Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 13, 1991 TAG: 9102130112 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There are two choices: Stay in an expanded Metro or jump to the Atlantic 10 Conference or Colonial Athletic Association.
Braine won't reveal his preference, but indications are the Hokies' athletic administration and coaches want an expanded Metro. McComas, unavailable for comment Tuesday, will make the final decision.
Braine said he will not make a case for one or the other, but said he will give his opinion if asked. Braine said if Tech leaves the Metro, he won't feel disloyal because of the league's previous defections.
"Virginia Tech's been in the Metro for 17 years; that does mean an awful lot," Braine said. "But times have changed."
Braine has said that Tulane, although it dropped basketball in the late 1980s, will be recognized as having been in Division I for eight years in order to meet the NCAA's proposed new continuity-of-membership rule. That means if Tech leaves, an expanded Metro of at least six teams still would be eligible for the automatic bid.
But there is some pressure on Tech: South Florida athletic director Paul Griffin said Tuesday that his school likely will join the Metro if a long-term financial commitment is made by member schools, and a source at UNC Charlotte said a long-term commitment is all it needs to join the Metro. UNCC athletic director Judy Rose said all eyes are on the Hokies.
Rose and Griffin are expected to join Metro Commissioner Ralph McFillen, Braine and ADs from Louisville, Tulane and Southern Mississippi on Friday in Atlanta to meet on expansion. Braine was asked if Tech's conference decision would be put off until after that meeting or if his attendance in Atlanta would depend on the outcome of today's meeting.
Economics are expected to play a major role in Tech's decision, as is the theory that if the Big East Conference expands in basketball, Tech will be in better position in the A-10 than in the Metro for consideration by the Big East - even though Big East officials have said that their football members' choice of basketball affiliation makes no difference.
Among other things today, Braine will present travel-cost comparisons produced by non-revenue sports coaches comparing the Metro, A-10 and CAA. The CAA generally is thought to be the most economical choice for Tech, but not necessarily in all sports.
Tech baseball coach Chuck Hartman, who said he favors an expanded Metro, said that because the A-10 plays baseball in two five-team divisions, there are just two conference road trips per year and that's cheaper than eight CAA road trips.
If Tech joins the A-10, its track and field and swimming teams will lose their leagues because the A-10 doesn't sponsor those sports. However, Tech's soccer team would have a chance at an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time, a prospect that interests coach Jerry Cheynet.
Track coach Russ Whitenack said Tech ought to stay "with the people who have been good to us." Men's basketball coach Frankie Allen has consistently favored keeping the Metro together, and women's basketball coach Carol Alfano is said to prefer the Metro.
Men's tennis coach Larsen Bowker said the A-10 is his choice because it includes a top 20 program in West Virginia.
by CNB