Valpo to the Valley

[WooBadger18]

Jerk question on my part: Will Drake really hear from anybody?

And if you look at the conferences, Drake fits with the types of institutions better in the Missouri Valley than the Summit league. For the major conferences that doesn't matter as much, but I feel like it matters a lot more for the smaller conferences in D-1 and down

 

[knowlesjam]

With Creighton and Wichita leaving, the Dakota schools are kind of out of the way geographically where the league is headed. They now have no schools west of the Missouri, UNI, Drake and Missouri St are the only schools west of the Mississippi. The other schools are all located in Illinois and Indiana. If you are drawing from those states, Valpo is the best pick hands down.

The question now becomes, how long until UNI and Drake start hearing from the summit.

This may be the bigger long term question. You have 29 teams between the Summit, Valley, and Horizon. There could definitely be some geographical trading between the 3 leagues...say UNI, Drake, and Missouri State head to the Summit, while Wayne State, IUPUI, and Western Illinois move to the Valley.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

With Creighton and Wichita leaving, the Dakota schools are kind of out of the way geographically where the league is headed. They now have no schools west of the Missouri, UNI, Drake and Missouri St are the only schools west of the Mississippi. The other schools are all located in Illinois and Indiana. If you are drawing from those states, Valpo is the best pick hands down.

The question now becomes, how long until UNI and Drake start hearing from the summit.

UNI left a league with the Dakota schools 40 years ago because it was miserable and they did everything as a block and stopped any forward thinking in the old North Central Conference. They've done the same thing in The Summit League. I just don't see a scenario where UNI hooks back up with them again for all sports. They tolerate each other in football because the Dakotas are way too far east for the Big Sky, but there really isn't a working relationship there otherwise.

I actually think the Summit is in trouble because the Horizon is going to make a hard push for IUPUI and Fort Wayne to replace Valpo, Western Illinois has had conversations with the Ohio Valley. If that were to happen, the Summit is suddenly at 7 members with UMKC as the only viable option to be the 8th until you try to raid the WAC for someone like Chicago State.

The Valley is still a step up from the Summit, Horizon and OVC, but choosing to replace Creighton with Loyola Chicago sure closed the gap quick.

 

[madguy30]

I'd be surprised by UNI/Drake to Summit, but stranger things have occurred in realignment. If conference keeps heading eastward, it'd be weird to have the name Missouri Valley, wouldn't it?

No more weird than 'South Eastern' for Missouri, or Creighton for 'East'.

One could also make an argument that Colorado and Utah are not on the Pacific Coast, nor is Indiana (ND) on the Atlantic Coast.

 

[heitclone]

This may be the bigger long term question. You have 29 teams between the Summit, Valley, and Horizon. There could definitely be some geographical trading between the 3 leagues...say UNI, Drake, and Missouri State head to the Summit, while Wayne State, IUPUI, and Western Illinois move to the Valley.

Drake and Illinois st are already set to be"associate" members of the Summit, they will compete in Tennis as a member, Eastern Illinois will also compete in the Summit in a couple Olympic sports. It used to have schools ranging from Michigan to Louisiana to Utah but a few years back when they added Omaha, they mentioned they wanted to evolve to a league with schools in the midwest. I wouldn't be shocked to see them try another shake up.

 

[Cycsk]

I would like to see UNI step up to the MAC in football. They may not have large enough capacity for football, but the capacity of the Dome is probably more than what many MAC schools are averaging for attendance.

 

[Cyclonepride]

About as good as they could do. Sucks for that league, but it's definitely on the lower end of mid-major conferences now.

 

[somecyguy]

I would like to see UNI step up to the MAC in football. They may not have large enough capacity for football, but the capacity of the Dome is probably more than what many MAC schools are averaging for attendance.

UNI is probably more likely to contract their football program than step up. The financial issues are still looming large there.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

UNI is probably more likely to contract their football program than step up. The financial issues are still looming large there.

UNIs financial house is in order.

Athletics takes less money from the general fund than any other school in the Valley and the vast majority of peer institutions. Fundraising continues to set records every year and overall reveues are way, way up from a decade ago.

UNI would be well positioned from a financial standpoint to join a G5 league if they would so choose.

 

[Cycsk]

UNIs financial house is in order.

Athletics takes less money from the general fund than any other school in the Valley and the vast majority of peer institutions. Fundraising continues to set records every year and overall reveues are way, way up from a decade ago.

UNI would be well positioned from a financial standpoint to join a G5 league if they would so choose.

I think the FBS requirements for scholarships will be problematic. Not seeing the Regents being willing or UNI Panther Scholarship Club being able to bring them up to that level. But I would love it if it happened.

 

[Royalclone]

I thought the best choice for the MVC would be UMKC. Decent market and the potential to step up from Municipal to the Sprint Center with better basketball. Better chance of keeping some interst that WSU drew to the conference as well.

 

[Cycsk]

I thought the best choice for the MVC would be UMKC. Decent market and the potential to step up from Municipal to the Sprint Center with better basketball. Better chance of keeping some interst that WSU drew to the conference as well.

Is there much cross-over between Wichita State and UMKC fans? I wouldn't think so.

 

[Royalclone]

Is there much cross-over between Wichita State and UMKC fans? I wouldn't think so.

There will be if you bring Valley basketball to town.