Valparaiso has ACCEPTED* the Invite to become the 10th Member of the MVC!!!!

[crusadermoe]

That makes sense.  The MVC would have too much leverage at this point.  Valpo would never get a conference invite again from anyone after embarrassing the MVC.

[bbtds]

https://twitter.com/DaveReynolds2

Racers still in the Race. Gotta love it!

[bigmosmithfan1]

I highly recommend watching the tail end of this video accompanying this article interviewing Evansville AD Mark Spencer. He unequivocally stated -- without being asked -- that 11 teams was "untenable" logistically for a number of reasons. So for those hung up on Murray instead of celebrating today's great news should keep that in mind. This means going to 12 is the only realistic expansion option beyond inviting VU. Which means dividing the pie by two additional slices. Which means that #12 needs to be a dead-bang home run instead of an uncertain play and potential RPI drag. Which means it could be a while.

http://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/college/2017/05/09/mvc-add-valparaiso-league/314270001/

[VUOR63]

Is there a sexy enough pitch the MVC could make to lure Butler away from the Big East?  That would be a good option for a 12th team.

[vu72]

Is there a sexy enough pitch the MVC could make to lure Butler away from the Big East?  That would be a good option for a 12th team.

No.  Way too much money available to the Big East.  A much better chance (still not good) of getting St. Louis from the A10 or Ball State from the MAC. If Northern Kentucky plays at a high level for a couple of years then they might be a good candidate as well.  Possibly Oakland.

[bigmosmithfan1]

Ball State from the MAC.

With all due respect, what? Ball State is absolutely not leaving the MAC for a conference that doesn't play FBS football. Especially with the MAC's new ESPN deal, which is arguably the best for a midmajor conference ($100M+ deal, plus each school gets free digital media and broadcast infrastructure paid for by ESPN, plus a percentage of streaming revenues).

[vu72]

Ball State from the MAC.

With all due respect, what? Ball State is absolutely not leaving the MAC for a conference that doesn't play FBS football. Especially with the MAC's new ESPN deal, which is arguably the best for a midmajor conference ($100M+ deal, plus each school gets free digital media and broadcast infrastructure paid for by ESPN, plus a percentage of streaming revenues).
[/quote

I stand corrected!   

[bigmosmithfan1]

Oh, no worries. Didn't mean to seem like I was blasting you there. No one from the MAC is making that move without dropping football, that's all. Those mid-week games during the fall have been a profitable endeavor for the league. EMU was the only one flirting with wavering on FBS football, until they went to the Bahamas Bowl last year and now have committed to expanding and improving their football facilities: http://emuchampionshipbuilding.com/

[Valpo2010]

Interview with Missouri State President - http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/09/missouri-valley-considering-further-expansion-after-valparaiso-addition/

Thankfully this interview offers some good insight into the whole "leaving the door open" for future additions to the MVC.

Interview with Evansville AD - http://www.courierpress.com/videos/sports/2017/05/09/spencer-talks-valpo-invite-mvc/101479296/

[VU2014]

If your interested Kevin Sweeney a Basketball writer who specializes in MidMajors is going to be Periscoping (live video/chatting) about his thoughts on the MVC adding Valpo and Missouri Valley Conference. He'll be on at 7:30 CT if your interesting in tuning in.

https://twitter.com/CBB_Central/status/862101377388040192
https://twitter.com/CBB_Central/status/862092645199466496

[VU2014]

https://www.pscp.tv/w/1YpKknMvQgjxj

https://twitter.com/CBB_Central/status/862102397157597184

[VU2014]

https://twitter.com/pjstarsports/status/862104416509243392

[Chairback]

Hopefully the school takes advantage of the league change and markets our basketball program.  No better time to enhance the brand than now. 

Don't raise ticket prices, market the crap out of the upcoming games and get people in the seats.

[isu87]

welcome Valpo fans, from the Sycamores

hey, it only took a little over 4 years from the point I started the original Valpo to the MVC thread to get you all in the conference.

Disappointed we only added one team, was hoping for Murray State too, but hopefully the MVC presidents find a 12th member to join for 18-19 and can bring Murray State in as well.

[vu72]

I enjoyed the interviews and found out that first, the Missouri State President either didn't really visit Valpo or he has a very short memory, as he continued to mispronounce our school and city name.  having said that, the Evansville guy was outstanding.  A couple of things--first, for those who have felt that the administration wasn't properly behind athletics, understand what he said.  Valpo had the upper hand because we new what The Valley wanted and we moved to that point over the last four years.  Second, and perhaps most important, was his statement about the NCAA changing to make large payout for academic success in the future.  Thus, added a school like Valpo would solidify their already strong academic record.  He added that having a school with both a good basketball program AND good academics was a double win for the conference.

He clarified the 11 thing pretty well and both people confirmed that this is an ongoing process.  I would expect Murray to be in i the next couple of years and for them to seek out that program which would add both academic and sports success going forward.

I also wanted to add that Valpo will be getting loads more press coverage, albeit in small markets, but still a lot more.  The Valley schools are located in cities where they are the big dog, not Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee or Cleveland where at best their local Horizon League teams are third or fourth or fifth thoughts.  When we moved to the Horizon did we get this kind of local press coverage?  Nope.

[Svoboda]

Welcome aboard Crusaders.

Feel free to join the Sycamores over at SycamorePride.com if you're looking for additional MVC discussion.

[agibson]

Someone remind me, what's the TV coverage for MVC conference games? ESPN3 for everything? And better for some? More or less like the Horizon?

Arch Madness has the final on CBS of course.

[VU2014]

Someone remind me, what's the TV coverage for MVC conference games? ESPN3 for everything? And better for some? More or less like the Horizon?

Arch Madness has the final on CBS of course.

ESPN3 coverage, I believe they mainly play Conference games on Wednesdays and Saturdays but they have the occasional Sunday Conference game.

I know they have occasional games on CSN Chicago on cable.

CBS Arch Madness final game and Quarterfinals are CSN Cable.

http://www.csnchicago.com/ncaa-talk/today-csn-all-four-mvc-tournament-quarterfinals

[IndyValpo]

Regarding the Men's Tennis post, Valpo will join the Summit League next year for Men,s Tennis. The Missouri Valley will fold Men,s Tennis for next year as Southern Illinois and Stonybrook are dropping their programs and Wichita State will be gone. Drake and Illinois State will then join Valpo in the Summit League with Denver, Drake and Valpo being the premier programs. Also, Men,s Swimming and Diving will join the MAC alongside Missouri State, Evansville, and SIU. Perhaps now upgrades to the pool will take place ahead of or in addition to the future fieldhouse.

I thought that tennis might join the MAC as well.

[agibson]

The PFL operates out of the MVC offices? Huh.

[vufan75]

I can't believe people are finding ways to be disappointed or unsatisfied with the expansion to 10 for next year.   Get over it!   

I couldn't agree more. Let's put the woulda, coulda, shoulda's in the rear view mirror. It's time to get happy!

Spot on. Time to look forward now and do the best we can to make "the Valley" stronger. Many positives for both Valpo and the MVC with this move. Nice to be in a conference with a storied tradition like "the Valley". While it may take some time, hoping the MVC regains momentum and gets back to multiple bid status it had a decade or so ago before WSU blew up big-time.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

[VULB#62]

The PFL operates out of the MVC offices? Huh.

Wikipedia uses the phrase "same complex in St. Louis as MVC and MVFC."

Patty Viverito is commissioner of both the PFL & MVFC.

[UNIFTW]

The PFL operates out of the MVC offices? Huh.

Wikipedia uses the phrase "same complex in St. Louis as MVC and MVFC."

Patty Viverito is commissioner of both the PFL & MVFC.

Same building. Same staff. It's all "separate" but it's really not.

I think the only MVC staff not on the PFL and MVFC staffs is Doug Elgin

[vu72]

Someone remind me, what's the TV coverage for MVC conference games? ESPN3 for everything? And better for some? More or less like the Horizon?

Arch Madness has the final on CBS of course.
[/quote)

So I looked at Illinois State, not Wichita as they are gone.  her is what I found.

Last year, Il St, as one of the best in the Valley had the follwing coverage:

ESPN 3  10 games

ESPNU  3 games

ESPN2   5 games

Fox Sports Midwest  8 games

ESPN  1 game

CBS  1 game.

Valpo:

ESPN2  3 games

ESPNU  1 game

Pac 12 Network   1 game

SEC Network   1 game

ESPN   1 game

all the others were on ESPN3

[bbtds]

(Would be okay with still scheduling Oakland and maybe Milw for selfish reasons)

Oakland will always be a good rivalry. Now Kampe has to recruit some even more talented "bad" boys to get into the MVC. Instead of Milw maybe we can get Marquette in Nov or Dec so as to keep the Andy Nunemaker party/Milw area alums group happy. Milw is so great to visit.