Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 26, 1990 TAG: 9005260219
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DESTIN, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
Metro athletic directors were talking about conference unity after three days of spring meetings ended Friday. But the league failed to reach a decision on whether to expand or to add football, an issue considered vital to Metro growth.
Metro officials, including Commissioner Ralph McFillen, have said they realize the formation of an Eastern league - or another new league such as the "Mighty Midwest" or an expanded Southeastern Conference - could doom the Metro even as it studies change.
Although the league's athletic directors said Friday that their top priority is staying in the Metro, seven of the eight have looked into other conference affiliations at one time or another.
After the session in Destin, at which progress was measured in terms of feelings of friendship and togetherness, Tech athletic director Dave Braine said the Hokies' athletic options remain open.
He said Tech will work toward an expanded, football-playing Metro. The Hokies, though, are one of several schools involved in talks aimed at creating an Eastern Seaboard conference, which could include schools from Syracuse to Miami.
Braine said the Eastern Seaboard group has been "inactive." He said the Eastern group likely will meet next month at the College Football Association gathering in Dallas.
"We're just going to listen," Braine said. "I'm not saying we wouldn't be interested if something happens with the Eastern Seaboard, because obviously we would. But I don't think that's going to happen."
Braine said he thinks an all-sports, revenue-sharing conference is in Tech's immediate future. But he said he didn't know if it would be the Metro. Braine did say he thinks the Metro won't expand without adding football as a conference sport, even though that scenario was discussed in Destin.
Tech faculty representative Bud Robertson, who arrived in Destin on Thursday for the last two days of the meetings, said he thinks the Metro is destined to change.
"Expansion has to come," he said. "How, I don't know. I just think there's an overall desire to expand the Metro Conference."
Tech has been mentioned as a longshot candidate for an expanded SEC, but Braine said a recent talk with SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer left him believing the SEC won't expand. The ACC, long Tech's dream, announced last week that it won't expand. And approaching the Colonial Athletic Association is seen by Braine as an option only if the Metro and Eastern Seaboard talks crumble.
Though the Metro has been criticized for its lack of geographical rivalries and for the academic diversity of its schools, Robertson said he thinks the Hokies' proper course is to pursue the Metro option.
"Until we have another viable option, do we have a choice?" he said. "I certainly don't mean that as a slap at the Metro Conference. If something happens in the Metro, that's all good."
Robertson said the fact that the Destin meetings ended with the Metro undecided about football and expansion didn't damage the prospects for change in the league.
"A couple schools raised a red flag," Robertson said of scenarios such as Cincinnati's interest in a Midwestern basketball alliance. "Everyone came in a little nervous. We sat down, talked, listened to the Raycom people and decided [we] needed further study."
Braine cited Tech's "standing" in the Raycom Sports & Entertainment report on football and expansion commissioned by the Metro as a reason he felt comfortable keeping Tech's program in the league. Tech, he said, didn't fare poorly in any of the academic or athletic categories under which Raycom ranked the league's schools. And, Braine noted the fact that Tech finished third in the Metro men's and women's all-sports competition for 1989-90.
Braine has been the chairman of the Metro's athletic directors for the past year, a responsibility that ended with the conclusion of Friday's last meeting. At Thursday's awards banquet, he was presented with the customary plaque for his chairmanship. In a short speech, he said he told the Metro gathering that he hoped his effort on the expansion-football issue won't have been wasted.
"I told everybody I hope the year will be remembered for us [as one] where we came together for the first time as a conference [and] have a great deal of feeling for each other," Braine said. "And when we look back at the year '89-90, I hope it will be a year where we made something happen."
by CNB