Outside of the major conferences (which wouldn't be knocking down WSU's door, especially building a football program from nothing), I can't imagine a football program would be worth it financially. I believe I read some schools are considering dropping back down to FCS from FBS for that very reason. I think University of Idaho is actually doing so next year or the year after.

IF they were to leave, though, my guess would be the Dakota State schools would be looked at for the MVC. North Dakota State has been the top FCS football program in the nation since joining the MVFC, and I would think the football schools would do a lot to try and keep them from jumping to FBS.

Football goes beyond just the numbers. It increases prestige and recognition. It drives more donations, higher enrollment, more advertising etc. I think a lot of schools may "lose" money simply on football. But make more money as a whole because of football. And this isn't just the P5 schools. There's a reason a lot of schools are starting, have started, or are considering starting football. And not just to get to the highest levels.

Bardo has a vision for Wichita. He's already been working the academic and research side of things. He wants to grow enrollment to over 20k. Football would help that. Before we dropped football at Wichita, our enrollment was over 18k I believe and I think that was on par or maybe even slightly ahead of KSU up the road. After football was dropped enrollment gradually followed. Football also brings a different level of excitement and student activity to campus. He wants to make the campus more student friendly and offer a more traditional experience that they may not be currently getting. A lot of people know students that considered WSU, but chose to go somewhere because of football.

We know we aren't getting into a P5 conference if we have football. But we can get into a stronger conference for all of our sports. MVC basketball has been slowly declining in strength since about 2008 or so. I don't know if certain schools simply can't keep up and invest or just don't want to but it's gotten bad. A decade or so ago we were constantly a top 10 RPI conference and finished ahead of a couple of power conferences a few times. The way things are going, that will be just a memory. And Wichita fans have been wanting out of the MVC for quite some time. Even before CU left for the Big East.

Also, the MVC started to fall from grace when it decided not to sponsor D1A football at the time. That's what forced a lot of schools to leave for greener pastures. Some left prior to that because I think they saw where it was heading. Wichita made the mistake of not going with the others that left and tried to hang on as a football independent which isn't easy to do unless you're a Notre Dame or BYU and can easily schedule games. That, coupled with a president and AD that neither cared much about the athletic department or its future ended football.

I believe that when the report is released, or whatever, in the next few weeks, we will see Wichita proceed with reviving football. And we will proceed with doing it the right way and making sure it's properly funded and gets what it needs to compete in the highest level. This could then open up opportunities in conferences like the MWC or AAC that are both stronger basketball conferences and have more like minded research institutions and urban universities.

Essentially, Wichita isn't the only school looking at ways to leave the MVC. We're just the only one that is being this public about it. UNI has had talks in the past with the MAC. But at the time, MAC basketball was a major downgrade. That's not quite the case anymore. MSU has talked to CUSA and the Sun Belt in the past. If they can get things organized and funded in Springfield they could definitely get an invite to the Belt. Illinois State has had ideas about upgrading football and trying to get into the MAC in the past. All of this requires a conference to be interested, but if say Wichita leaves, I could see some conferences thinking that they could pull a couple of schools away from the MVC to eliminate them as a threat in basketball. If UNI were to leave as well, it would really hurt the MVC at least in the short term as those are the top 2 programs. There is potential at other schools, but until realized, it's just potential.

If Wichita decides not to restart football, we're essentially stuck with no place to go as nobody is interested in adding a school that doesn't play football. But that still may not stop and UNI or MSU from looking at other options.

Personally, regardless of what Wichita ultimately decides, I think the MVC would be smart to go ahead and expand to 12 and add the Dakotas. Two strong programs already affiliated with some of the schools because of the MVFC. It strengthens basketball immediately. But I doubt they'd get the votes because I believe 8 have to favor expansion and there are too many poor schools that care more about travel than strength. Another reason Wichita is exploring options.

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The Roundhouse

The MVC may or may not be slipping--I doubt that it is. But with the impending loss of Wichita St, it would behoove the Conference to expand. Let us do this with the nine which would remain--Add Valpo ,St Louis, Detroit, Belmont, E Illinois, Oral Roberts ,Missouri KC This will make sixteen ! Split east -west. Now then the Dakota power among the four schools IS NDSU-Fargo--BUT they play Football and do it well. Now then you also have Chgo St and UIC from which to pick.
Now then Valpo. Detroit, Belmont and ORU would really enhance the Leagues as the best of my list. IF The Valley does this correctly, we will off set the loss of WSU nicely. Private/ Public should only be a secondary consideration. I feel ST Louis ( which for some reason does not like the Valley) and Valpo will be the keys here. IF Panthers wish to go--well that makes it truly easier ! ( Good team at the moment--but.....

The MVC has been slipping for the last 15 - 20 years. If Wichita State leaves, which it will, it will be like Butler leaving the Horizon. And if Northern Iowa leaves the Horizon may actually be a stronger conference. The MVC has their work cut out. Unless we really turn around our program with success we will be stuck in a bottom tier conference, which at this time, is where we belong! Go Ramblers and prove me wrong!!!!

I think a breath needs to be taken here. WSU may leave, and they've had a great run...but the MVC would survive. 10 years ago, WSU was a perennial NIT at best team, and teams like SIU and Bradley were in the NCAA Sweet 16. It's all cyclical, WSU will do what they feel is best for them in the end, but the MVC as a whole, its history, is on solid ground. And better than the Horizon.

Take that,Zeke.

always interesting to talk conference change. WSU leaving the Valley would certainly go against their tradition and culture but everybody seems to think their is bigger money and prestige elsewhere. If all 3 schools mentioned,WSU,UNI and Illinois St. leave. ( doubt any Illinois state school is in a position to change) leave I could see the MVC melting away, everyone looking for a new home. The Indiana schools trying to move south, Indiana State maybe switching valleys to the Ohio Valley. I do not see the MAC looking to add UNI but maybe Illinois State and or Southern and even Bradley if they revived football. I see the schools that would have a tough time being LU,and Drake.
Interesting where and what would LU do ? The logical thing of course is a midwest catholic league but heavily doubt if St. Louis, Marquette, Creighton, Dayton ,Xavier, Depaul etc wanting to change their positions. Back to the Horizon?

Natey is on to something--Except one hardly ever goes back. To me the Horizon is a dead issue--Valpo and Detroit come to the Valley --Then perhaps Belmont or Oral--not both for a nice 12 teamer !!
Now tr5hen Belmont IS south whereas WSU is west--The Valley trades on flight for another--We then would have a nice tight competitive league !

WSU our present bell-weather is as good as gone so we move on. WSU ? One cannot server two masters and they DO want Football and the MW or some where.
The above mentioned shools are NOT weak sisters nor are we (any more)---Doing well in the JAM will mean a huge step forward.

The Valley is in decent shape to be a top 7 conference again. All it would take is one or more of the other schools to build into a better program for more than one recruiting cycle, and sustain playing at an elite level for six years or more. We saw Butler do it in the Horizon (with favoritism from the league). Bradley has a new coach and excellent fan support to be able to do it soon, UNI has a great coach and good fan support to always keep them competitive, and other teams have the potential to string two or three good years together with an exceptional recruit.

The other side of teams becoming elite is they take off and leave you, glad as hell to get out of your crappy league so they can rub elbows with their true peers, no matter how much you've helped them (see Butler, the Little Lord Fauntleroy of the Horizon League). Valpo seems like the only program in the HL that can sustain success year to year, but they just lost Bryce Drew. The HL fans say that Oakland was the replacement for Loyola because they joined immediately after we left. But really, they're a bad replacement for Butler-- who left suddenly the year before-- and Northern Kentucky was the bad replacement for us.

If Valpo could draw up plans and funding for a 6500-seat arena, they'd be perfect for the MVC (assuming Matt Lotich-- their first coach outside the Drew family since 1987-- doesn't squander their success). Detroit has to improve and stabilize their finances to even think about jumping conferences. UMKC has a great location, but they need substantial improvement. UALR (now known as Little Rock) might be building into something to seriously look at-- nice 5600 seat on-campus arena, averaged 3751 attendance last season, good location. Belmont might be ready to upgrade soon, too.

St. Louis really might want to reconsider their A10 membership since Butler and Xavier left; there's only one school left in the A10 (Dayton) within 600 miles. There are no chances for regional rivalries and for non-revenue sports, the travel time and costs has to be a killer.

Well, John makes his usual factual report--Now then to build on it, I will unabashedly state that LUC is on the cusp of bing the elite team in the Valley--The JAM will tell us a lot as we are playing NAMES. We do well, we will be a factor going on. Add a team or three and we will be a nice compact conference--Valpo, Belmont and St Louis will solidify the Valley nicely. Even up Public/private mix is nice, but should not be the big deal that some think it has to be.
LUC is on the rise along with Panthers and maybe Trees for now---but Bradley will not be the door mats much longer.

GO CUBS !! OOOOOPS I mean GO RAMBLERS !!