Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 25, 1993 TAG: 9312250055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Georgetown was supposed to put on the Hokies-Cavs game March 2 at USAir Arena in Landover, Md., as Part 2 of a deal that included a Tech-West Virginia/Georgetown-Virginia State doubleheader Nov. 27 in Landover. The Hokies were to receive a $100,000 guarantee from Georgetown for playing UVa.
Only about 4,500 attended the Tech-WVU game, however, and Tech athletic director Dave Braine said Georgetown athletic director Frank Rienzo "took a [financial] beating."
"He asked if we would allow him to get out of the contract, and we agreed," Braine said Friday.
Rienzo could not be reached for comment.
There was no settlement, said Braine, who has stressed that the games were moved to Landover for money. The original deal called for the Hokies to get a $300,000 guarantee for the two games. Tech winds up with $200,000 from the West Virginia game and whatever it makes off the Virginia game at the Roanoke Civic Center.
"If we make $100,000 [in Roanoke], it'll be the first time we've made $100,000 on the game," Braine said.
Tech originally contracted with State Sen. Russ Potts (R.-Winchester), a longtime sports promoter, but Attorney General Stephen Rosenthal ruled Potts could not contract with state schools. Potts then arranged for Georgetown to put on the games, with Potts still getting a cut.
Wednesday, Potts said he pulled out of the deals with Tech some time ago. He did promote the Georgetown-Maryland game, played a day before the Tech-Georgetown doubleheader.
"The way that thing was structured, it was meaningless for me to be involved," Potts said. "[My] financial interest was seriously limited. The more I thought about it, I said, `This just isn't worth it.' "
Braine said Rienzo agreed to put on the Tech games thinking Georgetown could make money. The Tech-WVU game changed that thinking.
"We're friends in the business, and Frank was going to take a bath," said Braine, who also may need Rienzo's support if the Big East Conference is to expand in basketball and include the Hokies, among others.
Braine said negative public reaction to moving the Tech-UVa game out of the state was a factor in the decision to bring the game back to the Roanoke Civic Center March 2.
Tech and UVA have played in Roanoke nine times since 1977. The 1992 game, which drew 8,396, was the first Tech-UVa non-sellout in Roanoke since '77.
by CNB