Evansville bolting for greener pastures?

[Kung Wu]

I just read a thread on MVCFans speculating Evansville to the Horizon. Just wondering what Shocker fans thought of the possibility.

Tease.

Just look at this thread and what you have done.

[AG1219]

Switching to the topic at hand I would be sad if we lost E'ville. I am not entirely familiar with the history of the Valley but I believe that they have been around for a good while.

HAHAHA! This made my day.

[MadDog]

How about Western Kentucky? I also like the Murray State idea....

[SubGod22]

How about Western Kentucky? I also like the Murray State idea....

Western Kentucky plays FBS football.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Honestly, having a guy call Big East schools and beg them to come to the Valley does not make that guy look better in my eyes. In fact, I might tend to think worse about him because it would appear pretty obvious that he's friggin' clueless and out of touch with reality.

There is a difference between working hard and working smart. The commish could work his a$$ off calling BCS conference schools and begging them to move 20 hours a day for six consecutive months, but at the end of those six months, he'll still be looking for that replacement team.

You have made three posts in a row and I am in complete agreement with all of them. A record, I am sure.

I hope I do not have some deep seated desire to flap my wings in a blue jumpsuit.

[Kung Wu]

You have made three posts in a row and I am in complete agreement with all of them. A record, I am sure.

I hope I do not have some deep seated desire to flap my wings in a blue jumpsuit.

Careful General Benedict.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Careful General Benedict.

Don't worry. I still sleep in my black and yellow jammies.

[ShockerFever]

That is bush league John. I had two really good sources that I trust implicitly tell me that we were going to the CUSA. One was really close to a high level MSU administrator and the other was himself a high ranking OVC dignitary.

The next time you go to twitter or an internet forum, you better make DAMN sure that your "sources" are 100% golden. Otherwise, you are scarred with permanent egg on your face for life.

Switching to the topic at hand I would be sad if we lost E'ville. I am not entirely familiar with the history of the Valley but I believe that they have been around for a good while.

You need to brush up on your history a bit better, Casey. Evansville is the conference's youngest member, joining a mere 18 years ago in 1994, basically to fill the void for Tulsa when they left. What do you think about Tulsa's replacement? Better or worse for the Valley.

Evansville has zero fan support, little market value, little investment in athletics, and fields overall terrible athletic programs, especially the big ones. I don't understand your sympathy for them. Maybe perhaps it's one of the few teams MSU can beat in athletics? You got me. Evansville bailing would be a huge plus for this conference.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I really like the Murray State idea--it would be a huge upgrade from Evansville and I'm pretty sure MS would accept an invite. NM State would be a harder sell, but definitely worth it if we could make it happen. Milwaukee would also be a solid addition.

Just rumors of Eville leaving makes me sleep better at night.

[Spaulding]

Selfishly so I can watch the Shox play every once in a while, I think we should go after Univ. of San Diego. Great baseball program, Division I basketball program (West Coast Conf.), big market, etc. Let's make it happen for me! Hee hee...

[ABC]

I do not see how Murray State is much of an upgrade.

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of great options. Marquette ain't ever comin' to the MVC. Likewise, the MVC would be stupid to add some no-name little sister.

Though many, including me, bemoan the addition of UNI, they've had a decent amount of basketball success over the last 10 years.

We need a decent name school in the same broad geographic footprint in which the MVC is a step-up. Butler would have been a good option. I do not see how ORU, Denver or the like fit this. It is the same problem WSU has when considering other conference options. Geography is limiting.

Maybe New Mexico State? The Air Force Academy would fit. UMKC isn't much better than ORU but I think they are a better option. UTEP? Maybe Western Kentucky? I don't see how many Horizon or Summit Conference members would be any better than Evansville.

[DoubleJayAlum]

I don't see how many Horizon or Summit Conference members would be any better than Evansville.

I think that some Horizon (and perhaps one or two Summit) schools would be a lot better than Evansville. On the court success might be similar, but there are certainly schools that come from hotbeds of talent (Detroit, Milwaukee) and/or larger metropolitan areas (Denver, Tulsa (ORU) which may help with national exposure and TV coverage. Evansville is small town that the MVC already has exposure in through SIU and Indy St. If they aren't competing for postseason births, they don't really bring much to the conference. By comparison a school like Detroit or Milwaukee opens up new recruiting areas to MVC schools.

(Note: I know that a school does not have to play in a geographic area to be able to recruit there, but it is generally easier to get a foothold in a geographic area if the residents have at least heard of you, know where you are, will get a chance to see their son play in person ever year, etc.)

Now if we are going to replace them with one of the Dakota schools, then I think the conference isn't doing anything to improve itself. Personally, I'd like to see us expand our footprint by picking a school in places like Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wisconsin, Ohio or Michigan.

[ABC]

Maybe Detriot. They were in the MVC for a bit sometime in the 60s or 70s.

I just don't see how Wisc-GB or Wisc-MKE help much. If Evansville leaves, I don't think we have to replace them do we?

[C0|dB|00ded]

Replace them with Friend's University, I couldn't care less. This conference sucks pure and simple. The only program even coming close to Wichita State's prowess is the BJ's and their foundation is on shaky ground. Creighton has a very small core fanbase, which was artificially swollen due to the Missing Quiet Link effect. Put them back in their old arena and they are NIU at best. What does that say? I don't know. Hopefully for them the Nebraska fans keep coming.

So back to the point of the thread.. we need to leave this shitty conference and we need to do it yesterday. The addition of another weak school will hopefully push our leadership over the edge to start taking drastic action. NIU, INSU, Drake, EU, SWOMO, SIU-C, BU, ISU.. all ****.


T


...:cool:

[Dave Stalwart]

BAM