The New Valley Starts…Tomorrow?

(St. Louis, MO) – All the tea leaves have been read, every rumor vetted and we believe tonight is the night that Missouri Valley Conference university presidents will vote on league expansion. The process that actually started before Wichita State announced their departure to the American Athletic Conference will culminate 31 days after the Shocker announcement.

As widely reported, four athletic programs are being considered for Valley entrance. Two Horizon League teams (Valparaiso and UW-Milwaukee), one from the Ohio Valley Conference (Murray State) and the Summit League’s Nebraska-Omaha are being considered.

Valley leaders are voting on whether to add anywhere from one to three teams and all indications are that Valparaiso is the odds on favorite to be one of, if not the only team to be added to the nation’s second oldest conference. We have been led to believe all four schools have already committed to join the Valley if they receive their invitation some time Monday tonight.

As Commissioner Doug Elgin chairs tonight’s meeting, seven of nine member institution presidents must vote affirmatively for any invitations to be extended. Many pundits contend this decision will make or break the Valley for years to come. Some advocate for the conservative approach (adding one team) so the league can find the proverbial ‘homerun’ addition later.

Others (this writer included) believe the aggressive decision (adding three teams) is not only about making the big splash, but also adding solid programs with winning traditions (Valpo and Murray State) and a program on the rise, which would characterize both Milwaukee and Omaha.

Stay tuned. We will remember the decisions of May 8^th for a long time.

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