Gene wants ORU in the Valley

[Wuzee]

The Valley possibility: Wichita State baseball coach Gene Stephenson is a proponent of an Oral Roberts University switch from the Summit League to the Missouri Valley Conference.

"I've made a pitch through the (MVC) athletic directors. I think the (university) presidents make that call," Stephenson said during a Tulsa Sports Animal radio interview. "Tulsa is a great city, obviously. It would help balance out the league (geographically)."

ORU has a "tremendous basketball program, tremendous baseball program (and) tremendous track program," Stephenson said. "There's no reason why they shouldn't be a part of this, especially now that (MVC member) Northern Iowa is dropping baseball. Rob (ORU baseball coach Rob Walton) and I have talked many times . about how much he would like to be in this league.

" It makes no sense not to have (ORU) in, as far as I'm concerned. I've echoed that many times to (Wichita State's) athletic director and president, and they both agree as well."

ORU officials will not comment on any possibility of a conference change, but it is believed that the university would jump at the chance to join the Valley. If ORU were to receive a membership invitation, it would be required to spend two more years in the Summit League before making the move.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=216&articleid=20090410_216_B2_AHgfhv494660

[Shirley Schmidt]

Looks like a win for everyone.

[BenWSU]

Feb 23,2009 - Gene on KGSO show at 4:30pm

He wasn`t happy about UNI being scheduled for next year & having to find another team to play.

Plus he thought Oral Roberts should join the Valley.

[Shocker85]

Having another school in the MVC within reasonable driving distance sure would be nice. The Illinois/Indiana and Iowa+sCUm schools have their little clusters; having a southern cluster with WSU/ORU/MSU would be nice. Plus, ORU certainly has a stronger athletics tradition than some of the other MVC schools.

Ultimately, I still think WSU should restart D1 football and join C-USA.

--'85.

[ShockTalk]

Listening to Gene of late, one would think he wants out of the Valley -- badly. He has commented several times over the last couple of weeks how "backward" it is -- the Kemnitz/Stevenson game suspension (not even Little League does something like that) and the problems in getting conference games in during weather problems (Valley won't make games up on Monday).

[Ta town]

I'm a big fan of adding ORU to the valley.

[shock49]

ORU:

Shocker85, check out www.bringbackshockerfootball.com

[shoxlax]

There is three more losses every year.

[ShockerFever]

There is three more losses every year.

You're not a believer in our future, are ya?

[ShockerFever]

I think this would be an awesome move. It would create an odd 11 teams in most other sports though.

I'm starting to get sick of the Valley too, but let's be realistic fellas. We're here for the long haul. .

[CharlieHog]

I'd love to see ORU in the Valley. It would make the Valley better and it would make them have to go through a tougher conference instead of getting their yearly bid to the NCAAT.

[KC Shox]

I'd love to see ORU in the Valley. It would make the Valley better and it would make them have to go through a tougher conference instead of getting their yearly bid to the NCAAT.

Now, now, we didn't make it back in 2001 and won't this year, so don't jump to conclusions. :D

[SpanglerFan316]

I'd love to see ORU in the Valley. It would make the Valley better and it would make them have to go through a tougher conference instead of getting their yearly bid to the NCAAT.

Now, now, we didn't make it back in 2001 and won't this year, so don't jump to conclusions. :D

Actually, I think we'll win the Valley tourney this year. I think our at-large bid chances are on life support, however.

[WstateU]

I'd love to see ORU in the Valley. It would make the Valley better and it would make them have to go through a tougher conference instead of getting their yearly bid to the NCAAT.

Now, now, we didn't make it back in 2001 and won't this year, so don't jump to conclusions. :D

Actually, I think we'll win the Valley tourney this year. I think our at-large bid chances are on life support, however.

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