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**joeboo22** · 11-20-2007, 02:59 AM

Gateway Conference exploring name change

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071120/SPORTS0202/711200307/1002/SPORTS`

**BTownJack** · 11-20-2007, 08:16 AM

Re: Gateway Conference exploring name change

Here is the correct link:

Gateway considers name change
By Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com
Comment Print Email PUBLISHED: November 20, 2007

BROOKINGS - There seems to be something about expanding into the Dakotas that makes conferences want to change their names.

Just as the Mid-Continent Conference became the Summit League the summer before South Dakota State and North Dakota State gained active membership, the Gateway Football Conference is considering becoming the Missouri Valley Conference before officially welcoming the Jacks and the Bison next fall.

As things now stand, the Gateway is a separate LLC under the Missouri Valley umbrella, as commissioner Patty Viverito put it. Five of the nine schools that will be part of the Gateway in 2008 - Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State and Southern Illinois - already compete in the Missouri Valley in other sports.

The possible name change will be discussed by Gateway coaches and athletic directors at their February meeting in St. Louis. Presidents from both conferences would have to sign off on the idea when they meet in June in order for the change to take effect in 2008.

"The thought is we'd have access to leveraging in both television and marketing that we haven't had in the past," Viverito said before Saturday's Dakota Marker game at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. "So if we can make it work, we'll make it work. Preliminary discussions said if all we're talking about is re-branding, there's value and we can all live with that."

(read more)

**BTownJack** · 11-20-2007, 09:25 AM

Re: SDSU to the Missouri Valley for Football

there is another thread devoted to this....moderators?

**joeboo22** · 11-20-2007, 03:50 PM

Re: Gateway Conference exploring name change

thanks for fixing it..... I don't see a reason to change the name Gateway sounds good to me its not like the Summit League that a name change was part of a overhaul of the league

**FargoBison** · 11-20-2007, 04:10 PM

Re: Gateway Conference exploring name change

Originally posted by joeboo22 View Post

thanks for fixing it..... I don't see a reason to change the name Gateway sounds good to me its not like the Summit League that a name change was part of a overhaul of the league

I don't know, I like the fact that NDSU and SDSU will be in a league with Missouri Valley as its name. It is only the best Mid-Major conference in the country.

**joeboo22** · 11-20-2007, 05:14 PM

Re: Gateway Conference exploring name change

Originally posted by FargoBison View Post

I don't know, I like the fact that NDSU and SDSU will be in a league with Missouri Valley as its name. It is only the best Mid-Major conference in the country.

In basketball.... half the missouri valley teams don't sponsor football and half the teams in the Gateway are in different conferences for basketball..... How does it work with the Big Sky are the members the same with football and basketball?

**filbert** · 11-20-2007, 05:44 PM

Re: Gateway Conference exploring name change

Moderator note: Two similar threads merged here.

**Jack4Life** · 11-20-2007, 06:35 PM

Re: Gateway Conference exploring name change

Originally posted by FargoBison View Post

I don't know, I like the fact that NDSU and SDSU will be in a league with Missouri Valley as its name. It is only the best Mid-Major conference in the country.

I like the Missouri Valley name. No doubt about its identity. Some still don't know where the Gateway is.