Long planned and awaited, Murray State’s Board of Regents convened in Room 116 of Wells Halls in Murray Friday morning, and voted unanimously to accept its invitation to the Missouri Valley Conference — a cheer and round of applause following the decision.
Following 74 years of foundation, success and history in the Ohio Valley Conference, Racer officials — after a lengthy courtship and deliberate presentation — are now set to join the second-oldest conference in the country, effective July 1, in what will almost certainly serve as a considerable impact for Calloway County, its neighboring counties and west Kentucky.
With more than 90% of Murray State’s student body fitting in the MVC footprint, and more than 80% of its alumni base, MSU President Dr. Bob Jackson said the conference realignment was a “natural fit” for the school, and lauded the efforts of all involved in the search and decision-making process.
Murray State and the Missouri Valley’s relationship first began in 2017 with a different athletic director and school president. Following the departure of Wichita State to the American Athletic Conference, news quickly broke that both the Racers and Valparaiso were being considered as 12th members.
The Crusaders — now, the Beacons — earned the only invitation, and Murray State thus remained in the OVC.
Jackson noted things particularly began to shift for MSU and its asset preservation this past summer, when Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay State University and Belmont had all vacated the OVC for other conferences.
Following a thorough investigation of several options for Murray State, including potentially remaining in a reshaped OVC, Jackson said mutual conversations with MVC officials bore fruit.
Jackson and MSU Athletic Director Kevin Saal both referenced that an undisclosed donor recently contributed $250,000 in a singular donation, non-contingent to Friday’s decision, and that MSU’s endowment currently holds nearly $180 million in assets. Furthermore, Murray State received north of $13 million in donor support last year — in what was a 10-year high for the four-year institution.
Saal said support and excitement from the fan-base is “high.”
One of the bigger questions heading into Friday morning pertained to Murray State’s football and rifle programs. The Missouri Valley has a separate commissioner and office for its highly-touted gridiron acumen, and it doesn’t currently support rifle.
Racer football anticipates an invitation from the MVFC effective July 1, 2023, and will reside in the OVC until such, while rifle — a top-four program nationwide — will remain in OVC for the foreseeable future.
Regent Chair Eric Crigler, a former Racer football star drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, said the duality of MVC and MVFC discussions soon became linear discussions that quickly evolved.
A community event will be held at the CFSB Center next Monday at noon. All fans and supporters are invited to this free event. Doors open at 11 a.m. Upon its conclusion, Murray State University will host a press conference in the Murray Room inside the CFSB Center with MSU and MVC administrators. Both events will be live streamed on ESPN+.
