Veteran Reporters Weigh In
(St. Louis, MO) – Austin Peay is the leaving the Ohio Valley Conference. Governor athletics is the third program to pull out of the league in the last year. Transition has many wondering what’s next for this very important league?
Bob Belvin (@bobbelvinsports) and Edward Alan Marlowe (@dreamarlowe85) joined ‘Voices of the Valley’ to discuss the ramifications of the latest defection. Belvin is one of the most prominent television voices associated with the OVC and Marlowe was a long time beat writer for Murray State sports.
Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State have initially refused to pay the $1 million ‘exit fee’. Belvin tells us APSU is paying. He also believes leaving the OVC is a ‘bad business decision’ for the Clarksville, Tennessee institution.
Transition is never easy, but OVC insiders tell me there are plans in place to address these significant changes.
Transition Discussed
Belvin and Marlowe have programs they would like to see added to the league, but each admits that standing pat for one year wouldn’t be a negative. They don’t want to see the league make a knee-jerk reaction.
Commissioner Beth DeBauche released the league’s official response to APSU’s departure. DeBauche states that college athletics are in a time of transition.
“We are clearly in a time of change for intercollegiate athletics, and the Ohio Valley Conference embraces this moment, committed to the institutions and student-athletes whom we serve and confident in our future. That future is rooted in membership growth, and we are currently in discussions with other institutions that share our philosophy and want to prosper in today’s intercollegiate athletic environment by being part of the OVC.”
The Podcast
Our entire conversation with Belvin and Marlowe can be heard at Valle Hoops Insider Podcasts.
Head to youtube, if you would like to watch the three of us talk.
Do Good
Twitter Feed
Three more road wins so far in @ValleyHoops as @BradleyUMBB @BelmontMBB & @UIC_MBB capture road wins. Looks like @DrakeBulldogsMB will do so too. #FatherHarry
Well @RacersWBB followed the men's example and swept Iowa in the @ValleyHoops race! Racers are 6-1 & if @BelmontWBB holds on to their Iowa sweep, the Bruins and Racers will be tied for first. What a trip for those two teams! #FatherHarry
After today's action, @EIUWBB is 8-0 in @OVCSports play. 4 teams @usiwbb @TTUWBB @LRTrojans @LindenwoodWBB are tied at 6-2. Six other teams are under .500. Great race to the finish lies ahead. #FatherHarry
Really entertaining game between @BelmontMBB & @UEAthletics_MBB. Under four minutes left in a one point game. Gabriel Pozzato back in the Aces' lineup. Rogers is playing like I've expected. Triples are dropping. It's fun and @kylejpeach bringing it on #ThePlus #FatherHarry
