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a lot of the BU fans recall when Missouri State was Southwest Missouri State (SWMS)...and a decade ago they pushed to get their name changed to MISSOURI STATE....
and hoped that getting rid of the "directional" past of their name would help recruiting and thus help athletic success.
here's a 10-year followup article on how that has impacted SWMS...
-enrollment is up 20%
-donations & giving is up 100%
-marked improvement/new buildings on campus
-this article lists many more things that the believe are benefits from the name change but...
but there is an interesting lack of recent athletic achievements...
Recall - SWMS basketball went to the Sweet 16 and had tremendous teams under Steve Alford then even some under Barry Hinson - but their success since becoming MSU is hard to point to...
SWMS was a dominant men's soccer power before the name change - they won double-digit wins 11 times between 1994 & 2005 including 17-1-3 in 1999 - they have had some success but not on par since - winning 11 or more only twice since 2005.
SWMS had nationally recognized women's basketball as SWMS - even making THE FINAL FOUR twice!!! - but way less so since..
BTW- the past President of the University of Missouri system who opposed the name change, Elson Floyd, just died..
and hoped that getting rid of the "directional" past of their name would help recruiting and thus help athletic success.
here's a 10-year followup article on how that has impacted SWMS...
-enrollment is up 20%
-donations & giving is up 100%
-marked improvement/new buildings on campus
-this article lists many more things that the believe are benefits from the name change but...
but there is an interesting lack of recent athletic achievements...
Recall - SWMS basketball went to the Sweet 16 and had tremendous teams under Steve Alford then even some under Barry Hinson - but their success since becoming MSU is hard to point to...
SWMS was a dominant men's soccer power before the name change - they won double-digit wins 11 times between 1994 & 2005 including 17-1-3 in 1999 - they have had some success but not on par since - winning 11 or more only twice since 2005.
SWMS had nationally recognized women's basketball as SWMS - even making THE FINAL FOUR twice!!! - but way less so since..
BTW- the past President of the University of Missouri system who opposed the name change, Elson Floyd, just died..
