BirdsEyeView wrote:Somebody please explain why Valpo is a good get for this conference?
Football stinks
Small school
Basketball lost the best player they've ever had and their coach to Vandy
Can anyone look at them and say, they potentially could be the next Wichita due to their commitment in athletics?
MVU covered what I would have said.
Valpo is Drake, but successful. Depending your outlook that's good and bad. Football doesn't matter - just like Drake. Valpo is the least funded non-HBCU football program in the county. That has no impact. If you're worried about football where is your worry over Murray State - they are a fully funded 63 scholarship football program. The sustainability of Valpo is a concern. They very easily can become the next Evansville.
I'm not anti-Murray State, but I wouldn't push them as a first pick. I'm okay with them. Their basketball, and entire budget, is on the smaller side (especially entire budget) but they've shown sustained success, ability to attract up and coming coaches, and talent. Hopefully being MVC can help them keep coaches around longer.
I would assume if a place like Valpo or Murray State is invited there will be a stipulation about facility improvements, maybe funding improvements, etc...
There is no "next Wichita". It's why adding to get to 11 or 12 with strong teams being the addition, is the best option if we are going to add teams.