bill dazzle
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-17-2021 12:42 PM)solohawks Wrote: (09-17-2021 11:35 AM)bill dazzle Wrote: (09-17-2021 09:20 AM)solohawks Wrote: (09-17-2021 09:12 AM)bill dazzle Wrote: (09-17-2021 09:06 AM)solohawks Wrote: With Austin Peay all but official, what is the OVC going to?
They are currently at 6 for football (the bare minimum) but at stable 9 for all sports. If football fails, they will need to add soccer, of which they currently have 3 members affiliating elsewhere.
WIU seems like a given at this point to get football back to 7, but who do you add after that? Chicago St. is very interested in the OVC, and while they don't play football, the do play soccer and fit in well with the 2 current Illinois schools and WIU, who also plays soccer.
If you add WIU and Chicago St., the western flank of the OVC is stabilized greatly and there might be enough leverage to get another Nashville school added in Lipscomb
This would give the OVC 7 football and 6 for soccer, as all the new members play that sport. Sponsoring soccer gives the OVC some stability if football doesn't work out for whatever reason. Adding 2 in the West would allow Murray St. to move to the East and be with Belmont. While the West would be a rough, albeit geographically friendly, collection of schools, the East would be pretty solid in basketball
West: Chicago St, WIU, EIU, SIU-E, SE Missouri St, UT Martin
East: Morehead, TN Tech, TN State, Belmont, Lipscomb, Murray St.
If Chicago St. is a deal breaker, than try and snag both Lipscomb and Bellarmine from the ASun to create a geographically friendly basketball focused OVC East that is pretty close to perfect for Belmont's goals of basketball and bus league first.
I struggle to see Lipscomb and Bellermine leaving a growing and thriving ASUN for the sinking ship that is the OVC.
If you're Lipscomb and Bellarmine do you want to be sending all your teams to Arkansas, Florida, and Virginia to be in a 1 bid basketball league when you could join a highly regarded peer school Belmont and be in a bus league and an OVC East that would be pretty solid all things considered?
The ASUN seems stable and charging forward. In contrast, the OVC is gravely wounded and may not survive. That is why Lipscomb and Bellarmine stay put.
If you're a football school I totally agree with you.
If you are a non football school, to me the OVC has much more potential.
As a Belmont fan, I wished I shared your optimism.
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09-17-2021 05:30 PM |
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Stugray2
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
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09-17-2021 05:30 PM |
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IWokeUpLikeThis
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-17-2021 05:25 PM)solohawks Wrote: (09-17-2021 04:57 PM)Shox Wrote: (09-17-2021 04:35 PM)TexasTerror Wrote: Statement from OVC
WIU is a no brainer for both parties. After that there isn't a great fit out there. Maybe YSU if they want to start winning football conference championships again. The issue with that is it opens up a slot for Murray State Football in the MVFC if the MVC calls.
If WIU does leave that take the MVFC down to 10 which I would think would be a more desirable number then 11
MVFC eventually goes to 12 with Murray and St Thomas, IMO, after WIU leaves. When UST originally announced, I remember an article in the Minnesota paper that said UST planned to go full scholarship in the MVFC within 10 years. That part was then removed within hours. IMO, it was info UST didn’t want to get out, so they asked the writer to remove it.
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09-17-2021 06:35 PM |
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schmolik
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-17-2021 05:30 PM)bill dazzle Wrote: (09-17-2021 12:42 PM)solohawks Wrote: If you're a football school I totally agree with you.
If you are a non football school, to me the OVC has much more potential.
As a Belmont fan, I wished I shared your optimism.
As a Belmont (or Murray State fan) you should probably be begging the MVC right now for a life preserver. Hey, one public and one private.
(This post was last modified: 09-17-2021 06:44 PM by schmolik.)
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09-17-2021 06:43 PM |
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bill dazzle
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-17-2021 06:43 PM)schmolik Wrote: (09-17-2021 05:30 PM)bill dazzle Wrote: (09-17-2021 12:42 PM)solohawks Wrote: If you're a football school I totally agree with you.
If you are a non football school, to me the OVC has much more potential.
As a Belmont fan, I wished I shared your optimism.
As a Belmont (or Murray State fan) you should probably be begging the MVC right now for a life preserver. Hey, one public and one private.
Agree.
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09-17-2021 11:06 PM |
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Todor
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-17-2021 06:35 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote: (09-17-2021 05:25 PM)solohawks Wrote: (09-17-2021 04:57 PM)Shox Wrote: (09-17-2021 04:35 PM)TexasTerror Wrote: Statement from OVC
WIU is a no brainer for both parties. After that there isn't a great fit out there. Maybe YSU if they want to start winning football conference championships again. The issue with that is it opens up a slot for Murray State Football in the MVFC if the MVC calls.
If WIU does leave that take the MVFC down to 10 which I would think would be a more desirable number then 11
MVFC eventually goes to 12 with Murray and St Thomas, IMO, after WIU leaves. When UST originally announced, I remember an article in the Minnesota paper that said UST planned to go full scholarship in the MVFC within 10 years. That part was then removed within hours. IMO, it was info UST didn’t want to get out, so they asked the writer to remove it.
I think St Thomas definitely has that as the plan, but its hard to set a firm date when you're in the very earliest stages of development. Then, people want to hold you to that and point it out as a failure or backtracking, when it was just a rough timeframe. People are too serious about this stuff...No need to lock yourself into a date so far off, when so much can happen.
The OVC does have one advantage--they have schools on all four sides that are potential members. They could migrate in any direction. They really have no geographic limitations, lots of possible future members, and are surrounded by populated areas. They have a pretty tight foot print now, so new members, even outside current foot print are easily merged in.
(This post was last modified: 09-18-2021 12:16 AM by Todor.)
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09-18-2021 12:09 AM |
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MattBrownEP
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
1) I would be very surprised if WIU doesn't join this league, and honestly, some sort of announcement may come before the end of the month. There was talk of trying to get the WIU news out there before the APSU stuff broke. That's been in the works for months and I expect it to happen.
2) Chicago State isn't coming to this league.
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09-18-2021 08:22 AM |
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EKUSteve
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-18-2021 08:22 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote: 1) I would be very surprised if WIU doesn't join this league, and honestly, some sort of announcement may come before the end of the month. There was talk of trying to get the WIU news out there before the APSU stuff broke. That's been in the works for months and I expect it to happen.
2) Chicago State isn't coming to this league.
Thanks for the update, Matt.
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09-18-2021 05:33 PM |
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Fighting Muskie
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-18-2021 08:22 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote: 1) I would be very surprised if WIU doesn't join this league, and honestly, some sort of announcement may come before the end of the month. There was talk of trying to get the WIU news out there before the APSU stuff broke. That's been in the works for months and I expect it to happen.
2) Chicago State isn't coming to this league.
Are the folks at WIU optimistic that they’ll be able to get SIU and Illinois St fairly regularly in the OOC schedule?
Is Belmont ok with weak basketball programs being added?
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09-18-2021 06:55 PM |
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DavidSt
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
Some of the names mentioned are looking for higher goals than OVC. Chattanooga and Youngstown State are looking at FBS as a solution for them.
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09-18-2021 07:22 PM |
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solohawks
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-18-2021 06:55 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: (09-18-2021 08:22 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote: 1) I would be very surprised if WIU doesn't join this league, and honestly, some sort of announcement may come before the end of the month. There was talk of trying to get the WIU news out there before the APSU stuff broke. That's been in the works for months and I expect it to happen.
2) Chicago State isn't coming to this league.
Are the folks at WIU optimistic that they’ll be able to get SIU and Illinois St fairly regularly in the OOC schedule?
Is Belmont ok with weak basketball programs being added?
1. Probably not but priority#1 is getting into a conference where you're not sending non-revenue sports to the Dakotas and Denver. If WIU were in the MVC or Horizon this move isn't happening
2. Probably not but they realize they need to get at least 1 more football school. Plus it gives them leverage for the next addition. Of they may not care because they will be out soon too
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09-18-2021 07:29 PM |
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PeteTheChop
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-18-2021 07:29 PM)solohawks Wrote: (09-18-2021 06:55 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: (09-18-2021 08:22 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote: 1) I would be very surprised if WIU doesn't join this league, and honestly, some sort of announcement may come before the end of the month. There was talk of trying to get the WIU news out there before the APSU stuff broke. That's been in the works for months and I expect it to happen.
2) Chicago State isn't coming to this league.
Are the folks at WIU optimistic that they’ll be able to get SIU and Illinois St fairly regularly in the OOC schedule?
Is Belmont ok with weak basketball programs being added?
Probably not but priority#1 is getting into a conference where you're not sending non-revenue sports to the Dakotas and Denver. If WIU were in the MVC or Horizon this move isn't happening
Might priority #2 be escaping those same Dakota schools in football?
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09-18-2021 07:51 PM |
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solohawks
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-18-2021 07:51 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote: (09-18-2021 07:29 PM)solohawks Wrote: (09-18-2021 06:55 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: (09-18-2021 08:22 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote: 1) I would be very surprised if WIU doesn't join this league, and honestly, some sort of announcement may come before the end of the month. There was talk of trying to get the WIU news out there before the APSU stuff broke. That's been in the works for months and I expect it to happen.
2) Chicago State isn't coming to this league.
Are the folks at WIU optimistic that they’ll be able to get SIU and Illinois St fairly regularly in the OOC schedule?
Is Belmont ok with weak basketball programs being added?
Probably not but priority#1 is getting into a conference where you're not sending non-revenue sports to the Dakotas and Denver. If WIU were in the MVC or Horizon this move isn't happening
Might priority #2 be escaping those same Dakota schools in football?
I'm sure they will miss playing the MVC football schools in the MVFC but ya they probably won't miss going to the Dakota's for football either
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09-18-2021 08:10 PM |
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mvcfan76
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
WIU loves playing SIU, ISU, and UNI but they are not in a financial situation where they can keep sending their volleyball teams to North Dakota, Tulsa, and Denver. ISU is going to only regularly play EIU noncon, but I am sure the birds would semi regularly try and schedule the leathernecks. I imagine they will play one of them still every year. For the record I personally enjoy WIU in the MVFC and wish they had the money to say no to the OVC and maintain their traditional rivals, plus WIU is a "football school" But the money...
(This post was last modified: 09-18-2021 08:40 PM by mvcfan76.)
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09-18-2021 08:38 PM |
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The Cutter of Bish
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
I’m still just wondering what’s happening within that conference but especially Southland.
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09-19-2021 08:31 AM |
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MattBrownEP
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-18-2021 06:55 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: Are the folks at WIU optimistic that they’ll be able to get SIU and Illinois St fairly regularly in the OOC schedule?
Is Belmont ok with weak basketball programs being added?
I honestly don't have a good sense about what Belmont is thinking at the moment. As far as WIU getting local OOC games, I'd be shocked if they couldn't. This looking breakup isn't going to be acrimonious, and it's in everyone's best interest to keep those games.
(09-18-2021 07:22 PM)DavidSt Wrote: Some of the names mentioned are looking for higher goals than OVC. Chattanooga and Youngstown State are looking at FBS as a solution for them.
Youngstown State abandoned FBS hopes a good decade ago, and moving up is absolutely not part of the school's current strategic plan.
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09-19-2021 08:35 AM |
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bluesox
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
Belmont to the southern conference seems like a natural fit
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09-19-2021 08:45 AM |
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Fighting Muskie
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
What about Youngstown St as a fb affiliate for the OVC? it’s a much easier conference to win and I think the football travel would be slightly better.
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09-19-2021 10:31 AM |
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solohawks
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-19-2021 10:31 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: What about Youngstown St as a fb affiliate for the OVC? it’s a much easier conference to win and I think the football travel would be slightly better.
Geographically it would work
Youngstown is a football school though and would they voluntarily want to take a step down in football conference prestig?
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09-19-2021 10:38 AM |
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IWokeUpLikeThis
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RE: What is the OVC going to do?
(09-19-2021 10:38 AM)solohawks Wrote: (09-19-2021 10:31 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: What about Youngstown St as a fb affiliate for the OVC? it’s a much easier conference to win and I think the football travel would be slightly better.
Geographically it would work
Youngstown is a football school though and would they voluntarily want to take a step down in football conference prestig?
Not President Tressel, who wanted them out of OVC and in the Gateway way back when.
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09-19-2021 11:43 AM |
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