re: Still don’t understand Missouri or South Carolina being invited to the conference

Mizzou brought KC and Stl markets. Those markets alone have more folks than state like Arkansas. The issue with Mizzou is you have a divide between academics and athletics. In the 80’s the chancellor or president cut off funds to athletics to focus on academics. That put Mizzou in a hole they finally climbed out of with Pinkel. Odom had a ready made program but wasn’t ready to be a head coach. He set the program back a few years.

Missouri has all the components to be a top 25 program, especially with local talent, but has several things that work against them. First and foremost, chiefs, cards, blues are king. State is a pro oriented. Secondly, two largest population centers are in the corners of the state, divided amongst several programs. State will get behind the program if it’s winning, but won’t follow blindly as it has other entertainment options. A state like Arkansas has zero sports options outside razorbacks. They devote the time to college like kc does to chiefs. Mizzou needs to go all in to revive the days of competing with notre dame, Ohio state or just be happy cashing checks.