American Athletic Conference

[MoValley John]

I'll take it.

I'm not just bashing Missouri State for entertainment, I'd really have some concerns adding them to a new conference simply because of their financial situation. They will have good years every now and then, but they just don't have the resources to do any heavy lifting. There may be other teams on that list that have similar issues, but I don't know much about the non-Valley schools.

[ShockTalk]

Rank	School
28	Murray State
80	Wichita State
82	Oral Roberts
84	Southern Illinois
90	Missouri State
91	Illinois State
114	UALR
118	Valparaiso
123	Bradley
131	Austin Peay

@AndShock: is correct about UNI. This doesn't get off the ground without them.

While I, too, am not sure about MSU, I believe you need 6 current MVC members to make this happen and IN St may be worse off financially than the Bears.

There's things I like about ORU and things that make me wonder if they should be on this list. Austin Peay's recent history, since 2008, hasn't been much either.

My other top choices are Belmont (I know, pretty recent history only), New Mexico St, and North and South Dakota Sts. I think the Dakota schools are players/go getters and will be successful in a group like this (they're also already in the MVCF).

[lemuel777]

@AndShock: I think the Dakota schools are players/go getters and will be successful in a group like this (they're also already in the MVCF).

I agree 'cause weren't one of the Dakota's smart enough to offer Ron Baker when now else did?

[Shockerman]

@AndShock: is correct about UNI. This doesn't get off the ground without them.

While I, too, am not sure about MSU, I believe you need 6 current MVC members to make this happen and IN St may be worse off financially than the Bears.

There's things I like about ORU and things that make me wonder if they should be on this list. Austin Peay's recent history, since 2008, hasn't been much either.

My other top choices are Belmont (I know, pretty recent history only), New Mexico St, and North and South Dakota Sts. I think the Dakota schools are players/go getters and will be successful in a group like this (they're also already in the MVCF).

Agreed on SDSU and NDSU. SDSU is a basketball school with a top 50 Women's basketball program. The men's program won a couple of championships in D2, Frost is a nice arena that is about to undergo a major renovation. They also have the largest indoor practice facility in the nation with indoor track, seating etc. NDSU is arguably the most successfully run mid major athletics program with a nationally ranked Softball program, men's and women's track and field that has won the last 10 (or so) Summit Titles, and obviously their Football run over th last 5 or 6 years is unprecedented in modern college Football at any level. Basketball is solid and won a game against OU 2 years ago in Dance. In the Summit, it's basically SDSU and NDSU duking it out to go to the NCAA's each year. I am sure their budgets are well below other Valley programs but at least their trajectory arrow is up rather than flat lined or worse trending down.

[lemuel777]

Agreed on SDSU and NDSU. SDSU is a basketball school with a top 50 Women's basketball program. The men's program won a couple of championships in D2, Frost is a nice arena that is about to undergo a major renovation. They also have the largest indoor practice facility in the nation with indoor track, seating etc. NDSU is arguably the most successfully run mid major athletics program with a nationally ranked Softball program, men's and women's track and field that has won the last 10 (or so) Summit Titles, and obviously their Football run over th last 5 or 6 years is unprecedented in modern college Football at any level. Basketball is solid and won a game against OU 2 years ago in Dance. In the Summit, it's basically SDSU and NDSU duking it out to go to the NCAA's each year. I am sure their budgets are well below other Valley programs but at least their trajectory arrow is up rather than flat lined or worse trending down.

I watched the them duke it out in the championship game. Fun game to watch. The impressive part of the game was the fans. The arena was packed out and they were loud and crazy. They both would be perfect additions to MVC.

[Aargh]

If Elgin added a school from the Summit, it would certainly be Western Illinois.

#1 - It's in Illinois.
#2 - Wouldn't threaten to lower any current teams in the Valley standings.
#3 - Easy bus trip for the sisters of the poor members of the league.

[Dave Stalwart]

If Elgin added a school from the Summit, it would certainly be Western Illinois.

#1 - It's in Illinois.
#2 - Wouldn't threaten to lower any current teams in the Valley standings.
#3 - Easy bus trip for the sisters of the poor members of the league.

This is so true. If it seems to make the most sense to go to the MVFC and add NDSU and SDSU to strengthen the conference, we will instead add Western Illinois and Youngstown State just because...

[ISASO]

Hereafter the MVC shall be known as The SAC - 'The Settlers' Athletic Conference. Everyone can wear home-made straw hats to the post-season conference tournament.

[Eric]

ISASO, so you're saying to dress like Bares fans?

[LuskingforGuttin]

ISASO, so you're saying to dress like Bares fans?

Hahahaha. We legit dress better than any other group of fans in this conference. I'm not saying WSU is near the bottom or anything but I have always been impressed with our fashion sense. Particularly the college ladies. They bring it.

And I am not sure what group of fans dresses the worst now in the MVC, but the clear loser in the past was Creighton. It was a complete joke looking at those oompa loompas or whatever in St. Louis.

[Cdizzle]

We legit dress better than any other group of fans in this conference.

Gotta love the off-season.

Best-dressed fans. Just another reason I can't figure out the Sun Belt Snub.

[Dave Stalwart]

Here's a way to go to 16 teams:

West:
Wichita State
Northern Iowa
South Dakota State
North Dakota State
Missouri State
Denver
Omaha
Arkansas-Little Rock


East:
Valparaiso
Alabama-Birmingham
Southern Illinois
Bradley
Illinois State
Indiana State
Evansville
Drake


Absent: Loyola (trade them back to the Horizon for Valpo)...Although, since UAB did bring back football, we may just have to keep them.

[ShockerFever]

Hahahaha. We legit dress better than any other group of fans in this conference. I'm not saying WSU is near the bottom or anything but I have always been impressed with our fashion sense. Particularly the college ladies. They bring it.

Not sure if serious.

[MoValley John]

Hahahaha. We legit dress better than any other group of fans in this conference. I'm not saying WSU is near the bottom or anything but I have always been impressed with our fashion sense. Particularly the college ladies. They bring it.

And I am not sure what group of fans dresses the worst now in the MVC, but the clear loser in the past was Creighton. It was a complete joke looking at those oompa loompas or whatever in St. Louis.

What do you call a hot chick on the Missouri State campus?

A visitor.

[MoValley John]

Hahahaha. We legit dress better than any other group of fans in this conference. I'm not saying WSU is near the bottom or anything but I have always been impressed with our fashion sense. Particularly the college ladies. They bring it.

And I am not sure what group of fans dresses the worst now in the MVC, but the clear loser in the past was Creighton. It was a complete joke looking at those oompa loompas or whatever in St. Louis.

What is the definition of safe sex at Missouri State?

Placing signs on the animals that kick.