New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

[UNIdad]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Yeah, his belief that FCS football success in a conference named "Missouri Valley" translates to attractiveness to the conference and success in every other sport in the other Missouri Valley is delusional and pretty annoying. It shows a complete lack of understanding of intercollegiate athletics. You explained it well.

As to your last sentence - I wish Louisville and WSU had been on opposite sides of the bracket this year...wouldn't that have been something to see TWO teams UNI played (and played competitively against) battle each other for the crown?

It would have been cool, especially if somebody made a highlight video of plays from games with us that showed us playing them both close.

It is like I thought might happen with Kansas and Ohio State meeting in the championship with a highlight video of both teams beating Iowa State in the last second.

[JayJ79]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

We have won 3 tourney games in 9 tries ALWAYS as the underdog.

How many games have we won in the football play-offs vs what we have played when we are the underdog? How about our home (favorite) record?

Here it is:
As the Home team we are 15-5, 75% winning percentage when we have been favored.

As a road team we are 4-10, 28% winning percentage when we are the underdogs, two of those came in 2005.

We also lost our only neutral game with the 2005 title game, though we got the dark uniforms and I don't remember if we were favored or not.

Home team does not always mean "favored" team in the FCS playoff setup. Other than the seeded teams, it comes down to bid amount.

[in_the_stands]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Favored or not, our home playoff performance has been disappointing recently. Not as disappointing as missing the playoffs, obviously.

[DownGoesKansas]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Seems like it is Loyola to the Valley. I do not really get the move if true. They have been awful and no one in Chicago cares about college basketball.

I honestly would have rather had UMKC. I feel like the potential is there at least but we will see.

[run&blade]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Its a panic move. They can wash their hands of it and say......"we now have a Chicago presence what more could we do".

Nobody cares about Chicago college basketball. Nobody. Their attendance is absolute crap.

The bright side is uni has two easy wins every year. Mcleod will be packed for Loyola's when they come to town for sure.

[95UNIGRAD]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Seems like it is Loyola to the Valley. I do not really get the move if true. They have been awful and no one in Chicago cares about college basketball.

I honestly would have rather had UMKC. I feel like the potential is there at least but we will see.

No UMKC, thanks. I felt we could have done better as a conference, but I guess we'll see what happens.

By the way, here's a link if anyone didn't see who broke the story:

http://www.ksdk.com/sports/article/3...ley-Conference

[UNIChippewa]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Huh. This gets a "meh" from me.

We'll see in time if it's a good addition or not, but at the moment I have to think we could have done better.

Anyone know if we're going to add any more schools?

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

I'd be fine with going to 12. We Have a lot more games to schedule now with end of bracket buster (2 games), MVC/MWC challenge, and Iowa/ISU.

[Pangloss]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Greetings from a Loyola grad and fan. We're extremely excited to me a member of the MVC.

You may be asking yourselves, "Why would the MVC add Loyola?" Here's why:

1. Academics. We replace Creighton nicely. Ranked #106 in US News' National University rankings, in spite of Catholic schools being underperformers on their crucial peer rankings. Also, highest graduation rate in Horizon League for two decades or more.
2. History. 1 national championship, 2 NIT runner up finishes, 2 Final Fours, 1 Sweet 16, 2 Hall of Fame inductees.
3. Market. The third largest market in the country, wiith more people in the metro than the combined MVC.
4. Finances. Creighton had an endowment of $365 million, which was roughly twice the average of the other 9 schools in the MVC. Loyola has an endowment of $389 million, assets worth $1.2 billion, and yearly giving of over $150 million, which is in the Top 50 of NCAA Division I teams.
5. Competitive. Loyola is currently the top ranked overall sports school in the Horizon League, despite not fielding teams in baseball and tennis. Loyola also had the best record in its conference in men's basketball against perennial favorite Butler over their last 8 years in the HL.
6. Competitive vs. MVC. Despite perceptions of being a terrible program, Loyola is 6-6 in their last 12 men's basketball meetings with MVC teams, including a 2-1 record against eventual MVC NCAA Tournament teams.
7. Willingness to upgrade athletics. Loyola has spent approximately $100 million on upgrades and new facilities in athletics over the past two years. On Friday, Loyola announced the hiring of 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist Sheryl Swoopes as their new women's basketball head coach. Also in the process of hiring a new men's soccer coach.
8. Intangibles. Travel to and from Chicago is easier and closer than most other cities, especially in winter. Getting into the Chicago market offers a recruiting benefit for other MVC teams. And it is a much better place to visit with more entertainment options than any other city currently within the MVC footprint.

Finally, we (if I can speak for most other Loyola fans) are ELATED to be in the MVC, not just because of it's higher profile athletically, but because of the community and tradition in this conference. I think your doubts and skepticism about our ability to compete and add to the conference will be soon dispelled.

[TH1974]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Its a panic move. They can wash their hands of it and say......"we now have a Chicago presence what more could we do".

Nobody cares about Chicago college basketball. Nobody. Their attendance is absolute crap.

Even fewer people care about North Dakota.

[williebat]

Greetings from a Loyola grad and fan. We're extremely excited to me a member of the MVC.

You may be asking yourselves, "Why would the MVC add Loyola?" Here's why:

1. Academics. We replace Creighton nicely. Ranked #106 in US News' National University rankings, in spite of Catholic schools being underperformers on their crucial peer rankings. Also, highest graduation rate in Horizon League for two decades or more.
2. History. 1 national championship, 2 NIT runner up finishes, 2 Final Fours, 1 Sweet 16, 2 Hall of Fame inductees.
3. Market. The third largest market in the country, wiith more people in the metro than the combined MVC.
4. Finances. Creighton had an endowment of $365 million, which was roughly twice the average of the other 9 schools in the MVC. Loyola has an endowment of $389 million, assets worth $1.2 billion, and yearly giving of over $150 million, which is in the Top 50 of NCAA Division I teams.
5. Competitive. Loyola is currently the top ranked overall sports school in the Horizon League, despite not fielding teams in baseball and tennis. Loyola also had the best record in its conference in men's basketball against perennial favorite Butler over their last 8 years in the HL.
6. Competitive vs. MVC. Despite perceptions of being a terrible program, Loyola is 6-6 in their last 12 men's basketball meetings with MVC teams, including a 2-1 record against eventual MVC NCAA Tournament teams.
7. Willingness to upgrade athletics. Loyola has spent approximately $100 million on upgrades and new facilities in athletics over the past two years. On Friday, Loyola announced the hiring of 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist Sheryl Swoopes as their new women's basketball head coach. Also in the process of hiring a new men's soccer coach.
8. Intangibles. Travel to and from Chicago is easier and closer than most other cities, especially in winter. Getting into the Chicago market offers a recruiting benefit for other MVC teams. And it is a much better place to visit with more entertainment options than any other city currently within the MVC footprint.

Finally, we (if I can speak for most other Loyola fans) are ELATED to be in the MVC, not just because of it's higher profile athletically, but because of the community and tradition in this conference. I think your doubts and skepticism about our ability to compete and add to the conference will be soon dispelled.

I for one am thrilled. I was hoping it might be Loyola. Great job MVC. And Sheryl swoops? Wow!!.

Don't forget Loyola great tradition in integrating college basketball.

How is the volleyball team?

[Pangloss]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Men's Volleyball at Loyola:



We play in the same conference with Ohio State. We usually hit the Top 15 rankings, and have been nationally ranked in the Top 10 many times. We're currently 10-3 and tied for first place in the conference. The first place conference winner gets an automatic bid to the Men's Volleyball Final Four.

[williebat]

Men's Volleyball at Loyola:



We play in the same conference with Ohio State. We usually hit the Top 15 rankings, and have been nationally ranked in the Top 10 many times. We're currently 10-3 and tied for first place in the conference. The first place conference winner gets an automatic bid to the Men's Volleyball Final Four.

Wow . Will woman's volleyball be moving to the valley?

[JayJ79]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

How is the volleyball team?

I'd say they'd compare to the mid/lower level of the MVC in womens volleyball.

They have made it to the NCAA tourney on five different occasions, but never advanced:

• '95 swept by Ball State (13-15 11-15 8-15)
• '99 swept by Colorado State (5-15 9-15 8-15)
• '00 beaten 3-1 by Kansas State (7-15 4-15 15-6 12-15)
• '04 swept by Wisconsin (27-30 26-30 25-30)
• '05 swept by Wisconsin (18-30 26-30 14-30)

[UNI Prof]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Eh, it's not a Dakota school, so it's a win in my book. Welcome to the conference.