New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

[sivert]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

...
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.
.

I'll be taking the train into Chicago for some games! Fun.

[TH1974]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

I'll be taking the train into Chicago for some games! Fun.

Would have been fun to take a stagecoach or dogsled out to North Dakota for some games.

[lakesbison]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

What a bunch of sissies the mvc is......pathetic loyola and uic? Haha you guys are the biggest wimps ever. Cant wait for ndsu to.leave the mvfc now since we ALREADY dominate it



TH I35 TO I94 5-6 HOURS big deal or fly like real D1 TEAMS DO


Loyola men's volleyball HAHAHA....

[UNIGrainer]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

"I wish I had an excuse to get out to Fargo more."

-No one. Ever.

[UNIdad]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Glad to see the Valley get a Chicago school. Thought it would be UIC, but I like Loyola (even have a grad degree from there). Loyola has tons more tradition that UIC. Rich Chicago Catholics like Loyola (look at the 70 story "retirement home" they built above a new Loyola building a few years ago). UIC is the politican's school!

[TH1974]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

UIC is the politican's school!

Which one?

[TH1974]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

What a bunch of sissies the mvc is......pathetic loyola and uic? Haha you guys are the biggest wimps ever. Cant wait for ndsu to.leave the mvfc now since we ALREADY dominate it



TH I35 TO I94 5-6 HOURS big deal or fly like real D1 TEAMS DO


Loyola men's volleyball HAHAHA....

Go back to the shack, Cletus.

[Panther AC]

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.

Some very interesting facts here. I think it's got great potential. Welcome to the Valley!

[jnutt]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

i'm less and more meh

[UNIdad]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Which one?

All of them. UIC is the creation of a Chicago politics merged with state politics. They even bulldozed great communities, like the famous Maxwell Street Market to expand the campus. It is a great service to the city, especially many of the underserved, but it has not exactly "grown up" with the city, unless being the product of politics counts (and politics certainly is a big part of Chicago). Loyola is much more a product of the unique Catholic life of Chicago.

[Pangloss]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

All of them. UIC is the creation of a Chicago politics merged with state politics. They even bulldozed great communities, like the famous Maxwell Street Market to expand the campus. It is a great service to the city, especially many of the underserved, but it has not exactly "grown up" with the city, unless being the product of politics counts (and politics certainly is a big part of Chicago). Loyola is much more a product of the unique Catholic life of Chicago.

I was ironically in the UIC grad program for Urban Planning as they seized and bought up the Maxwell Street Market and bulldozed it for their own economic development. I also had to sit out a semester at UIC because I couldn't get access to my 20-year old immunization records in a warehouse in California. Further, I owed more money from my 2 1/2 years in graduate school at UIC than I did from my 4 undergraduate years at Loyola.

I am not connected to UIC at all.

[otter]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

Anybody think Valpo and UIC will also be added? With Loyola leaving that leaves the Horizon league with only 8 teams

[Newsbreaker]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

More and more, I think this is the best available move. Loyola has the best potential upside, and the best possibility of approaching a "replacement" level as compared to what we're losing.

It is interesting - reassuring, really - that the xDSU's weren't even considered seriously.

[domedays]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

I am satisfied. After watching not very exciting names bounce around on this board for the last month or two, I don't see a better alternative. Our new valley friend (I am sure we will grow to loathe him, like most rivals ) has given some very positive stats, I hope a commitment to winning on the part of the administration is also one of their traits. Their big endowments won't matter if they don't care about basketball.
And to welcome the new fan base into the league. I would like to say that i am sick of Loyola's delusional arrogant fan base. I would like nothing more that beating those sweater wearing catholic twits. Why don't just ramble on home and accept that it is not the referees that beat you, everyone knows you are the dirtiest team in the league.

[in_the_stands]

Re: New Valley Team (to replace Crayton)

.... Loyola is much more a product of the unique Catholic life of Chicago.

If that's the case why would they not try for the 2nd round of the C7/new Big East, like Saint Louis for example?