Murray State calls special meeting of Board of Regents- possibly to vote on joining MVC?

[Da Coach]

It's being reported that there is a special meeting of the Special Board of Regents tomorrow at Murray State University. It concerns what they call "Intercollegiate Athletics", among a few other items. The announcement states that there will be an action item regarding "Intercollegiate Athletics" that will require a vote by the Board of Regents
This seems very suggestive that they will vote on some important issue regarding their athletic department, perhaps whether to join the Missouri Valley Conference?

http://www.murraystate.edu/Libraries/Board_of_Regents/MediaAnnouncement42117.pdf

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/855108095655247872

[Da Coach]

There are rumors that Valparaiso is meeting to make a similar decision, however, because it is a private school, there is less tranparency and no meeting has been announced publicly.

On the other hand, the prevailing rumors are that Belmont prefers to stay in the Ohio Valley Conference for now. So apparently we'll soon see. The MVC could be adding 1 or possibly 2 schools.

[Chibearsfan10125]

They may be discussing the potential MVC move, but according to the Murray State AD no offer has been made.

[tornado]

Is that a current statement made this afternoon?

The other similar statements I have seen are at least 3 days old

https://twitter.com/AKAJeffBidwell/status/854101892577849346

and if you want any hint that is double-speak just read that 2nd sentence..
"The (agenda) item is not intended to provide resolution to an issue not requiring resolution." - what???


and they all play word games, so I am not sure I buy it anyway....
.... I recall when Geno signed after nearly a dozen other candidates were approached, offered, & declined...
then Mike Cross publicly announced that Geno Ford was the only one that the offer was ever made to when we knew for a fact otherwise...

[Da Coach]

As we've said before, it would be too early for anything close to a final decision from either side. The MVC will want to see detailed financial information from any school they are interested in, and they will want to make on-site visits and examine all their venues, and probably interview their coaches.
Plus, in the case of Murray State, because they play football in the FCS-level Ohio Valley Conference, that situation would also need to be resolved.
But regardless what the AD may have said to try to assuage their athletes and fans, this confirms that Murray State has been contacted by the MVC, and although they may not have been extended an official offer yet, they are in the process that is heading that direction, and tomorrow's meeting is an early vote to see if their Board supports proceeding.

[Chibearsfan10125]

I saw that statement on Twitter shortly after the meeting was announced. I looked into it, and i didn't see it any sooner, but it could've been a previous statement reposted as it was from a tweet, not a report.

[pfcmsh]

Murray State

So how do we all feel about Missouri State or Valpo joining the MVC?

[tornado]

It's about time Missouri State joined...

but I am on record saying I would like to see the MVC take in 3 new members and get to 12 - then have two divisions

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=825129291#post825129291

[Da Coach]

The MVC needs to add at least 1 school. But the idea of expanding to 12 schools, and dividing the conference into two 6-team divisions has some appeal.
The 12 team option would create some scheduling problems, since the schools would no longer play 2 games against each other team. And if they dropped to 2 games against division opponents, and 1 against the other division, that would be only 16 conference games. Schools would have to fill that void by scheduling 2 additional non-conference games. It is hard enough to fil non-conference schedules now, and that would get harder. But I could accept either option.

[Da Coach]

By the way, the special meeting of the Board of Regents at Murray State was today, and they voted unanimously to reconvene and vote if an offer comes (from the MVC)-

https://twitter.com/dreamarlowe85/status/855459245516607488

[Da Coach]

The Murray State Board of Regents at their meeting this morning also set an increase of an extra 2% in student tuition for next year only for special use.
That would raise an estimated $1,466,660. It was not specifically stated what the money would be used for. But it is noted that there is a $1 million penalty to leave the Ohio Valley Conference if 2 years notice is not given.

https://twitter.com/dreamarlowe85/status/855438622828498944

[pfcmsh]

The Murray State Board of Regents at their meeting this morning also set an increase of an extra 2% in student tuition for next year only for special use.
That would raise an estimated $1,466,660. It was not specifically stated what the money would be used for. But it is noted that there is a $1 million penalty to leave the Ohio Valley Conference if 2 years notice is not given.
https://twitter.com/dreamarlowe85/st...38622828498944

Holy Cats, Batman! That sure seems like a lot of money to just toss away. I suppose their are some financial advantages to joing the MVC? I wonder if they would pay the penalty if invited to the MVC?

[Da Coach]

Holy Cats, Batman! That sure seems like a lot of money to just toss away. I suppose their are some financial advantages to joing the MVC? I wonder if they would pay the penalty if invited to the MVC?

Yes, they would. That is very likely what the added 2% hike in student tuition was instituted for.
Wichita State paid a hefty penalty to leave the MVC.
The Mountain West recently set a $5 million buyout to discourage schools from leaving. Some conferences now have much bigger buyouts which include loss of conference revenues that were earned.A couple of the biggest penalties- Rutgers paid out $11.5 milion to leave the Big East, and the University of Maryland ended up paying out over $30 million to leave the ACC and join the Big Ten-

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2014/08/08/acc-maryland-settle-lawsuits-buyout-big-ten-conference/13781545/

[shockerfan13]

Yes, they would. That is very likely what the added 2% hike in student tuition was instituted for.
Wichita State paid a hefty penalty to leave the MVC.
The Mountain West recently set a $5 million buyout to discourage schools from leaving. Some conferences now have much bigger buyouts which include loss of conference revenues that were earned.A couple of the biggest penalties- Rutgers paid out $11.5 milion to leave the Big East, and the University of Maryland ended up paying out over $30 million to leave the ACC and join the Big Ten-
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ence/13781545/

Technically WSU didn't have an exit fee. However, they gave up their remaining NCAA shares. So I guess in that way they are losing money. It was money to be paid out over time. The Valley didn't technically have a exit fee though. Otherwise they would have had to pay that AND lose their shares.

[MacabreMob]

The MVC needs to add at least 1 school. But the idea of expanding to 12 schools, and dividing the conference into two 6-team divisions has some appeal.
The 12 team option would create some scheduling problems, since the schools would no longer play 2 games against each other team. And if they dropped to 2 games against division opponents, and 1 against the other division, that would be only 16 conference games. Schools would have to fill that void by scheduling 2 additional non-conference games. It is hard enough to fil non-conference schedules now, and that would get harder. But I could accept either option.

DC - I don't mind adding 3 to get to 12. But... I would prefer NOT to have split divisions. That has always shown a weak division and a strong division and I don't recall seeing how it has helped a conference.

HOWEVER - I am STRONGLY in favor of the teams playing unbalanced schedules. I believe this is a tool and a benefit to a conference commissioner to then create schedules that are easier for some teams and harder for others. And... so by doing this.... like in the Power Conferences.... it is the responsibility of the commissioner to maximize potential at-large bids. If it helps a potential at-large team to only have to play the best two teams once at home.... and playing a couple of the bad teams only on the road... it can maximize some wins, minimize some losses and maybe minimize embarrassing losses on the road against the top teams.... then a team might get a better chance at an at-large bid.

I may not be able to prove it cause I have not done an actual study of this... but I have seen some peculiar schedules with some "middle of the pack" Power 5 teams over the past 10 years or more.... and they seem to get easy schedules allowing for them to be "on the bubble" whereas if they had a harder schedule or if they actually had a full home-and-away to expose them for the sham they are... they wouldn't be in the discussion.... but, these Power 5 Conference commissioners have a duty and responsibility to maximize potential for at-large bids. Then... with Top50 rpi wins at home and not having to get spanked by 25 or more on the road .... they get put on the board against a team like ISU this past season and OF COURSE the Power 5 team is gonna get the bid over a mid-major like ISU.

So.... I say it's about time we expand to 12 and let the commissioner (and maybe all school AD's together decide) how the scheduling will be.