
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 22, 1993                   TAG: 9305220039
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff and wire reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IOWA ST. NAMES AD; BRAINE DRAWS PRAISE

Virginia Tech president James McComas on Friday hailed Virginia Tech's good fortune in keeping Dave Braine, who withdrew as a candidate for the Iowa State athletic director's job that went to Gene Smith from Eastern Michigan.

"David Braine's decision to continue his leadership for athletics at Virginia Tech is a positive and very welcome conclusion," McComas said in a written statement. "The victory of his decision may not show on a scoreboard this week, but this is a clear and compelling win for the home team."

Braine said he was not offered the job at Iowa State, although sources close to the search indicated he was the front-runner after visiting the school May 10-11.

Smith, the Eastern Michigan AD since 1984, received a four-year contract with a salary of $100,000 per year. Tech's reluctance to give Braine more than a one-year agreement was viewed as one of the reasons he considered the Iowa State offer, although there was no questioning McComas' support Friday.

"Experience, judgment, integrity, and positive values are all part of David Braine's character and they are essential building blocks of the many dimensions of university athletics today," McComas said. "Dave Braine is a leader for progress and a leader for the purpose and potential of a dynamic sports and recreation program."

by CNB