Conference expansion.

[BearcatDude]

So you're imagining a scenario where Pitt State and NW don't play a conference game, but schedule each other as an OOC opponent? Wouldn't that undermine much of the appeal of OOC games?

I'm saying that is how the GSC kept their rivalry games going when the teams weren't scheduled during the regular season. It's also an option if say two conference teams are too lazy and can't find opponents on one of their OOC weeks.

[Predatory Primates]

I'd be open to not playing MOSO every year. The "coal bucket" isn't that appealing.

The coal bucket is Pittsburg High and Columbus High

[Predatory Primates]

As a Pitt fan, playing Haskell and Oklahoma Panhandle wasn't all that exciting. If given the chance I wonder if Beck would schedule better than Chuck used to.

[catbacker07]

So you're imagining a scenario where Pitt State and NW don't play a conference game, but schedule each other as an OOC opponent? Wouldn't that undermine much of the appeal of OOC games?

Happens all the time in the D2 world.

[Brandon]

Having said that, I find it hard to believe that travel expenses haven't been reduced or at least neutral since the change to the silo schedule. We've got more in-conference road games that are overnight trips than we used to, but we went considerably further for non-con games back in the day. Before the silo schedule, Missouri Western had non-con road games in (off the top of my head) Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Winona, Durant, Oklahoma, Grand Junction, Colorado, Vermillion and Aberdeen, South Dakota.

I don't know if that's true. Unless we are shown the books comparing pre/post expansion it's hard to speculate.

But let's just look at football.

If Missouri Western played Southwestern Oklahoma.
458/6:38
If Missouri Western played Central Oklahoma
376/5:26
If Missouri Western played Northeastern State
328 / 5:06

The only real difference between those two games is the cost of diesel. It would be a drive down on Friday. One overnight. Drive back after the game. There might be more meal costs since it's a little longer. I think we could call that a wash.

I was looking at your schedule since 2000 (Great job by MWSU Sports Info to have these online).
oad games:

2000
at Fort Hays
(a wash now)
2001
at Southeastern Oklahoma
449 / 7:11
2002
at South Dakota
266 / 3:54
2003
at Winona State
424 / 6:15
2005
at St. Cloud State
424 / 6:12
2006
at Central Oklahoma
(a wash now)
2007
at Minnesota Duluth
570 / 8:18
2008
at Northern State
514 / 7:27
2009
at Colorado Mesa
881 / 12:35

On a side note. We both know that travel savings were simply a tertiary reason at best. It was more likely something that was thought of as a reason after they had decided what they thought needed to be done. The conference expanded at the same time that Division I conferences had grown very large. UMR had left and the conference was worried about stability. They wanted to grow so large that they could absorb defections.

[Brandon]

So you're imagining a scenario where Pitt State and NW don't play a conference game, but schedule each other as an OOC opponent? Wouldn't that undermine much of the appeal of OOC games?

It happens a lot. I think having the choice is better. Heck, they could do a neutral-and-neutral at Arrowhead. Ha Ha Ha.

[GorillaTeacher]

The coal bucket is Pittsburg High and Columbus High

[reloadmvp]

[the Northeasterner]

A lot of questio on podw make up would be the teams added tbh
football is not the teal costs on travel it's the other sports that play more than once a week

I was working in a restaurant in the Quah once when east new Mexico came in to play baskebaske on a Thursday . They then faced an 14 hour trip back that nite
Point being .we are all telsti let close in miaa compare to other conference s .

But the current structure isn't helping the conference win po games and isn't the best for finances. Tofay it's nsu to unk prob worst trip in league.

[the Northeasterner]

Sorry didn't get to edit

But To continue. I don't see it as a problem the travel. I think the pounding the teams take wears them down and hurts them in po.

Those on bottom are stuck in bottom. Only way is to beat other bottom teams or leave and find success in glvc. No non con games hurts the weaker teams and doesn't help stronger. Instead if playing weaker tesms wouldn't a trip to a power in another conf will boost po standings


Sec with thier weak non conf gets teams to 6 wins which makes league look strong when everybody has 5 or more wins give pereception that sec is better

[reloadmvp]

[the Northeasterner]

No.i am under no delusions that it will take years if ever that nsu makes the po.

Each member in this conf has different goals . And the present situation doesn't really help anyone except some people's need to win a conf championship.

[reloadmvp]

No.i am under no delusions that it will take years if ever that nsu makes the po.

Each member in this conf has different goals . And the present situation doesn't really help anyone except some people's need to win a conf championship.

Even the championship is passed around among the few lol :(

[GrifFan]

I don't know if that's true. Unless we are shown the books comparing pre/post expansion it's hard to speculate.

But let's just look at football.

If Missouri Western played Southwestern Oklahoma.
458/6:38
If Missouri Western played Central Oklahoma
376/5:26
If Missouri Western played Northeastern State
328 / 5:06

The only real difference between those two games is the cost of diesel. It would be a drive down on Friday. One overnight. Drive back after the game. There might be more meal costs since it's a little longer. I think we could call that a wash.

I was looking at your schedule since 2000 (Great job by MWSU Sports Info to have these online).
oad games:

2000
at Fort Hays
(a wash now)
2001
at Southeastern Oklahoma
449 / 7:11
2002
at South Dakota
266 / 3:54
2003
at Winona State
424 / 6:15
2005
at St. Cloud State
424 / 6:12
2006
at Central Oklahoma
(a wash now)
2007
at Minnesota Duluth
570 / 8:18
2008
at Northern State
514 / 7:27
2009
at Colorado Mesa
881 / 12:35

On a side note. We both know that travel savings were simply a tertiary reason at best. It was more likely something that was thought of as a reason after they had decided what they thought needed to be done. The conference expanded at the same time that Division I conferences had grown very large. UMR had left and the conference was worried about stability. They wanted to grow so large that they could absorb defections.

[CatFan88]

On a side note. We both know that travel savings were simply a tertiary reason at best. It was more likely something that was thought of as a reason after they had decided what they thought needed to be done. The conference expanded at the same time that Division I conferences had grown very large. UMR had left and the conference was worried about stability. They wanted to grow so large that they could absorb defections.

This is pretty much correct. I sat on the Bearcat Booster Club board at the time all this was shaking out. Budget concerns were the main worry at the time. Just not athletic budget but for the entire University. Boerigter was in favor of conference expansion to control costs, not just for NW, but the entire conference. People have to remember that Missouri and other states were under siege to budget woes for higher education at the time just like they are now. Secondly, he wanted an even playing field in terms of scheduling. It was becoming increasingly difficult for the powers in the conference at the time to schedule quality non-conference games at home without having to pay the opponent a bunch of money. NW had no problems scheduling road games, but nobody wanted to come to NW except the Minnesota St. Moorheads of the world to receive a check. And yes, he was in favor of expansion to absorb potential defections. Conference expansion and the pod system would've worked because it would've fit the PO criteria system at that time. Conferences now are much better aligned in terms of region and it's time for the MIAA, the GLIAC, the GAC and the GLVC to create a "pod" system of non-conference games.