ORU discussing membership with MVC

[DUBulldog]

If the MVC was going to start over, who are the foundational schools? I think BU, CU and WSU are the core followed by MSU. ISU and SIU are next but the others could be easily replaced by equal or better.

Drake is also a core member based on tenure.

Based strictly on value to the MVC, Drake would be very low.

As would Bradley. If we're talking all sports, I'd rank Drake over Bradley

[BUDude]

As would Bradley. If we're talking all sports, I'd rank Drake over Bradley

Be objective here- if you were a conference commissioner and you got to cherry pick MVC teams to add value to your league who are you taking Bradley or Drake? That's the easiest question ever to answer.

[RoyalShock]

I'm not sure what we are going to do with all these new schools. First USD, now Oral Roberts?

(Given the choice, I take ORU over anything in the Dakotas BTW)

The MVC is just preparing for the departure of WSU and CU to the A-10. I have heard from multiple sources that there is a sealed envelope on Eric Sexton's desk.

Apparently my sources had a little more info. Yes, there WAS a sealed envelope on Sexton's desk from the A-10. The problem was, their envelopes say "Membership has its rewards" printed on the front. Sexton thought it was a credit card offer and had it shredded.

What kind of marketing department do they have over in the A-10? Morons. Can't even count.

[jwa123]

like I said budude, you sure talk a lot of smack.

[valleychamp]

As would Bradley. If we're talking all sports, I'd rank Drake over Bradley

Be objective here- if you were a conference commissioner and you got to cherry pick MVC teams to add value to your league who are you taking Bradley or Drake? That's the easiest question ever to answer.

The easiest question ever? No.

If we are just talking Men's basketball, then Bradley would have an edge, but not by a lot. Both have similar histories, and both have very little success in recent history. Bradley has an edge in support and attendance, but Drake is in the bigger city. Without looking it up, I would say that Drake definitely has the edge in many other sports as well.

All in all, pretty similar profiles.

[shocktheheart]

As would Bradley. If we're talking all sports, I'd rank Drake over Bradley

Be objective here- if you were a conference commissioner and you got to cherry pick MVC teams to add value to your league who are you taking Bradley or Drake? That's the easiest question ever to answer.

I would take Bradley. What order would everyone take the other Valley teams? The first two would be pretty easy in my opinion with CU and WSU in that order.

[Bluejay09Bear06]

The value to this conference can probably be determined by a formula factoring in, in order of importance, (1) media market, (2) attendance, and (3) sustained basketball success. Given that, I'd rank the schools as follows:

1. Creighton
2. Wichita State
3. Missouri State
4. Bradley
5. Illinois State
6. Drake
7. Southern Illinois
8. Northern Iowa
9. Indiana State
10. Evansville

[DoubleJayAlum]

A couple of years ago, I would have had Bradley a definite three. Most recently, however, they seem to have fallen on some hard times. Sticking with a coach like JIm Les will do that.

There are also seemingly some issues with the athletic department that point toward financial problems.

First, Bradley didn't pay Ford's buyout when he left KSU, which is pretty standard nowadays. The result was that KSU sued (or threatened to sue) Ford and Bradley to get it paid.

Second, Bradley fought payment of Les' buyout after canning him.

Third, the last couple of years, Bradley has moved games away from their larger, off campus venue, to a much smaller on campus venue for what would appear to be monetary reasons.

Finally, Bradley has long had their own local TV deal. We are roughly two weeks from the start of the season and, so far, Bradley lost their previous deal and nobody has stepped up yet to sign on. There is speculation the cause is lack of interest combined with an inability to sell advertising (due also presumably to lack of interest).

I honestly don't know where Bradley stands right now, but it certainly isn't in the same position that it used to be in. It will be interesting to see where their attendance numbers end up this year.

[DoubleJayAlum]

The value to this conference can probably be determined by a formula factoring in, in order of importance, (1) media market, (2) attendance, and (3) sustained basketball success.

I tend to agree with this formula. I'd probably add a forth criterion: (4) number of other athletic programs in MVC recognized sports funded by the school. It is a much lesser criterion, but I think it plays a role as other conference members need opponents within the conference (i.e., a team that funds the least amount of sports is not as necessary tot he conference). I realize this might cause a few schools' ranking to be adjusted a bit.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

I'm surprised some non-Bradley fans have them so high. Almost aghast at it actually. I say this with sincere honesty but sometimes I almost forget they are in this conference. They have a nice school academically. In fact I applied and wasn't accepted even. But what's going on with the love? This isn't bradleyfans or whatever, we can speak our minds here.

In terms of value. I put WSU, CU, and MSU in the top category. These are the conference bellcows. As they go the rest of the league goes. I then put Illinois State in that next grouping, just missing the others by a hair. Then UNI and SIUC. After that the Drakes, E'villes, ISUblue, Bradleys, and whatever else are all about the same to me. Maybe I put Drake a bit higher because I genuinely like them. But Bradely doesn't come anywhere near the top 5 unless we are talking about quality of education.