McFeely: MVFC secretive about Murray State's fate, but decision should be obvious

Even something as simple as asking for a timeline on when we could expect things to happen is met with silence. Maybe we should look toward St. Louis and wait for white smoke to curl out of the Valley's chimney.

Since the Kentucky school applied to the MVFC in January with hope of joining in 2023, there's been precious little news about the state of affairs. That's possibly because nobody cares all that much about FCS football. It's also possible many who do care see the Racers' entrance into the league as a done deal.

Murray State is leaving the Ohio Valley Conference for the Missouri Valley Conference (non-football variety) for most sports. The Racers are an attractive catch for the MVC because their men's basketball team is excellent. But that leaves Murray State's football program, which is not excellent, without a league. So the school, shooting for the moon, applied to the MVFC.

If one was into conspiracy theories, it would not be unthinkable to believe there was some wink-winking and nudge-nudging going on by some of the MVC members that are also in the MVFC namely Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Missouri State and Indiana State.

"You bring your basketball swagger to the Missouri Valley Conference and we'll see you get into the Missouri Valley Football Conference."

Because to those schools Murray State in the MVFC means bus rides to save money and victories to save face.

If you're North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, North Dakota, South Dakota and Youngstown State you should be asking one question: What is the value of Murray State joining the Missouri Valley Football Conference?

We include Northern Iowa because even though the Panthers are members of the MVC they are a perennial FCS playoff team. UNI sees value in football.

If the drive behind conference realignment is to add value in one form or another and in FCS that would mean quality, competitiveness and brand in the absence of television dollars Murray State is sorely lacking.

Playing in the weak Ohio Valley Conference, the Racers haven't won a league title in 20 years. Their last playoff appearance was in 2002.

Last season, a year in which Murray State saw improvement with a 6-5 overall record, the Racers ended with a Sagarin computer rating of 191st out of 258 FBS and FCS teams. The lowest ranked MVFC team, 2-9 Western Illinois, checked in at No. 179.

In other words, Murray State would enter the MVFC as the worst team in the league. It'd be like the Southeastern Conference adding Arkansas State from the Sun Belt. Or the MVFC adding another Western Illinois.

Why water down the league's quality?

What's the point?

It can't be media market panache, because Murray, Ky., is a town of 17,000 two hours from the nearest metro (Nashville, Tenn.). The nearest airport into which charters fly is an hour away. The Racers' home stadium is 50 years old and hasn't been renovated other than new turf and lights more than a decade ago.

The value is easy enough to see from some perspectives. Southern Illinois is 115 miles away. Indiana State is 275 miles away. Missouri State and Illinois State are 325 miles away. Western Illinois is 360 miles away. Those are bus trips for those schools. Have the league set up the schedule just so, and you eliminate plane flights each year with an eight-game conference schedule in a 12-team conference.

You also eliminate having to get walloped by NDSU and SDSU as often.

Frankly, the question could be asked why Murray State wants to be in the MVFC. Its football budget would put it near the bottom of the league. Being competitive against the upper- and mid-level of the conference would be a 60-degree uphill struggle. There is no short-term fix in football at an underfunded, facility-challenged school.

If the Ohio Valley doesn't want the Racers' football team any longer, the new Atlantic Sun Conference needs a program or three. It'd be a much better fit than that mighty Missouri Valley Football Conference. Hopefully league presidents see it that way, whenever and wherever they meet to decide Murray State's fate.

Maybe someday we'll be allowed enough information to let you know how this thing turns out, and the reasons why. Check this space. In the meantime, keep an eye out for a puff of white smoke down St. Louis way.