MVC History

[Dallas Brave]

Back when I graduated from Bradley in '83, the MVC had several different teams in the conference such as Tulsa, West Texas State and New Mexico State. Those schools have moved to other conferences and now we have Missouri State, Northern Iowa and Evansville.

I wasn't paying much attention to the MVC back when these new schools were brought into the MVC. What year did these schools join the MVC and were they brought in as a group or individually? The MVC has always had a mix of larger state schools and smaller private schools, but I am surprised that Evansville was admitted given that they are very small even for a private school.

[MDCowboy]

Dallas Brave -

I'm no expert on this per se, but I did graduate in 92 from BU so I vaguely recall some of this. I remember in 1990 the conference was only 8 teams as I went to the MVC Tourney at ISU that year. That year, Northern Iowa won the old Mid-Continent conference and then they were admitted along with at the time Southwest Missouri St. It was either the same year (around 1991) or one came in one year ahead of the other, I don't recall. At the time, it was key to get another few schools in and these 2 programs seemed relatively strong in the midwest. Although Northern Iowa is a curious entry, their recent basketball prowess not withstanding as they have less of a fan base, etc.

Evansville came in around 95, after a lot of success in what now is called the Horizon league. They have a good following with a good arena and could get 12K at the time. Evansville used to dominate their old conference and they came into the MVC and found the going much more difficult.

I believe Tulsa was in for a 2 year overlap with Evansville before Tulsa left in I think 1997. And that makes up the current 10 members. I don't seem to recall the 2 years of an 11 team conference however..... I assume only 8 made the MVC tourney back then and the last 3 just missed out.

Hope this helps....

[Dallas Brave]

Re: MVC History

Back when I graduated from Bradley in '83, the MVC had several different teams in the conference such as Tulsa, West Texas State and New Mexico State. Those schools have moved to other conferences and now we have Missouri State, Northern Iowa and Evansville.

I wasn't paying much attention to the MVC back when these new schools were brought into the MVC. What year did these schools join the MVC and were they brought in as a group or individually? The MVC has always had a mix of larger state schools and smaller private schools, but I am surprised that Evansville was admitted given that they are very small even for a private school.

Also, were other schools (e.g, Butler) considered?

[tornado]

Butler was once in the MVC--

Here is a list of the teams who were once in the league and who now have left:



* Butler University - 1932-1942
* University of Cincinnati - 1957-1969
* University of Detroit Mercy, formerly University of Detroit - 1949-1956
* University of Houston - 1951-1959
* University of Louisville - 1963-1974
* University of Memphis, formerly Memphis State University - 1968-1973
* New Mexico State University - 1970-1983
* University of North Texas, formerly North Texas State University - 1957-1974
* Oklahoma State University, formerly Oklahoma A&M - 1928-1956
* Saint Louis University - 1937-1974
* University of Tulsa - 1935-1996
* Washburn University - 1935-1942
* Washington University in St. Louis - 1928-1942
* West Texas A&M University, formerly West Texas State University - 1972-1985


Affiliate members

* Eastern Illinois University (men's soccer, not sponsored by the Ohio Valley Conference)
* Western Kentucky University (men's soccer, not sponsored by the Sun Belt Conference)

[MDCowboy]

I don't remember hearing if Butler was considered or not. I remember at the time thinking that Bradley should look to try to get involved with the Great Midwest when that started up. Thankfully we didn't and the MVC has turned around and into a great conference for us.....

But I agree with you that Butler would have been a better addition and give us the Indianapolis market...... I do remember that there was concern from some of the public schools that there were not enough public universities in, hence the addition of Missouri St. and UNI.

[BradleyBrave]

Butler was once in the MVC--

Here is a list of the teams who were once in the league and who now have left:



* Butler University - 1932-1942
* University of Cincinnati - 1957-1969
* University of Detroit Mercy, formerly University of Detroit - 1949-1956
* University of Houston - 1951-1959
* University of Louisville - 1963-1974
* University of Memphis, formerly Memphis State University - 1968-1973
* New Mexico State University - 1970-1983
* University of North Texas, formerly North Texas State University - 1957-1974
* Oklahoma State University, formerly Oklahoma A&M - 1928-1956
* Saint Louis University - 1937-1974
* University of Tulsa - 1935-1996
* Washburn University - 1935-1942
* Washington University in St. Louis - 1928-1942
* West Texas A&M University, formerly West Texas State University - 1972-1985


Affiliate members

* Eastern Illinois University (men's soccer, not sponsored by the Ohio Valley Conference)
* Western Kentucky University (men's soccer, not sponsored by the Sun Belt Conference)

If I am not mistaken, Kansas was also once part of the MVC, a LONG time ago.

[dogsrus]

Butler was once in the MVC--

Here is a list of the teams who were once in the league and who now have left:



* Butler University - 1932-1942
* University of Cincinnati - 1957-1969
* University of Detroit Mercy, formerly University of Detroit - 1949-1956
* University of Houston - 1951-1959
* University of Louisville - 1963-1974
* University of Memphis, formerly Memphis State University - 1968-1973
* New Mexico State University - 1970-1983
* University of North Texas, formerly North Texas State University - 1957-1974
* Oklahoma State University, formerly Oklahoma A&M - 1928-1956
* Saint Louis University - 1937-1974
* University of Tulsa - 1935-1996
* Washburn University - 1935-1942
* Washington University in St. Louis - 1928-1942
* West Texas A&M University, formerly West Texas State University - 1972-1985


Affiliate members

* Eastern Illinois University (men's soccer, not sponsored by the Ohio Valley Conference)
* Western Kentucky University (men's soccer, not sponsored by the Sun Belt Conference)

If I am not mistaken, Kansas was also once part of the MVC, a LONG time ago.

Yes AND they have won more conf. titles than BU. That was pointed out by the announcers during the sweet 16 BU whuppin of KU.

[New Guy]

[quote="BradleyBraveIf I am not mistaken, Kansas was also once part of the MVC, a LONG time ago.[/quote]

Reading I think last year's (could have been this years) media guide they had a section on BU against everyone they played and it showed almost every mid-west school has been in the MVC at some point. I remember Nebraska, Kansas, OK State, and many others.

[Dallas Brave]

Butler was once in the MVC--

Here is a list of the teams who were once in the league and who now have left:



* University of Louisville - 1963-1974
* University of Memphis, formerly Memphis State University - 1968-1973
* University of North Texas, formerly North Texas State University - 1957-1974
* Saint Louis University - 1937-1974

Four schools left in the '73/'74 time frame. What was going on at that time to prompt several departures?

[VromanFan]

Dallas Brave -

I'm no expert on this per se, but I did graduate in 92 from BU so I vaguely recall some of this. I remember in 1990 the conference was only 8 teams as I went to the MVC Tourney at ISU that year. That year, Northern Iowa won the old Mid-Continent conference and then they were admitted along with at the time Southwest Missouri St. It was either the same year (around 1991) or one came in one year ahead of the other, I don't recall. At the time, it was key to get another few schools in and these 2 programs seemed relatively strong in the midwest. Although Northern Iowa is a curious entry, their recent basketball prowess not withstanding as they have less of a fan base, etc.

Evansville came in around 95, after a lot of success in what now is called the Horizon league. They have a good following with a good arena and could get 12K at the time. Evansville used to dominate their old conference and they came into the MVC and found the going much more difficult.

I believe Tulsa was in for a 2 year overlap with Evansville before Tulsa left in I think 1997. And that makes up the current 10 members. I don't seem to recall the 2 years of an 11 team conference however..... I assume only 8 made the MVC tourney back then and the last 3 just missed out.

Hope this helps....

I believe the MVC only invited the top 8 to the tournament until somewhere around 1998...and if I recall Tulsa had left by that point.

[tornado]

If I am not mistaken, Kansas was also once part of the MVC, a LONG time ago.

Yes, so obviously that list is not all-inclusive.

If you recall, during the MVC Centennial Gala they talked about the very first MVC basketball game in 1907.
It involved Kansas, and here is a comment from their recent news release:

"The five schools which formed the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association were Washington University of St. Louis, and the state universities of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska."

So not only Kansas, but Iowa, Mizzou, and Nebraska.

[OrangeandBlack74]

Butler was once in the MVC--

Here is a list of the teams who were once in the league and who now have left:



* University of Louisville - 1963-1974
* University of Memphis, formerly Memphis State University - 1968-1973
* University of North Texas, formerly North Texas State University - 1957-1974
* Saint Louis University - 1937-1974

Four schools left in the '73/'74 time frame. What was going on at that time to prompt several departures?

I think that was about the time the old Metro Conference was formed, which included Louisville, Memphis State, St. Louis and Cincinnati among others.

[squirrel]

Butler was once in the MVC--

Here is a list of the teams who were once in the league and who now have left:



* University of Louisville - 1963-1974
* University of Memphis, formerly Memphis State University - 1968-1973
* University of North Texas, formerly North Texas State University - 1957-1974
* Saint Louis University - 1937-1974

Four schools left in the '73/'74 time frame. What was going on at that time to prompt several departures?

I think that was about the time the old Metro Conference was formed, which included Louisville, Memphis State, St. Louis and Cincinnati among others.

That's correct Orange and Black. . .The Metro was formed in 1975 by Cinci, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Louisville, Tulane, and St. Louis principally because they wanted to advance their athletics programs by competing with other schools that had designs on major football as well as dedicated budgets.

Many of the remaining Missouri Valley schools had poor budgets and carried many non-paid staff. For instance, I believe Joe Stowell never had any full-time paid assistants, and that is a major reason for the seperation.

[MacabreMob]

1969 Cincy w/d
1973 Memphis w/d
1974 St louis and N Texas w/d
1974 SIU admitted
1975 LVille w/d
1976 Indy St admitted
1976 Creighton re-admitted
1980 ISU admitted
1983 NM St w/d
1986 W Tex St w/d
1990 SW Mo St admitted
1991 UNI admitted
1993 EVille admitted
1996 Tulsa w/d

[Da Coach]

Here is the best reference site for this topic of what schools were in the MVC. It lists them all and the dates--

http://groups.msn.com/SimmonsField/missourivalleyconference.msnw