Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics
Racers Officially Announce Move To MVFC
4/8/2022 8:37:00 PM | Football
MSU, MVFC leaders join to welcome Racers into nation’s premier FCS conference
Murray State University made its July 2023 move to the Missouri Valley Football Conference official Friday, as leaders from both the university and the conference joined together Friday to celebrate the Racers' entry into the nation's preeminent FCS conference in the Hall of Benefactors inside Murray State's Heritage hall.
On Monday, the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Presidents Council voted to extend an offer of membership to Murray State University Friday, establishing the Racers Football program as the 12th member of the nation's preeminent FCS conference.
On Friday, Murray State President Dr. Bob Jackson, Indiana State University President and MVFC Presidents Council Chair Dr. Deborah J. Curtis, MVFC Commissioner Patty Viverito, Racer football head coach Dean Hood and MSU Director of Athletics Kevin Saal gathered at Heritage Hall to celebrate the move and to address fans, faculty, staff, alumni, current players, local media and others.
What They Said
Murray State University President Dr. Bob Jackson
"When Athletic Director [Kevin] Saal and I first met with coach [Dean] Hood about this potential application and change [to the MVFC], we asked him 'Ok, coach, what are your thoughts?' and he said 'make no little plans.' That is a piece of a quote from a famed architect [Daniel Burnham] and I want to read the rest of it because I think it is appropriate today, as well.
'Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized. Make big plans, aim high in hope and work' and we've made no little plans, Coach Hood's made no little plans, Mr. Saal's made no little plans and I'm excited about the days and years ahead in the Missouri Valley Football Conference."
Indiana State University President & MVFC Presidents Council Chair Dr. Deborah J. Curtis
"I too want to say something to the student-athletes. You're going to find a level of competition that's going to be exciting for you in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. You're also going to find a kind of competition in this league where the other student-athletes really respect you and they look forward to meeting you on that field and all of you achieving the dream you've all had. So, we are thrilled for you to be joining us in the Missouri Valley [Football Conference].
Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito
"We open every meeting with [our] mission and vision statement, because it simply says this that 'we are going to be nationally competitive at the highest level of football in Division I where the NCAA offers a playoff opportunity and we don't care what you call it, we don't care how many scholarship there are, we are committed to being among the best and to send as many teams as possible into the postseason to carry our banner.' That is what our presidents did for us in giving us the vision and leadership to be as successful as we've been on the field. I will tell you that we wouldn't be here today if we, as a conference, weren't convinced that Murray State is every bit as committed to that vision as we are. I think that I speak for everyone in the conference to say 'welcome, we couldn't be happier or prouder to have you as part of this association.'"
Murray State Head Football Coach Dean Hood
"Two words are blessed and honored. We're just blessed with, first of all, our partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference, with how awesome that was and all the things that did for us, it was just a true blessing. We're blessed with our leadership, our Board of Regents, Regent [Eric] Crigler, President Jackson, AD Saal and all the people that helped them. They're aligned and they saw a moment and they seized the moment. I think it's one thing to have vision and think that this is going to be something great, but it's another thing to get your hands dirty and to work and to make it happen, so we are really, really blessed, and then we're just honored. We're honored to be a part of the best FCS conference in all of college football, the Missouri Valley Football Conference."
Murray State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal
"In December of 2019, Dean Hood and I met in Elizabethtown for six hours and talked about Murray State football. He brought his binder that had about 20 different tabs in it and we talked through every aspect, every element of that program and then we stood in this room on December 14 and introduced him. We aspired to dream big that day and today is a continuation of that day to develop our football program and launch authentic men through our football program."
About The Missouri Valley Conference
The pinnacle of FCS excellence for nearly 40 years, the league began in 1985 as the Gateway Football Conference, before becoming the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008. With the additions of North Dakota State and South Dakota State in 2008, South Dakota in 2012 and most recently, North Dakota in 2020, the MVFC has cemented itself as the strongest and most successful FCS league in the country.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference is the benchmark for FCS football, producing 11 national champions and five additional national runners-up in the league's history. Most recently, MVFC teams have produced nine of the last 11 national champions and have placed at least one team in the championship game in an FCS-record 11-straight seasons (every year since 2011).
The MVFC has averaged 4.6 tournament bids per season since 2014, including a league-record six bids (AQ and five at-large bids) this past season. The league's 29 at-large bids during that span represent 27.8 percent of all available at-large bids during that time. Not only do MVFC teams qualify for the FCS playoffs, they also win, amassing a 78-35 record in the playoffs since 2011, yielding a winning percentage of 69.0. Since 2011, MVFC teams have won 78 tournament games and own nine national titles. The next-best league is the CAA with 45 total wins in that span.  Since 2011, the only other leagues to earn a national title are the CAA and Southland, with one apiece.
About Murray State Football
Murray State football will play its 98th season in the fall of 2022 and its 50th in historic Roy Stewart Stadium. The Racers own an all-time record of 498-454-36 for a winning percentage of 52.2 and are 166-98-2 all-time at Stewart Stadium. In addition, the Racers have won eight Ohio Valley Conference championships and have made six trips to the FCS playoffs. Individually, Murray State has produced 14 OVC Players of the Year, 45 All-Americans and 20 NFL Draft picks.
Murray State will play its first season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in the fall of 2023. The Racers will play the 2022 season in the Ohio Valley Conference, their 75th and final season in the league.
.
On Monday, the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Presidents Council voted to extend an offer of membership to Murray State University Friday, establishing the Racers Football program as the 12th member of the nation's preeminent FCS conference.
On Friday, Murray State President Dr. Bob Jackson, Indiana State University President and MVFC Presidents Council Chair Dr. Deborah J. Curtis, MVFC Commissioner Patty Viverito, Racer football head coach Dean Hood and MSU Director of Athletics Kevin Saal gathered at Heritage Hall to celebrate the move and to address fans, faculty, staff, alumni, current players, local media and others.
What They Said
Murray State University President Dr. Bob Jackson
"When Athletic Director [Kevin] Saal and I first met with coach [Dean] Hood about this potential application and change [to the MVFC], we asked him 'Ok, coach, what are your thoughts?' and he said 'make no little plans.' That is a piece of a quote from a famed architect [Daniel Burnham] and I want to read the rest of it because I think it is appropriate today, as well.
'Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized. Make big plans, aim high in hope and work' and we've made no little plans, Coach Hood's made no little plans, Mr. Saal's made no little plans and I'm excited about the days and years ahead in the Missouri Valley Football Conference."
Indiana State University President & MVFC Presidents Council Chair Dr. Deborah J. Curtis
"I too want to say something to the student-athletes. You're going to find a level of competition that's going to be exciting for you in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. You're also going to find a kind of competition in this league where the other student-athletes really respect you and they look forward to meeting you on that field and all of you achieving the dream you've all had. So, we are thrilled for you to be joining us in the Missouri Valley [Football Conference].
Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito
"We open every meeting with [our] mission and vision statement, because it simply says this that 'we are going to be nationally competitive at the highest level of football in Division I where the NCAA offers a playoff opportunity and we don't care what you call it, we don't care how many scholarship there are, we are committed to being among the best and to send as many teams as possible into the postseason to carry our banner.' That is what our presidents did for us in giving us the vision and leadership to be as successful as we've been on the field. I will tell you that we wouldn't be here today if we, as a conference, weren't convinced that Murray State is every bit as committed to that vision as we are. I think that I speak for everyone in the conference to say 'welcome, we couldn't be happier or prouder to have you as part of this association.'"
Murray State Head Football Coach Dean Hood
"Two words are blessed and honored. We're just blessed with, first of all, our partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference, with how awesome that was and all the things that did for us, it was just a true blessing. We're blessed with our leadership, our Board of Regents, Regent [Eric] Crigler, President Jackson, AD Saal and all the people that helped them. They're aligned and they saw a moment and they seized the moment. I think it's one thing to have vision and think that this is going to be something great, but it's another thing to get your hands dirty and to work and to make it happen, so we are really, really blessed, and then we're just honored. We're honored to be a part of the best FCS conference in all of college football, the Missouri Valley Football Conference."
Murray State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal
"In December of 2019, Dean Hood and I met in Elizabethtown for six hours and talked about Murray State football. He brought his binder that had about 20 different tabs in it and we talked through every aspect, every element of that program and then we stood in this room on December 14 and introduced him. We aspired to dream big that day and today is a continuation of that day to develop our football program and launch authentic men through our football program."
About The Missouri Valley Conference
The pinnacle of FCS excellence for nearly 40 years, the league began in 1985 as the Gateway Football Conference, before becoming the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008. With the additions of North Dakota State and South Dakota State in 2008, South Dakota in 2012 and most recently, North Dakota in 2020, the MVFC has cemented itself as the strongest and most successful FCS league in the country.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference is the benchmark for FCS football, producing 11 national champions and five additional national runners-up in the league's history. Most recently, MVFC teams have produced nine of the last 11 national champions and have placed at least one team in the championship game in an FCS-record 11-straight seasons (every year since 2011).
The MVFC has averaged 4.6 tournament bids per season since 2014, including a league-record six bids (AQ and five at-large bids) this past season. The league's 29 at-large bids during that span represent 27.8 percent of all available at-large bids during that time. Not only do MVFC teams qualify for the FCS playoffs, they also win, amassing a 78-35 record in the playoffs since 2011, yielding a winning percentage of 69.0. Since 2011, MVFC teams have won 78 tournament games and own nine national titles. The next-best league is the CAA with 45 total wins in that span.  Since 2011, the only other leagues to earn a national title are the CAA and Southland, with one apiece.
About Murray State Football
Murray State football will play its 98th season in the fall of 2022 and its 50th in historic Roy Stewart Stadium. The Racers own an all-time record of 498-454-36 for a winning percentage of 52.2 and are 166-98-2 all-time at Stewart Stadium. In addition, the Racers have won eight Ohio Valley Conference championships and have made six trips to the FCS playoffs. Individually, Murray State has produced 14 OVC Players of the Year, 45 All-Americans and 20 NFL Draft picks.
Murray State will play its first season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in the fall of 2023. The Racers will play the 2022 season in the Ohio Valley Conference, their 75th and final season in the league.
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