Question for YSU fans

[clenz]

I know, I'm probably not real popular with you guys right now...oh well. However, I was doing some looking at the MVFC/MVC with all of the talk of move ups, realignments, etc... and came across a question I couldn't answer.

Why are you in the MVFC?

I'm fairly new to the FCS game, and YSU was in the MVFC before I started really following the FCS. I know the MVFC has other affiliate members (SDSU and NDSU, and WIU from the Summit) but all three of them fall into the general MVC area, granted NDSU is also an outlier but not to the degree of YSU. Also when the Gateway was formed the football members from the MVC (Illinois State, Indiana State, and Southern Illinois) joined Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Southwest Missouri State, and Western Illinois to form the Association of Mid-Continent Universities, later the Mid-Continent Conference and now The Summit League, for sports other than football. The football programs joined with the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference, which at the time was a women's athletic conference that roughly paralleled the MVC. (note the MVC and MVFC, while ruled by the same people is 2 separate things).


How did the invitation/acceptance to the MFVC, then Gateway, come about? I know you pretty much dominated the FCS in the early 90's, and I'm sure the name and prestige that was YSU circa 1997 was a huge draw for the conference to extend and invite. I think the combination of the two is a good thing, however, financially wouldn't it make more sense to get in with the OVC, Patriot, Northeast (competitivly would never fly I get that) or the CAA?


I get that YSU fans seemingly yearn for that thing called the FBS, and the way things shake out none of this may matter in a couple years. However, I was just curious as to how the whole thing happened

[DavedS]

First od all I doubt that you are all that unpopular with YSU fans as I see you pick us to beat UNI this year(We won't tell the Captain>) Secondly many YSU supporters don't have a yearning for a move up to FBS although some do as we would play local rivals like Akron and Kent State.However we would just be a tiny fish in a big pond and many teams who have moved up to FBS have just fallen flat on their faces.Back in the 90's we were a big fish in a smaller pond but Tressel is gone and the FCS has changed a lot.I'm not sure but I think we joined the Gateway because independents weren't given much opportunity to make the playoffs where league champions received automatic bids.Years ago we were in the OVC but I think Tressel considered it a wek conference plus I'm not sure that they wanted us back or even if there was room for us.I'm not 100% sur but I think we won a national championship without even winning the conference title before.As far as digs go I'm not offended so long as someone who dishes it out can also take it.UNI doesn't really respect us because they beat us every year and we would respect them if they would win at least one national title.Last year it sickened me how they lost to Iowa--and I'm nowhere near being a UNI fan.I'm sure some of our posters know the answer to the question for sure but that is my guess on why it happened

[clenz]

First od all I doubt that you are all that unpopular with YSU fans as I see you pick us to beat UNI this year(We won't tell the Captain>) Secondly many YSU supporters don't have a yearning for a move up to FBS although some do as we would play local rivals like Akron and Kent State.However we would just be a tiny fish in a big pond and many teams who have moved up to FBS have just fallen flat on their faces.Back in the 90's we were a big fish in a smaller pond but Tressel is gone and the FCS has changed a lot.I'm not sure but I think we joined the Gateway because independents weren't given much opportunity to make the playoffs where league champions received automatic bids.Years ago we were in the OVC but I think Tressel considered it a wek conference plus I'm not sure that they wanted us back or even if there was room for us.I'm not 100% sur but I think we won a national championship without even winning the conference title before.As far as digs go I'm not offended so long as someone who dishes it out can also take it.UNI doesn't really respect us because they beat us every year and we would respect them if they would win at least one national title.Last year it sickened me how they lost to Iowa--and I'm nowhere near being a UNI fan.I'm sure some of our posters know the answer to the question for sure but that is my guess on why it happened

Hate to tell you but I changed my pick of the YSU/UNI game. Cap'n saw it and sent me an envolope full of anthrax and said if I changed it he would send me the antidote for it. OK, not really, but I do think YSU gets it this year or next year. I think YSU is bringing in the talent they need, but if they are going to play younger players this year it will be a rougher year than first thought.


I'll take all the smack against UNI as anyone can throw at us...hell, we haven't won a title yet but have won 14 conference titles. Talk about a program than knows how to choke.

I just didn't understand the connection between YSU and the Gateway. The closest trip for YSU is just as long as some teams long trips in a season (depending on who you get at home and road)

[guinzone]

Geographically speaking, we are about the same distance from the CAA's closest team (Villanova), as we are to the MVFC's closest team (Indiana State); which is about 6.5 hours. The furthest team in the CAA is Maine, 14 hours, and the furthest team in the MVFC is North Dakota State, 17 hours, but we fly there.

Unfortunately for YSU, many of the teams that belong in the FCS, Akron, Kent, Miami (OH), etc. are all in the MAC. I personally would love to see an Ohio Conference of the MAC schools and YSU in football, and the addition of Cleveland State and Wright State in basketball. Attendance wise, YSU has averaged more than Kent State and Akron over the past decade:



I am happy we are in the MVFC personally. I love the competition, I just wish we had a closer geographical rival.

[clenz]

Geographically speaking, we are about the same distance from the CAA's closest team (Villanova), as we are to the MVFC's closest team (Indiana State); which is about 6.5 hours. The furthest team in the CAA is Maine, 14 hours, and the furthest team in the MVFC is North Dakota State, 17 hours, but we fly there.

Unfortunately for YSU, many of the teams that belong in the FCS, Akron, Kent, Miami (OH), etc. are all in the MAC. I personally would love to see an Ohio Conference of the MAC schools and YSU in football, and the addition of Cleveland State and Wright State in basketball. Attendance wise, YSU has averaged more than Kent State and Akron over the past decade:



I am happy we are in the MVFC personally. I love the competition, I just wish we had a closer geographical rival.

I would agree Akron and Kent State should be FCS. I think there are quite a few FBS teams that should be FCS. However, that will never happen (I shouldn't say that as I don't know what this realignment holds). There are a good number of WAC, MAC, CUSA, etc.. conference schools that should be FCS. However, perception is that FCS is "lower class" and any school there isn't any good.


I'm not saying I don't like YSU in the conference, as I said I think it is good for both parties (assuming YSU can become more competitive again (see the 2005-2006 years) Having YSU, UNI, SIU, and what appears to be SDSU as top 10-15 caliber teams year in and year out would do so much for the conference. If SIU and UNI keep their success up, and SDSU continues to improve and then we get teams like YSU NDSU to where they have been in the past, and ISUR continues to improve, as it looks like they are, the MVFC could have 5-6 teams in the top 20 every week.

In terms of historical success the MVFC has some great teams, assuming they can rekindle some kind of "past glory".

[DavedS]

One thing I did forget to mention was that back in 1997 when we won our last National Championship we finished third in the Gateway Conference--making our conference look really strong--once you get that first NC it kind of makes a conference title somewhat meaningless to you(although it assures you of a playoff berth.)Speaking of pre-season polls I'm glad YSU wasn't listed in the top 25--back in 1995 we were ranked #1 pre-season and only ended up with one victory over 1AA teams that year.(even with some Florida kids!)

[JayJ79]

Eastern Illinois left the Gateway in '95, leaving the league with just 6 members (ILS, INS, SIU, SMS, UNI, WIU), so they were looking for someone else to join to bring it up to 7 teams.