Valparaiso invited to join MVC

[Da Coach]

It's official- the Missouri Valley Presidents voted unanimously to extend an invitation to Valparaiso University to join the Missouri Valley Conference.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/valparaiso-to-join-missouri-valley-conference/article_d7a90a87-35a9-52aa-b505-8d9801b8161f.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share

http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/valparaiso-invited-to-missouri-valley-conference/article_9bc73458-e6a5-53b6-b851-279e75906764.html

Valparaiso's football team plays in the non-scholarship Pioneer League, and will remain in the Pioneer League-

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/valpo-will-remain-in-pioneer-league-despite-missouri-valley-invite-050917

I think they got it right this time.

[LongTimeFan]

I may not be as knowledgeable as some but I think they should have added Murray State also.

[Da Coach]

There were a lot of people who wanted Murray State to be invited. But there were reasons they chose to only add Valparaiso.

Here is an article with an interview worth listening to with Clifton M. Smart III, the President of Missouri State, one of the few MVC presidents who have spoken publicly about the proceedings.
First, he notes that the effective date of the invitation to Valparaiso is July 1, 2017. That is because some sports are stil being competed. And Valparaiso has been asked not to comment or respond to the invitation until they have completed playing in all sports for the 2016-17 year.
The MVC Presidents also directed the expansion working group, the subcomittee that did the work to present the options to the Presidents, to continue to work over the next 9 months to evaulate the potential to add more members to the MVC. They felt it was critical to add one member now to make the conference schedules work starting next fall, but that they needed more time to evaluate the other prospective schools that were involved in the expansion talks. They will meet again in June to begin working on the possibility of further expansion, and will make a decision in March, 2018 whether additional schools wil be added.
He also explains why adding 2 new members to reach a total of 11 members does not work for the MVC in many sports.

Interview-

http://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/09/missouri-valley-considering-further-expansion-after-valparaiso-addition/

From what he says, it sounds very likely the MVC will add 2 more members by March, 2018, and by the 2018-19 school year, the conference will be at 12 schools. Murray State will likely be one of those 2 additional members.

Here is a tweet by Cliford Smart suggesting future expansion-

https://twitter.com/ClifSmart/status/861959323613876226

Now there are reports that University of Nebraska-Omaha, the one Summit League member that was considered, will look into trying to join the Horizon league to fill the void left by Valpo.

[Fetz86]

Well I like the decision as long as Murray and one more get added next spring, it's basically audition time for that 12th spot imo

[Da Coach]

They may also be giving Milwaukee time to straighten out the morass they have created. Ideally, they should be a better choice than Nebraska-Omaha.

[wizard1]

Valpariso Invited, Etc....

Valpo is an excellent addition. Now the MVC should put on a full court press to convince St. Louis to come aboard. That would be a super addition. Murray State would be OK but nowhere as good as St. Louis.
Wizard

[Da Coach]

The Valparaiso beat writer for the NW Indiana Times reports there are "Rumblings from Valpo that school will act quickly on MVC invitation after @ValpoBaseball either wins or is eliminated from Horizon tourney".

https://twitter.com/NWIOren/status/866711184950644736

Baseball is the only Horizon League sport still being played.
Here is the bracket & schedule for the Horizon League double-elimination baseball tournament that begins Wednesday, May 24, and will be completed Saturday, May 27-

http://hln.s3.amazonaws.com/sports/brackets/1/bracket.pdf?1495312209

The the "rumblings" are true, it suggests we might hear Valpo's decision late this week, or early next week.

[Da Coach]

Valpo was eliminated from the Horizon baseball tournament, so it is expected they will arrange executive meetings quickly to approve their move to the MVC.

[Da Coach]

An announcement from Valparaiso could come as early as tomorrow (Thursday, May 25).