Wrote:  North Dakota or ND ST plus Valpo or Oakland would be the best options. Oakland is a burgeoning hoops program who should go far in the NIT this year and is a large public non football program that would get the MVC exposure in the huge recruiting ground of Metro Detroit. The Valley already has 2 programs in Indiana and 4 in Illinois, grabbing a piece of Metro Detroit would be a big get. ND ST & ND both have MVC worth hoops venues. ND ST might be the better of the 2 since Fargo is a larger city and is already in the MVC football conference.

Valpo does have a loyal fanbase but a bit small unless MVC wants another private U.

UND over SDSU for hoops? SDSU has the highest ceiling, better attendance, better venue w/ Frost and is also a basketball first school. The women's program has turned into a top 50 program as well. NDSU, UND, and USD might be a toss up, but the Jacks are the school to have for basketball and there really shouldn't be any debate on that.

I do like the idea of Oakland and Valpo to the MVC though. Oakland is clearly on an upward trajectory.!

UND's past history as a DII school was quite balanced between fb, mbb, wbb, and hockey support. We were the school that was good in all team sports. SDSU and USD were mbb and individual sports. NDSU has been a fb school since the 60's. We have winning record against all their marquee sports.

Mbb could theoretically play in the 13k hockey arena, the 13k football arena, or a remodeled 6k old basketball arena. But now we seem to be stuck in a 3.2k smaller arena attached to the hockey one. Our women's hockey team seems to get priority over mbb, as they play in the Big arena and aren't forced into the smaller attached Olympic arena. Even Minnesota and Wisconsin force their women's hockey teams into smaller arenas, but we don't. Perhaps with our NCAA mbb bid, that will change, but now we are clearly a hockey school. When our hockey arena first opened, we hosted a mbb Jayhawk game there with 13k, and subsequent DII mbb and wbb games against NDSU for 10k, but that hasn't been attempted lately. Our mbb coach is paid less than the women's hockey coach, which takes us off the board now for the MVC.

Actually agree with MplsBison, as SDSU and even USD won't give up their beloved Sioux Falls tournament for a depleted MVC. But NDSU on the other hand might be tempted.

Neither will NDSU or UND.

The Summit is really now the Dakota Conference. It's our autobid machine. The best softball, volleyball, soccer, etc teams from the Dakota 4 usually get the Summit autobid.

Wouldn't be the same in the MVC, even without WSU and MSU. Still a lot of competition from UNI, IL St, Bradley, Drake, etc.


The Betty is perfect for UND basketball. Wouldn't you rather sell out 3.2k routinely, for Summit and non-conf games, than have 3k in a 13k area??

The NDSU games in Grand Forks can use the big arena, that is reasonable.

(03-24-2017 09:56 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  Neither will NDSU or UND.

The Summit is really now the Dakota Conference. It's our autobid machine. The best softball, volleyball, soccer, etc teams from the Dakota 4 usually get the Summit autobid.

Wouldn't be the same in the MVC, even without WSU and MSU. Still a lot of competition from UNI, IL St, Bradley, Drake, etc.


The Betty is perfect for UND basketball. Wouldn't you rather sell out 3.2k routinely, for Summit and non-conf games, than have 3k in a 13k area??

The NDSU games in Grand Forks can use the big arena, that is reasonable.

Drake? Drake hasn't been relevant in MVC Men's BB for 20 years. That is the MVC problem. Your private schools, who run the show don't want to invest in their athletic programs and don't want to bring anyone in who will invest. Depending on who the MVC invite, the conference could very well implode on itself in the next decade. They need to take a shot at St Louis and, in addition bring in two or possibly three teams with solid basketball programs who will spend the money necessary to stay at the top of the conference. Look to the Horizon, OVC and Summit. Oakland, Belmont, UNK, Valpo, SDSU, USD, NDSU have and will spend more if necessary. UND might, being in the BSC has allowed them to low budget Men's BB and still be successful. Paying your head men's coach $100K per year does not show a commitment to the sport. Jones earns less per year then SDSU's women's coach, $125,000 less. Not good.

I doubt they do what is needed to bring the conference back to where it was. I still think it will be UMKC, UIC or Omaha. And it will only be one school. Which will drive UNI, Illinois State and Missouri State to begin looking elsewhere.

(03-24-2017 02:37 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 09:56 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  Neither will NDSU or UND.

The Summit is really now the Dakota Conference. It's our autobid machine. The best softball, volleyball, soccer, etc teams from the Dakota 4 usually get the Summit autobid.

Wouldn't be the same in the MVC, even without WSU and MSU. Still a lot of competition from UNI, IL St, Bradley, Drake, etc.


The Betty is perfect for UND basketball. Wouldn't you rather sell out 3.2k routinely, for Summit and non-conf games, than have 3k in a 13k area??

The NDSU games in Grand Forks can use the big arena, that is reasonable.

Drake? Drake hasn't been relevant in MVC Men's BB for 20 years. That is the MVC problem. Your private schools, who run the show don't want to invest in their athletic programs and don't want to bring anyone in who will invest. Depending on who the MVC invite, the conference could very well implode on itself in the next decade. They need to take a shot at St Louis and, in addition bring in two or possibly three teams with solid basketball programs who will spend the money necessary to stay at the top of the conference. Look to the Horizon, OVC and Summit. Oakland, Belmont, UNK, Valpo, SDSU, USD, NDSU have and will spend more if necessary. UND might, being in the BSC has allowed them to low budget Men's BB and still be successful. Paying your head men's coach $100K per year does not show a commitment to the sport. Jones earns less per year then SDSU's women's coach, $125,000 less. Not good.

I doubt they do what is needed to bring the conference back to where it was. I still think it will be UMKC, UIC or Omaha. And it will only be one school. Which will drive UNI, Illinois State and Missouri State to begin looking elsewhere.

I would exclude Bradley from your private MVC talk. While they have struggle the past decade, it hasn't been due to lack of funding. Their last coach looked like a good hire on paper but it didn't work out. Their current coach is showing progress but he's had a huge hole to climb out of. Despite their bad decade they're still averaging close to 6k a game I think and if he gets things turned around they could be a top team in the conference within the next few years and they'll be back up to 9k+ and will pay accordingly. But Drake and Evansville barely try. Loyola allegedly has a lot of money that they promised to invest, one of the reasons they were added, but they really haven't. I don't expect much out of them unless they get serious and find a new coach.

(03-24-2017 02:37 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 09:56 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  Neither will NDSU or UND.

The Summit is really now the Dakota Conference. It's our autobid machine. The best softball, volleyball, soccer, etc teams from the Dakota 4 usually get the Summit autobid.

Wouldn't be the same in the MVC, even without WSU and MSU. Still a lot of competition from UNI, IL St, Bradley, Drake, etc.


The Betty is perfect for UND basketball. Wouldn't you rather sell out 3.2k routinely, for Summit and non-conf games, than have 3k in a 13k area??

The NDSU games in Grand Forks can use the big arena, that is reasonable.

Drake? Drake hasn't been relevant in MVC Men's BB for 20 years. That is the MVC problem. Your private schools, who run the show don't want to invest in their athletic programs and don't want to bring anyone in who will invest. Depending on who the MVC invite, the conference could very well implode on itself in the next decade. They need to take a shot at St Louis and, in addition bring in two or possibly three teams with solid basketball programs who will spend the money necessary to stay at the top of the conference. Look to the Horizon, OVC and Summit. Oakland, Belmont, UNK, Valpo, SDSU, USD, NDSU have and will spend more if necessary. UND might, being in the BSC has allowed them to low budget Men's BB and still be successful. Paying your head men's coach $100K per year does not show a commitment to the sport. Jones earns less per year then SDSU's women's coach, $125,000 less. Not good.

I doubt they do what is needed to bring the conference back to where it was. I still think it will be UMKC, UIC or Omaha. And it will only be one school. Which will drive UNI, Illinois State and Missouri State to begin looking elsewhere.

Drake has been to 3 elite eights and 1 Final four. But your right, they have been terrible for the most part since the 70's. However, in 2008 they won some 27 games and were a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. Higher than any Summit league school ever mind you. They lost their first game on a last second desperation heave from 40 ft out to Western Kentucky, a heart breaker they still haven't recovered from.

(03-24-2017 02:37 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 09:56 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  Neither will NDSU or UND.

The Summit is really now the Dakota Conference. It's our autobid machine. The best softball, volleyball, soccer, etc teams from the Dakota 4 usually get the Summit autobid.

Wouldn't be the same in the MVC, even without WSU and MSU. Still a lot of competition from UNI, IL St, Bradley, Drake, etc.


The Betty is perfect for UND basketball. Wouldn't you rather sell out 3.2k routinely, for Summit and non-conf games, than have 3k in a 13k area??

The NDSU games in Grand Forks can use the big arena, that is reasonable.

Drake? Drake hasn't been relevant in MVC Men's BB for 20 years. That is the MVC problem. Your private schools, who run the show don't want to invest in their athletic programs and don't want to bring anyone in who will invest. Depending on who the MVC invite, the conference could very well implode on itself in the next decade. They need to take a shot at St Louis and, in addition bring in two or possibly three teams with solid basketball programs who will spend the money necessary to stay at the top of the conference. Look to the Horizon, OVC and Summit. Oakland, Belmont, UNK, Valpo, SDSU, USD, NDSU have and will spend more if necessary. UND might, being in the BSC has allowed them to low budget Men's BB and still be successful. Paying your head men's coach $100K per year does not show a commitment to the sport. Jones earns less per year then SDSU's women's coach, $125,000 less. Not good.

I doubt they do what is needed to bring the conference back to where it was. I still think it will be UMKC, UIC or Omaha. And it will only be one school. Which will drive UNI, Illinois State and Missouri State to begin looking elsewhere.

The smartest thing the Valley could do is add the XDSU's and maybe USD. It allows the Valley to sort of reinvent itself again. 4 Privates, 8 publics of which 6 have "traditional" names even though half of the are not true land grants

Indiana State
Illinois State
Missouri State
North Dakota State
South Dakota State
South Dakota

Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois

Bradley
Drake
Evansville
Loyola

Split it East West and do like the old Big 12, play everybody on your side twice, every team in the other division once. Rotate the tournament between Sioux Falls and St Louis every year. Mo State is kind of the loser geographically, but then again they will be with peer schools that will definetly push them and force them to improve basketbal unlike the Eastern private schools in the conference sans Bradley who are fine with the status quo. They will own the conference in Baseball. The Three Dakota schools are behind budget wise but are pouring money into basketball. USD has a brand new awesome arena, SDSU has a nice arena that they are about to do a full upgrade on. NDSU just recently renovated their arena and I would put it in the "serviceable" to average mid major arena category. They now have all the amenities, but the arena portion is kind of a joke.

East

ISUr
ISUb
Southern Illinois
Loyola
Evansville
Bradley

West

UNI
Drake
NDSU
SDSU
USD
Mo State

I've wondered why I have not noticed anyone mention the MVC targeting Murray State? They have a rich basketball tradition (and a nice arena, I am told), and I bet they'd be tempted to have a rivalry with SIU ... especially if Belmont is brought along as well.

Plus, Murray State plays FCS football. With North Dakota joining the Summit League (great move for all parties in my opinion), the four Dakota schools along with Western Illinois, the Summit could make a play to wrest control of the Football Conference (like the CAA did to the A-10 about 10 years ago) if another football school is not added to the MVC.

When I was in college (dating myself, sigh), the Dakota schools were all Division II. I was always baffled by that with the support they each received (and the nice quality they offered). They have not missed a beat in moving up and I'd love to have any/all of them if I were the MVC.

I'd wonder if UNO would get a look. As the western front of that conference inches eastward, does the conference try to regain western real estate?

If Wichita St. leaves the MVC, the Missouri Valley Football Conference should reconstitute itself as an all-sports conference. That would mean jettisoning the four private schools (Bradley, Drake, Evansville and Loyola) and adding four from the Summit (ND State, South Dakota, SD State and Western Illinois) as well as Youngstown (Horizon) and North Dakota (currently Big Sky).

The resulting conference would be all public, all medium sized (10K-25K enrollment) all FCS football-playing and all midwest/Great Plains:

Illinois State
Indiana State
Missouri State
North Dakota
North Dakota State
Northern Iowa
South Dakota
South Dakota State
Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Youngstown State

Bradley, Drake, Evansville and Loyola would form the starting point for a new conference. They would add Detroit Mercy, UIC and Valparaiso (Horizon League), Oral Roberts (Summit), UMKC (WAC) and Belmont (OVC). (Dayton and Saint Louis would be invited but would decline.) All members of this conference would be selective universities which do not offer scholarship football (i.e., basketball-centric). They would be mostly urban, and private or elite public research universities:

Belmont
Bradley
Detroit Mercy
Drake
Evansville
Loyola-Chicago
Oral Roberts
UIC
UMKC
Valparaiso

The remaining Summit League schools could combine with the remaining Horizon League schools:

Cleveland State
Denver
Fort Wayne
Green Bay
IUPUI
Milwaukee
Northern Kentucky
Oakland
Omaha
Wright State

None of the three new leagues would have significantly better or worse athletics than the predecessor conferences (if you consider the MVC on a post-Wichita St. basis), but the alignments and memberships would finally make sense.

(03-24-2017 03:35 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I've wondered why I have not noticed anyone mention the MVC targeting Murray State? They have a rich basketball tradition (and a nice arena, I am told), and I bet they'd be tempted to have a rivalry with SIU ... especially if Belmont is brought along as well.

Plus, Murray State plays FCS football. With North Dakota joining the Summit League (great move for all parties in my opinion), the four Dakota schools along with Western Illinois, the Summit could make a play to wrest control of the Football Conference (like the CAA did to the A-10 about 10 years ago) if another football school is not added to the MVC.

When I was in college (dating myself, sigh), the Dakota schools were all Division II. I was always baffled by that with the support they each received (and the nice quality they offered). They have not missed a beat in moving up and I'd love to have any/all of them if I were the MVC.

Murray State had 29 consecutive winning seasons. Their fans travel and OVC tourney attendance is essentially Murray vs. the field. Few know how to hire coaches like Murray - Cronin, Kennedy, Prohm.

The Racers won a tourney game in 2010. Notched another tourney win in 2012 while sporting a top 25 team and hosting College Gameday. Return back to top 25 in 2015 with a lottery pick to boot.

They'll have to correct the latest hire, but it blow my mind the Racers don't gain more traction for the MVC. They should be the runaway #1 pick. Their fans will pack St Louis. They're a 30 year winner. They've reached the top 25. They've won tourney games. They've produced NBA players (Popeye, Payne, etc). They churn out P5 coaches. They have regional rivalries with existing MVC teams. They're right under the MVC's nose and add a state to their footprint.

MVC would be suicidal not to add Murray St.

(03-24-2017 03:35 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I've wondered why I have not noticed anyone mention the MVC targeting Murray State? They have a rich basketball tradition (and a nice arena, I am told), and I bet they'd be tempted to have a rivalry with SIU ... especially if Belmont is brought along as well.

Plus, Murray State plays FCS football. With North Dakota joining the Summit League (great move for all parties in my opinion), the four Dakota schools along with Western Illinois, the Summit could make a play to wrest control of the Football Conference (like the CAA did to the A-10 about 10 years ago) if another football school is not added to the MVC.

When I was in college (dating myself, sigh), the Dakota schools were all Division II. I was always baffled by that with the support they each received (and the nice quality they offered). They have not missed a beat in moving up and I'd love to have any/all of them if I were the MVC.

The claim was always that the MVFC didn't want an 11th member and that's why Murray State hasn't really been considered. Now that they have 11, a 12th could be easier to get in so maybe they would get more of a look.

Omaha and UMKC will probably both get looks. I don't know what the chances will be for either.

I forgot about that season. OK, they have been relevant one season since the mid-80s. I found their record against current MVC members on Wiki. All I can say is wow! For a school who would seem to have enough resources to do what is necessary to compete, they sure don't do it. No wonder Smith stayed at USD.


Team Record
Bradley 54-80
Evansville 20-20
Illinois State 29-49
Indiana State 37-40
Loyola 9-10
Missouri State 10-37
Northern Iowa 24-37
Southern Illinois 29-52
Wichita State 47-96
Total 259-421

(03-24-2017 02:53 PM)Shox Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 02:37 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 09:56 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  Neither will NDSU or UND.

The Summit is really now the Dakota Conference. It's our autobid machine. The best softball, volleyball, soccer, etc teams from the Dakota 4 usually get the Summit autobid.

Wouldn't be the same in the MVC, even without WSU and MSU. Still a lot of competition from UNI, IL St, Bradley, Drake, etc.


The Betty is perfect for UND basketball. Wouldn't you rather sell out 3.2k routinely, for Summit and non-conf games, than have 3k in a 13k area??

The NDSU games in Grand Forks can use the big arena, that is reasonable.

Drake? Drake hasn't been relevant in MVC Men's BB for 20 years. That is the MVC problem. Your private schools, who run the show don't want to invest in their athletic programs and don't want to bring anyone in who will invest. Depending on who the MVC invite, the conference could very well implode on itself in the next decade. They need to take a shot at St Louis and, in addition bring in two or possibly three teams with solid basketball programs who will spend the money necessary to stay at the top of the conference. Look to the Horizon, OVC and Summit. Oakland, Belmont, UNK, Valpo, SDSU, USD, NDSU have and will spend more if necessary. UND might, being in the BSC has allowed them to low budget Men's BB and still be successful. Paying your head men's coach $100K per year does not show a commitment to the sport. Jones earns less per year then SDSU's women's coach, $125,000 less. Not good.

I doubt they do what is needed to bring the conference back to where it was. I still think it will be UMKC, UIC or Omaha. And it will only be one school. Which will drive UNI, Illinois State and Missouri State to begin looking elsewhere.

Drake has been to 3 elite eights and 1 Final four. But your right, they have been terrible for the most part since the 70's. However, in 2008 they won some 27 games and were a 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. Higher than any Summit league school ever mind you. They lost their first game on a last second desperation heave from 40 ft out to Western Kentucky, a heart breaker they still haven't recovered from.

(03-24-2017 02:37 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  Drake? Drake hasn't been relevant in MVC Men's BB for 20 years.

I didn't say anything about MBB. Read the line above the bolded.

(03-24-2017 03:20 PM)Shox Wrote:  The smartest thing the Valley could do is add the XDSU's and maybe USD.

Might be, but has zero chance of happening. MVC schools hate the Dakotas and hate the idea of traveling there.

(03-24-2017 04:19 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 03:35 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I've wondered why I have not noticed anyone mention the MVC targeting Murray State? They have a rich basketball tradition (and a nice arena, I am told), and I bet they'd be tempted to have a rivalry with SIU ... especially if Belmont is brought along as well.

Plus, Murray State plays FCS football. With North Dakota joining the Summit League (great move for all parties in my opinion), the four Dakota schools along with Western Illinois, the Summit could make a play to wrest control of the Football Conference (like the CAA did to the A-10 about 10 years ago) if another football school is not added to the MVC.

When I was in college (dating myself, sigh), the Dakota schools were all Division II. I was always baffled by that with the support they each received (and the nice quality they offered). They have not missed a beat in moving up and I'd love to have any/all of them if I were the MVC.

Murray State had 29 consecutive winning seasons. Their fans travel and OVC tourney attendance is essentially Murray vs. the field. Few know how to hire coaches like Murray - Cronin, Kennedy, Prohm.

The Racers won a tourney game in 2010. Notched another tourney win in 2012 while sporting a top 25 team and hosting College Gameday. Return back to top 25 in 2015 with a lottery pick to boot.

They'll have to correct the latest hire, but it blow my mind the Racers don't gain more traction for the MVC. They should be the runaway #1 pick. Their fans will pack St Louis. They're a 30 year winner. They've reached the top 25. They've won tourney games. They've produced NBA players (Popeye, Payne, etc). They churn out P5 coaches. They have regional rivalries with existing MVC teams. They're right under the MVC's nose and add a state to their footprint.

MVC would be suicidal not to add Murray St.

Murray is in a town of 17,000 and share the same tv market as Southern Illinois. Thats the main reason why they haven't been considered.

(03-24-2017 05:09 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 02:37 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  Drake? Drake hasn't been relevant in MVC Men's BB for 20 years.

I didn't say anything about MBB. Read the line above the bolded.

(03-24-2017 03:20 PM)Shox Wrote:  The smartest thing the Valley could do is add the XDSU's and maybe USD.

Might be, but has zero chance of happening. MVC schools hate the Dakotas and hate the idea of traveling there.

I guess it's been awhile but Drake made the Final 4 in late 70's or early 80's..And within the past decade when Tom Davis coached them they were top 25 all season.

(03-24-2017 04:19 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(03-24-2017 03:35 PM)MemTGRS Wrote:  I've wondered why I have not noticed anyone mention the MVC targeting Murray State? They have a rich basketball tradition (and a nice arena, I am told), and I bet they'd be tempted to have a rivalry with SIU ... especially if Belmont is brought along as well.

Plus, Murray State plays FCS football. With North Dakota joining the Summit League (great move for all parties in my opinion), the four Dakota schools along with Western Illinois, the Summit could make a play to wrest control of the Football Conference (like the CAA did to the A-10 about 10 years ago) if another football school is not added to the MVC.

When I was in college (dating myself, sigh), the Dakota schools were all Division II. I was always baffled by that with the support they each received (and the nice quality they offered). They have not missed a beat in moving up and I'd love to have any/all of them if I were the MVC.

Murray State had 29 consecutive winning seasons. Their fans travel and OVC tourney attendance is essentially Murray vs. the field. Few know how to hire coaches like Murray - Cronin, Kennedy, Prohm.

The Racers won a tourney game in 2010. Notched another tourney win in 2012 while sporting a top 25 team and hosting College Gameday. Return back to top 25 in 2015 with a lottery pick to boot.

They'll have to correct the latest hire, but it blow my mind the Racers don't gain more traction for the MVC. They should be the runaway #1 pick. Their fans will pack St Louis. They're a 30 year winner. They've reached the top 25. They've won tourney games. They've produced NBA players (Popeye, Payne, etc). They churn out P5 coaches. They have regional rivalries with existing MVC teams. They're right under the MVC's nose and add a state to their footprint.

MVC would be suicidal not to add Murray St.

I started this whole thread by mentioning Murray State and Belmont.

This should be called "who will replace them". Totally different question.

To answer that, probably Valpo.

I like Valpo too, but all the MVC folks say it has to be a public.