Why Is Missouri State Leaving?

One on One with AD Kyle Moats

(St. Louis, MO) – Why is Missouri State leaving the Missouri Valley Conference? We wanted to know, so we reached out to Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. Missouri State is spending its last season in the Valley and heading for Conference USA.

This change isn’t like the departures of Creighton, Wichita State and Loyola. Those teams were highly successful on the basketball court and looked for a ‘next step’ on the national basketball scene. Those changes have worked well for Creighton and the other two are still up for evaluation. The Ramblers had one poor and one very good season in the Atlantic Ten. After dominating the MVC, Wichita State has finished fourth or worse during six of its American Athletic Conference seasons.

The MO State move comes largely for football reasons and the Bears haven’t been exactly the most successful team in the Missouri Valley Football conference. MSU’s football record is 101-164 this football century. Moving to CUSA and the Football Bowl Subdivision is about gaining access to ‘big boy football’ and enhancing the Missouri State ‘brand’.

Why is Missouri State Leaving?

Moats says MO State has enjoyed its time in the Valley, but it was time to seize an opportunity to improve its overall situation.

 

 

It has been widely known that Missouri State and President Cliff Smart were looking to move the football program to the FBS level. Moats says the CUSA invitation came at the right time. The MSU Board was in agreement and there was concern about being left behind when the ‘power conferences’ execute the now long anticipated, break away. Missouri State wanted to be in the ‘second tier’ of football programs, rather than the third.

 

 

During the announcement press conference, Moats said the move would be ‘budget neutral’. While admitting there will be increased expenses, the MSU brain trust believes football television revenues and increased fan attendance will offset those larger expenses.

One $5,000,000 donation put this decision into the ‘feasible’ category, but Moats insists that donation wasn’t the deciding factor. He admits the athletic department will need to grow its donor base to make this move a successful one.

 

 

Wins & Losses Versus Dollars & Cents

While Missouri State has struggled in the so-called ‘money sports’ (football and basketball) Moats admits the conference change isn’t all about wins and losses. There are fiscal, branding and perception advantages to this ‘move up’. He believes national television exposure for the football team helps add to the University’s reputation and growth.

 

 

The Bears’ football team has produced five winning seasons this century. They are not a national title contender. However, since the MVFC is the Football Championship Subdivision’s best conference, Moats doesn’t think his football team will be overwhelmed by play in the CUSA.  He admits the university will need to do a better job of supporting Bears’ football.

While the basketball Bears have been a competitive Valley squad, they have earned just one MVC title during their 34-year History and have accumulated a 237-217 league mark this century. Moving to CUSA could be a big help to the men’s basketball team.

According to Kenpom.com, the Valley was last season’s tenth best conference and CUSA finished fifteenth. Moats believes the two leagues are comparable and they aren’t as different as last year’s rankings suggest. Over the past five years, the Valley averages an 11.6 finish and CUSA averages a 12.8 ranking. By looking at the last ten years, the separation is much larger (11.5 to 14.9).

Both of the leagues are fighting to be more than a ‘one-bid-league’. He insists moving to CUSA hoops isn’t a step backward.

 

 

The Bears have one more Missouri Valley Conference scholastic year ahead and fans will watch Missouri State leaving for heated rivalries with Delaware, Texas El Paso and Jacksonville State. Sam Houston State is the reigning CUSA champion and they lost to the Bears last season. Third place Western Kentucky defeated Murray State and fifth place UTEP lost to Bradley. While sixth place Middle Tennessee defeated the Bears, the Blue Raiders lost to Illinois Chicago, Belmont and Murray State.

Listen to our entire conversation at Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts.

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