Bradley "power play" time. . .

[houstontxbrave]

We can all talk forever on this subject, and it won't make any difference.
One thing I hope everyone agrees with is that this is all about football, and the massive amounts of money brought in by the BCS. Every conference switch that has happened, and will happen is related to football, not basketball.
Like it or not, Bradley and other non-football schools are virtually irrelevant, and have zero bargaining power. It really doesn't matter what schools like Bradley want, or what "proactive" steps they take. In the end, they will be left with leftovers, and I don't think anything among those leftovers will be nearly as attractive to Bradley as what they already have right now in the MVC.
The MVC is as good of a conference as Bradley can hope to be in. So I think they simply need to strengthen their relationships with the other 9 MVC schools, and keep working to upgrade basketball schedules to maintain the MVC in the top 6 or 7 conferences. It's possible one or 2 of our football-playing MVC bretheren might think it's worth chasing the BCS some day, but in the end, I think that would be a mistake for them and I don't think anything will change in the MVC.

What happens when someone comes along and flirts with Creighton an WSU? Or Missouri State or UNI decide they want to upgrade to a higher football? You can strengthen the relationships all you want but if you also do not prepare for a worst case then its us, Drake and mixtures of the Horizon, Summitt etc.

I think BU needs to be very proactive with other private basketball playing only schools. Upgrading football may or may not be a mistake but someone is going to want the markets that are Omaha and Wichita. And if that someone comes along with a nice sweet TV deal well then where is the Valley?

 

[thefish7]

This might be the one opportunity I would support the league expanding.

Add BYU and SLU. The major problem is BYU does not play on Sundays, so you have to move your conference tournament schedule, which I'm not sure the MVC would want to do as long as we're on CBS.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure BYU would not want to join a league now where it might feel is expecting a long-term commitment, which would be the only reason I would want BYU in the league.

So that pretty much rules that out.

You wouldn't support Butler and SLU?

 

[thefish7]

Well, football DOES mean everything. That's why we're choosing the likes of Creighton, Marquette, and DePaul to try and link to. Individually, we're nothing. United together, we're a power that can make noise.

This is how I feel.. A non-football basketball power conference. I can see structures from 2 8-team leagues, 10-team leagues, or even a 16-team mega conference. Whichever one includes Bradley, several "football castoffs," and a TV network is the one I want to see... And which'd be a major upgrade over the MVC.

 

[squirrelgotdead]

You wouldn't support Butler and SLU?

I didn't say that. An opportunity for a BYU doesn't present itself very often.

I don't really support the league expanding, just to expand. But if a BYU is available, you take the chance.

 

[thefish7]

Okay, understand.

 

[ph]

We can all talk forever on this subject, and it won't make any difference.
One thing I hope everyone agrees with is that this is all about football, and the massive amounts of money brought in by the BCS. Every conference switch that has happened, and will happen is related to football, not basketball.
Like it or not, Bradley and other non-football schools are virtually irrelevant, and have zero bargaining power. It really doesn't matter what schools like Bradley want, or what "proactive" steps they take. In the end, they will be left with leftovers, and I don't think anything among those leftovers will be nearly as attractive to Bradley as what they already have right now in the MVC.
The MVC is as good of a conference as Bradley can hope to be in. So I think they simply need to strengthen their relationships with the other 9 MVC schools, and keep working to upgrade basketball schedules to maintain the MVC in the top 6 or 7 conferences. It's possible one or 2 of our football-playing MVC bretheren might think it's worth chasing the BCS some day, but in the end, I think that would be a mistake for them and I don't think anything will change in the MVC.

That's a rather self defeating attitude, like saying it is impossible for us to ever make the final 4 so we stop scheduling top 50 teams....

 

[SFP]

I understand Da Coaches thought process on this but I still would hope that the Admin is working out a contingency plan. Saying the MVC is the best we can hope for is not to comforting. The MVC could implode and I would just want to make sure that BU is not inside the building if it happens. I still say there is a possibility when the conferences start feeling they need to grow that BU has a relative good chance of landing on its feet.

 

[ph]

I do understand how some might say that. I just expected "who" might say that to be someone more like Kirk Wessler instead of DaCoach.

It might just be me, but on the heels of the on-campus arena games talk, it sounded like Bradley's plan A for a BCS implosion is to be left out, and move games to our new, smaller arena to match our inevitable, lower importance NCAA division.

 

[wizard1]

Bradley "Power Play"---

Bradley "Power Play"---

I both agree and disagree with Da Coach on this one.

First of all, I agree that this is all about football and football $$$. Non-football ---basketball only schools are being left out because they are not important to the process that is taking place.

On the other hand, I disagree that we and other BB only schools can do nothing. The worse thing that can happen is for all of us to stand around doing nothing waiting to see what happens. IMO we need to be VERY proactive.
I believe that ultimately the football schools in the MVC will leave for something else and we will then be part of a meaningless conference UNLESS we develop plans and have serious discussions with other similar schools.

A powerful BB conference that would include Bradley, Butler, Marquette, DePaul, St. Louis, Creighton, Gonzaga, Xavier, Dayton, etc. could become a strong entity if they do the right planning , etc. For example, a western division and an Eastern division with a big post season tournament, some hardball with the NCAA to obtain more tournament berths, aggresive pursuit of TV in bigger markets like Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Etc., major increases in funding and facility imprvements,
and a conference requirement on scheduling would help this.

A number of years ago, the Chiefs Club board (now the Braves Club) in conjunction with the BU Athletic Dept. did a major study on conference affiliation but we ended up doing nothing. The MVC at that time was a MAJOR BB conference. Shortly thereafter, Louisville, Memphis, Cincinatti, and later Tulsa left the conference and the MVC went downhill fast and really never recovered. Of course, much of this was also due to the emergence of stronger BCS football conferences.

In any event, BU needs to develop a PLAN and have some meaningful "behind the scenes" discussions or we may very well end up on the outside, looking in.

 

[Da Coach]

I do understand how some might say that. I just expected "who" might say that to be someone more like Kirk Wessler instead of DaCoach...

Just being realistic. I think most Bradley fans are.
But what is wrong with the MVC? It has served Bradley just fine for the last 60 years, or so. We need to realize that this is the best option and work to maintain what we have, because it's pretty good.

The MVC needs to draft a new rule that requires a huge buyout for any school wanting to leave, like the WAC did, just before Nevada and Fresno State left.
http://www.sbnation.com/2010/8/18/1630684/byu-nevada-fresno-state-mountain-west-wac-buyout

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...-signed-agreements-from-nevada-fresno-state/1

That is the only way that makes sense to strengthen the loyalties among MVC schools.
BTW, I have heard from a conference "insider" that there are worries among some MVC schools that so-called "proactive" talks with other schools outside the MVC or with other conferences could harm the relationships among the MVC schools, and actually do much more damage than any good that could come from it. Maybe even push some MVC schools to do something drastic like seeking other conference affiliations they wouldn't have otherwise been seeking. Is that something we really want to do?
I am confident the people at Bradley are handling all this the right way, and don't need sports writers or message boarders to give them "expert advice".

 

[BradleyBrave]

I don't think being 'proactive' is the right thing to do, we could screw ourselves even worse than standing pat. However I don't think being dismissive is either. If someone like a Marquette comes to BU with a proposal, I think we need to listen. I like the MVC, but if we ever were presented the opportunity to take a 'step up', we owe it to ourselves to explore that opportunity.

 

[tornado]

First of all, I agree that this is all about football and football $$$. ...

football is only intertwined into all these happenings as it regards the $$$$$$

so I disagree..it's not about football, it is about $$$$$$ which is exactly why we are discussing teams moving to smaller basketball arenas, and even teams who are predominately basketball like Duke and Kentucky are in the news with actions that show the revenue end of it...

 

[wizard1]

Bradley Power Play---MVC

Bradley Power Play---MVC

Within a few years, the MVC is going to lose some or all of these members to football conferences, either existing or new ones---Ill. State. Wichita, So. Ill., No. Iowa, Ind. St.---Bank on it!! What happens then?? BU better think this through and be prepared.

 

[Dubl R 1]

Not when everyone else we'd basically be competing against for those conference slots has (or at least access to) larger arenas.

Maybe..but we did outdraw all these teams last year..

Depaul
Boise St
Colorodo St
Texas Tech
Tulsa
Gonzaga
Notre Dame
Arizona St
Baylor
Saint Louis
Butler

 

[BradleyBrave]

Within a few years, the MVC is going to lose some or all of these members to football conferences, either existing or new ones---Ill. State. Wichita, So. Ill., No. Iowa, Ind. St.---Bank on it!! What happens then?? BU better think this through and be prepared.

Agreed. We need to be on the high side of the curve rather than the low side.

 

[squirrelgotdead]

Just being realistic. I think most Bradley fans are.
But what is wrong with the MVC? It has served Bradley just fine for the last 60 years, or so. We need to realize that this is the best option and work to maintain what we have, because it's pretty good.

The MVC needs to draft a new rule that requires a huge buyout for any school wanting to leave, like the WAC did, just before Nevada and Fresno State left.

That is the only way that makes sense to strengthen the loyalties among MVC schools.

BTW, I have heard from a conference "insider" that there are worries among some MVC schools that so-called "proactive" talks with other schools outside the MVC or with other conferences could harm the relationships among the MVC schools, and actually do much more damage than any good that could come from it. Maybe even push some MVC schools to do something drastic like seeking other conference affiliations they wouldn't have otherwise been seeking. Is that something we really want to do?

No way the MVC could establish a buyout penalty. What if Evansville goes to DII or DIII? No way they could afford it.

The WAC Commish also said even if the buyout was steeper than $5 mil (say even 10 or 20) they'd get that back in revenue in a decade. So a BU, CU or Wichita would be foolish not to pay it anyway.

It's one thing to be loyal, but in business, you don't go down with the ship. It's admirable, but stupid.

When I speak of BU being "proactive" it is only in the sense of establishing relationships-not committed to getting out. It never hurts to have friends.

Utah State committed itself in loyalty to the WAC and look what that got them-the potential to be homeless in a couple years.

 

[tornado]

well...a buyout is clearly to prevent teams from jumping to another conference...so it would be incredibly easy to draw up such a penalty so that it does NOT affect a school that drops to D-II

 

[Da Coach]

The buyout concept would not come into play for a team dropping down to a lower division, only to a school bolting for another D1 conference. Other conferences are adopting them, and I am sure it will be discussed by the MVC, and some form of it will be instituted. Your own example of the WAC is a great example of how the actions of 1 or 2 members can screw everyone else tremendously. Conferences will need the protection. Maybe a team will still be able to pay the buyout, but $5 million dollars can do a lot to keep a conference from folding.

And again, there are always effects from the "law of unintended consequences" with every move. The WAC will survive OK. They will probably just pick off one or 2 additional schools from the WCC or Big West.

 

[squirrelgotdead]

Maybe..but we did outdraw all these teams last year..

Depaul
Boise St
Colorodo St
Texas Tech
Tulsa
Gonzaga
Notre Dame
Arizona St
Baylor
Saint Louis
Butler

It's not about how good a school draws now. . .that might help when two schools on paper look about the same.

People forget, DePaul's early years in the Big East, they were drawing over 18,500 easy for games like Syracuse, Marquette, UConn, Georgetown, Nova etc. . .they haven't of late because the team's been bad and they don't have the community following that Valley schools have.

Put a good team on the floor with the ability to see real good teams, you need a bigger arena. All those schools have either bigger arenas than Bradley or at least access to larger ones in their vicinity.

Sure we draw more than DePaul now. . .but with a good team there and the ability to see big names on a near nightly basis, DePaul has the ability to and likely would draw twice what we can because we do not have the place to do it.

 

[squirrelgotdead]

The buyout concept would not come into play for a team dropping down to a lower division, only to a school bolting for another D1 conference. Other conferences are adopting them, and I am sure it will be discussed by the MVC, and some form of it will be instituted. Your own example of the WAC is a great example of how the actions of 1 or 2 members can screw everyone else tremendously. Conferences will need the protection. Maybe a team will still be able to pay the buyout, but $5 million dollars can do a lot to keep a conference from folding.

And again, there are always effects from the "law of unintended consequences" with every move. The WAC will survive OK. They will probably just pick off one or 2 additional schools from the WCC or Big West.

I would not expect CU, BU, Illinois State or Wichita to flinch at paying it if a better offer comes along. It's a nice thought, but it isn't much of a deterrent. JMO.

The schools it would deter are the ones who either wouldn't have an offer to go elsewhere, or couldn't afford to pay it when their one opportunity to save themselves by finding another conference home may present itself.

So I can see the bigger and smaller schools both not supporting it.