Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 11, 1993 TAG: 9308110051
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
They're located in Virginia.
So, why are they playing a basketball game in Maryland?
Tech and UVa have played 107 times in men's basketball. They've played in Charlottesville and Blacksburg, in Richmond and Roanoke, in Norfolk and Hampton, in Alexandria and Lynchburg, even in Salem.
However, they've never double-dribbled outside the commonwealth. But their March 2 date has flown from the Roanoke Civic Center to USAir Arena, which used to be called the Capital Centre.
It's Tech's home game, in Landover, Md., where the Hokies also will open the season against West Virginia in November. That game was supposed to be at Cassell Coliseum. What are the Hokies going to tell coach Bill Foster next, that he has to play the Washington Bullets?
Tech athletic director Dave Braine is the brain behind all this. Braine may have cut geography class, but he certainly didn't skip finance. By moving two "home" games out of state, the Hokies will be paid $300,000 by promoter Russ Potts - who happens to be a Virginia state senator from Winchester.
Giving the state's most rabid rivalry more northern exposure wasn't solely Braine's call. The Cavaliers had to agree, and they will do so for a $100,000 guarantee. UVa athletic director Jim Copeland, who OK'd the switch, said that's at least $40,000 more than the 'Hoos would have received from a game in Roanoke.
The commonwealth's top prospects constantly are reminded to "stay in state" by recruiters. Turns out the border patrol is needed for the ADs, too.
Does money always have to be the bottom line? Moving Tech-UVa to Landover is like playing Auburn-Alabama in Chattanooga, Louisville-Kentucky in Cincinnati, Florida-Florida State in Savannah, or Duke-North Carolina in Rock Hill, S.C.
It's just as shameful that Roanoke city officials learned that the game was being moved the same way you likely did - by reading it in this newspaper a week ago. Bob Chapman, the civic center's manager, said Tuesday the Tech-UVa game still is penciled in on the arena's datebook. Neither he nor his assistant, Mark Collins, has gotten a courtesy call on Tech's plans.
Mac McCadden, who is Roanoke City Council's sports conscience, is the district sales manager for USAir, but he didn't sound too thrilled that the Tech-UVa game was moving to a building to which his employer has lent its name and financial support.
"I was really hot when I read about this," the councilman said. "I like Dave Braine and he's a friend of mine, but this is a low blow to Roanoke. When money takes precedence over allegiance, then we've really lost something in college athletics.
"Virginia Tech wants strong ties with Roanoke. How do you build an allegiance by doing something like this? We've been putting down Virginia around here for years to favor Tech. Look what it gets us."
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers said the city's relationship with Tech "has been extremely good, primarily with the Hotel Roanoke renovation. Like all of these things, it has its ups and downs. Moving the basketball game is regrettable, but certainly understandable. It hurts Roanoke, but $300,000 is nothing to sneeze at."
The game won't be played in Roanoke during the 1994-95 season, either. Asked whether UVa would play its "home" date with Tech in 1995 with a return to the Roanoke-Richmond rotation, Copeland said, "No, it's our intention of going to Richmond as planned. There are too many advantages to playing in Richmond with the General Assembly in session."
That way, Braine and Copeland can meet with Potts.
The 1991 Metro Conference tournament was a Roanoke box-office bust. Braine recently pointed out that Roanoke didn't sell out the 1992 Tech-UVa game or last year's North Carolina-Tech game, either. So, Braine sells Roanoke out.
At least Tech has left us with the Hotel Roanoke. What happens if that isn't sold out? Can that be moved to Landover, too?
Copeland said UVa agreed to the switch because UVa students and Charlottesville-area fans would have had a two-hour drive to the game, whether it was played in Roanoke or Maryland. Asked whether it was right to have Virginia rivals playing in Maryland, Copeland said he could understand arguing against the move.
"Symbolically, maybe it's a concern," he said. "But we have large alumni groups there and when you get in that area, it all kind of runs together. Both sides around the Potomac [River] are pretty much the same."
Rand McNally, he ain't.
Braine wasn't around to discuss his decision of geographic proportions. He's on vacation.
In Maryland?
by CNB