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Post by rogobob77 on Apr 11, 2017 15:43:17 GMT -6
"Fort Wayne" has been tossed out as a possible expansion candidate for the Horizon League and their name even shows up in some published reports suggesting they would be a good fit for the MVC. The article at the below link discusses institutional/administrative and budgetary issues involving the school. There is some open talk about the university moving down in NCAA classification to save money. Until their institutional review is completed, I don't see them moving to any new conference. www.ipfwcommunicator.org/student ... ts-budget/ |
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Post by rogobob77 on Apr 11, 2017 15:49:39 GMT -6
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Post by rogobob77 on Apr 24, 2017 6:11:33 GMT -6
The information circulating on various boards suggests the MVC will invite Murray State and Valpo. Some less-anchored speculation is also floating around that the MVC might take three teams, and Milwaukee could be leaving too. Losing Valpo and Milwaukee would mean the Horizon would have to find a baseball playing school to retain its NCAA bid in that sport. Horizon could invite IUPUI, UMKC and/or Robert Morris, but none of those play baseball. Fort Wayne plays baseball, but is having big financial problems and is looking at possibly going D-2, NAIA or dropping sports altogether. Chicago State plays baseball, the HL might be forced to consider them. I can't come up with any other schools I think would be inclined to join the Horizon, with the exception of Western Illinois (they have baseball).
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Post by oklahomamick on Apr 24, 2017 7:20:46 GMT -6
MVC is supposed to be on Valparaiso campus this week. Doesn't mean the Crusaders get the invite....MVC was on campus several years ago as well...
IF both Valpo and Milwaukee leave, it will be tough pickings for the HL or ultimately turn into summit league 2.0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2017 8:02:41 GMT -6
They'd more than likely have to bite the bullet and snatch up Fort Wayne, stay at 10 (6 for baseball), then extend invitations to Southern Indiana and University of Indianapolis (UIndy) or Bellarmine. Those are 3 programs that provide markets (Evansville, Indianapolis and Louisville, respectively) and baseball. If that happens, the HL could ask for a waiver of the baseball AQ. Now the League sits at 12 MBB schools and 9 baseball.
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Post by rogobob77 on Apr 24, 2017 10:08:20 GMT -6
They'd more than likely have to bite the bullet and snatch up Fort Wayne, stay at 10 (6 for baseball), then extend invitations to Southern Indiana and University of Indianapolis (UIndy) or Bellarmine. Those are 3 programs that provide markets (Evansville, Indianapolis and Louisville, respectively) and baseball. If that happens, the HL could ask for a waiver of the baseball AQ. Now the League sits at 12 MBB schools and 9 baseball. At least according to Wiki (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_Division_I_institutions) none of the three schools you mention are in transition to become D-1. Wouldn't it take years for those schools to decide to make the jump and go through the initial stages of transition before they could officially become part of the Horizon? I'm wondering if Fort Wayne (maybe IUPUI too) could manage a way out of the Summit without paying an exit fee. Perhaps Fort Wayne could justify remaining in D-1 if they could pitch a more travel-friendly conference affiliation to their governing board. UMKC could return to the Summit or move to the Horizon. Nothing to get excited about by adding the Summit's Indiana schools, but FW and IUPUI are urban schools in the Midwest footprint of the HL, so a good fit in those respects. |
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Post by oklahomamick on Apr 24, 2017 19:12:00 GMT -6
Regardless if it's one of the alphabet schools or one of the D2 schools mentioned, the HL will have to add an Indiana school. At that point just move its headquarters to Detroit.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 15:11:29 GMT -6
It will be interesting. Today the mvc presidents meet. I hope action is taken soon and this conference realignment is not drawn out. Say valpo goes to mvc. HL doesn't feel comfortable with IPFW as that administration debates going back to D2. Omaha decides to stick with the Dakotas as the summit league has never been stronger. That leaves the HL with iupui in the headquarter city of the HL. Without valpo there are no Indiana teams in the league and the baseball membership drops to 6. The HL isn't going to add a team without baseball, so IUPUI is out. They'd more than likely have to bite the bullet and snatch up Fort Wayne, stay at 10 (6 for baseball), then extend invitations to Southern Indiana and University of Indianapolis (UIndy) or Bellarmine. Those are 3 programs that provide markets (Evansville, Indianapolis and Louisville, respectively) and baseball. If that happens, the HL could ask for a waiver of the baseball AQ. Now the League sits at 12 MBB schools and 9 baseball. That is the most ass backwards thing I ever heard. If the HL adds any of those schools expect to see the rest of the teams in the conference with any kind of value to leave. I would prefer to see WSU return to the SL or go to the OVC before I would accept any of those teams let alone all 3 of them in the HL. Okay. Care to give your thoughts on what you think the HL will do? That is the theme of the thread. All you've done is just shoot down others' opinions and thoughts. How 'bout it? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 22:25:06 GMT -6
Well, based on the way LeCrone has responded to conference re-alignment over the past 20+ years he isn't going to make any sudden decisions and add teams. He just doesn't do that. 1 year was the quickest he ever responded to losing a member and that was when he added Oakland after Butler left (and Oakland publicly said they wanted in the HL the day Butler announced they were leaving the HL for the A-10) If we lose Valpo and/or UWM I don't think he does anything this year. He might not do anything next year either. The real questions are: Do we lose 1 or 2 schools to the MVC? Are we just going to try to replace the school/s that leave to stay at 10 or add more teams to go to 12? Will the HL lose any other teams to other conferences? Until we find out what the MVC is going to do we are just bystanders. No school is considering the HL until they know what is going to be left after the MVC finishes raiding. The other scenario you haven't considered is will other HL schools leave for other conferences. If the OVC loses Murray State, do you think they are going to sit back and do nothing. They could very easily go after either NKU or WSU or both as a replacement. Honestly, the OVC might be more appealing than the HL without Valpo/UWM to either one of us. Cool. Although the HL is waiting for the MVC's decision, it is in discussions with potential candidates. The league is aware of the situation concerning mid-majors and their being relegated to one-bid status. The HL is taking action. |
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Post by rogobob77 on Apr 26, 2017 10:21:11 GMT -6
Have heard from a good source that the Horizon League has been actively developing a contingency plan to deal with possible defection(s) from the conference. Seems like the most likely scenario is that one team will leave. The HL seems prepared to backfill fast, I believe they might move in the days that immediately follow an MVC announcement. I think IUPUI, UMKC, Omaha, and Robert Morris might be some of the teams that could be in the mix for an invite. Probably looking to stay at ten, but expanding to 12 not out of the question. Not sure about Fort Wayne's situation. No MAAC teams being targeted.
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Post by oklahomamick on Apr 26, 2017 13:47:33 GMT -6
IUPUI - no baseball
Omaha - won't leave SL (only opinion)
Robert Morris - no baseball & only has 3 men's sports that would be in the HL (bball, golf and soccer)
UMKC - They would kill for a spot in the HL.
My gut would be IUPUI despite not having baseball.
If mvc adds only one member, I think it will be Murray St. If they add two members, I think one will be Valpo. If they add three members, I as a Valpo supporter hopes its UWM. That would leave only Green Bay and UIC in the Central Time Zone. HL appears to be going East.
So therefore the HL may not have to add anyone.....or may have to add 2.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2017 23:02:37 GMT -6
IUPUI - no baseball Omaha - won't leave SL (only opinion) Robert Morris - no baseball & only has 3 men's sports that would be in the HL (bball, golf and soccer) UMKC - They would kill for a spot in the HL. My gut would be IUPUI despite not having baseball. If mvc adds only one member, I think it will be Murray St. If they add two members, I think one will be Valpo. If they add three members, I as a Valpo supporter hopes its UWM. That would leave only Green Bay and UIC in the Central Time Zone. HL appears to be going East. So therefore the HL may not have to add anyone.....or may have to add 2. If the HL loses Valpo, they'd have to add a team with baseball. That team will probably be Fort Wayne. If they want to go with 12 teams, then I have absolutely no clue. |
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 7:10:23 GMT -6
Purdue Board of Trustees had a meeting on 5/5. The topic was concerning athletics. Could this have been the meeting to accept an invite, clear the way for an invite, or discuss conference affiliation options? Link per purdue.edu: Purdue Board of Trustees MeetingIn accordance with the Bylaws, a special meeting of the Board of Trustees of The Trustees of Purdue University will convene at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2017, in the Boilermaker Aquatic Center on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University for the purpose of acting on a special Purdue athletics matter. |
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Post by HLFanaticus on May 9, 2017 5:07:02 GMT -6
The special Trustees meeting was to rename the Purdue Aquatics Center.
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Post by HLFanaticus on May 9, 2017 5:15:52 GMT -6
Horizon League Commissioner Jon LeCrone is steadfast in his plan of expansion of the Conference. Link per omaha.com: Possible Omaha Move/LeCrone CommentsHorizon Commissioner Jonathan LeCrone said Friday that the MVC’s visits, including to schools within his league (Valparaiso and Milwaukee), are no secret. He has spoken openly about his intention to expand and said the Horizon will stay true to its value and plan, which transcends any movement of members.
“Whether we’re 10, whether we’re eight, whether we’re nine, we still have plans, no matter what our configuration is at any point in time, to grow larger,” he said. “We think larger is better. We think divisional play is good. And we have lots of members on our membership candidate list who are very interested in helping us achieve that vision no matter what our current membership movement might be.” |
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