Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 25, 1990 TAG: 9005250585
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. LENGTH: Medium
"What is the alternative? Let's take the assumption they tape delay the first game, and we win," Perkins said. "What are you going to do the second game? Tape delay the second game?
"If we win that, we're in the finals. It's on national television. They're going to tape delay that? There's nobody in their right mind that would pick up that contract."
So in what Perkins said was a "mutual agreement," Maryland and the ACC agreed the Terrapins won't play in the 1991 tournament if their appeal of NCAA sanctions is denied, marking only the second time a team has not played in the league's premier event, officials announced Thursday.
Maryland can't be on television this coming season because of NCAA sanctions handed down in March. Every ACC tournament is on TV, leaving the ACC and Maryland with a painful decision.
"We certainly didn't want to jeopardize the television contract," Perkins said at a news conference as the ACC's spring meetings ended. "We wanted to do what what was in the best interest of Maryland. But we also wanted to do what was in the best interest of the conference."
Asked if there was a formal vote taken by ACC officials, ACC commissioner Gene Corrigan said, "They were in the room. We didn't throw them out of the room. We talked about it. We just said, `Hey, we've got this problem.' "
The only other time a team has not played in the ACC tournament came in 1961, when North Carolina voluntarily withdrew because it was ineligible for the NCAA tournament, according to ACC officials.
The eight-member conference has never banned a team from the tournament. But that may have happened this year had Maryland opted to fight for a spot in the tournament.
The NCAA will hear Maryland's appeal in August. The Terrapins were placed on three years' probation in March and are ineligible for the NCAA tournament the following two years for violating 18 NCAA rules under former Coach Bob Wade. Maryland is now coached by Gary Williams.
League officials also approved two amendments to the ACC's bylaws. One "solidified" the president's role in overseeing athletics at league schools, Corrigan said.
The other requires that the athletic director be on the board of directors for his school's booster club. Furthermore, the employees of the booster club will be under the control of the AD or his superior.
The league's basketball coaches did not vote on whether to adopt either of two experimental rules for the 1990-91 season. The coaches are expected to make a decision when they meet Tuesday. The choices:
A no-foul-out rule in which an opponent would get three free throws to make two on a player's sixth and subsequent fouls.
Moving the 3-point arc back 9 inches to the international distance of 20 feet, 6 inches.
by CNB