Horizon/OVC

sealhall74 · Wed Mar 25, 2015 9:55 am

Being a consistent football playoff contender in the Valley is extremely difficult. Right now Massey has us #7 in the pecking order. A move to the OVC would put us at #2 just behind Jacksonville State. IMO, Coach N would have little trouble keeping us at or near the top in the OVC. Can't say that about the Valley. Assuming ISU and SIU open to it, we could still have an in-state non-conference gig with them. They might not be as willing as us though.

leatherface · Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:15 am

WESTERN likely couldn't afford the Summit buy-out. In that case, look for the same , the same, the same for the forseable future.

WIU0812 · Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:27 am

What is the Summit League Buyout?

vatusay · Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:38 pm

Is it 750k? That sounds familiar for some reason. May be way off though.

Seems like other conferences are willing to pay the buyout if they need a school bad enough. UMKC to the WAC for instance.

WIU0812 · Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:55 pm

I am sure there is a way to work out a deal where if the league wants you in they pay 50% or something like that. Just would be nice to see us get in a position to be stable through this time of lower enrollment and lower funding. I have to think we are either dropping a ton of sports or changing leagues in order to save money or doing a little of both. I do not see us dropping to DII.

Western_101 · Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:00 pm

WIU0812 wrote:A lot of people may hate me for saying it, but I suggest moving everything except football to the OVC over the Summit and then dropping Soccer and Swimming. We can not seem to get soccer field in usable condition any year and are already extremely low on funds and I am sure the swimming pool has seen better days in Brophy. They would not be huge savings, but basically would end up being casualties and maybe only temporary ones if the state can turn its act around in next decade we could restart the sports and maybe build a new soccer/ track facility that actually works. Until the point where the financials start going back in the right direction, saving money on travel and dropping a couple of sports is probably one of the best options WIU has going for it.

Soccer is growing in popularity especially with kids. Western has a good soccer team and recruits good talent. Leatherneck Men's Soccer has had more success over the last decade than the football team.

Also, with U of I, ISU, and SIU not having NCAA soccer programs Western has benefited as there are only so many D-I programs out there, which makes Western look more attractive than it otherwise might.

Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:11 pm

Yea, I'd see us more likely dropping maybe tennis rather than soccer at this point.

WIU0812 · Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:15 pm

Ya I suppose it just would get crazy being in 3 conferences

sealhall74 · Wed Mar 25, 2015 5:01 pm

Yet another plus for the OVC is that FREE OVC umbrella digital network. For sports such as women's soccer and volleyball, OVC also seems to allow a few more teams into their conference tournament and hence a "chance to dance" than does the Summit League. I have to think both of these are pluses when it comes to recruiting.

meganeck · Wed Mar 25, 2015 5:24 pm

Haven't studied the OVC enough to comment too much, but initial reaction is we have problems competing in the Summit, so I don't know how we would be competitive in the OVC.