The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, September 27, 1994            TAG: 9409270420
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   73 lines

CAA COMMISSIONER MAKES PITCH FOR VA. TECH, VCU, TWO OTHERS

Colonial Athletic Association commissioner Tom Yeager is on the campaign trail, though not for North, Robb or Coleman.

He wants Metro Conference members Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth, UNC Charlotte and South Florida to join his league, and is telling them all why it's in their best interest to come on board.

``In my heart I clearly think we're the best place for them,'' Yeager said Monday.

``We're going to take a very pro-active position. We believe we have a lot to offer these programs, and likewise, they have a lot to bring to the CAA.''

The message from the Atlantic 10 isn't quite as enthusiastic. Commissioner Linda Bruno said the league is taking a cautious approach to the four schools.

``I'd like to think they would look at the Atlantic 10 as a good conference,'' she said. ``But I don't know what our options are, I don't know if we'd like to expand that far.

``The Metro has some very nice schools. I hesitate to say which of those schools we're interested in or which schools we aren't interested in. Until we hear who is available ... we are going to hold off.''

The Metro foursome was left looking for a new home when six schools - three each from the Metro and Great Midwest - announced last week they would form an all-sports league in 1996.

The four leftover Metro schools have so far said they would like to stick together for financial reasons.

If they hold onto the Metro name, then merge with another league, they would keep the Metro's NCAA tournament money (estimated at $500,000 per school per year for six years) and fines of $500,000 apiece to be paid by Louisville, Tulane and Southern Mississippi for leaving the Metro.

VCU athletic director Dick Sander said the group's two likely options are the CAA and the Atlantic 10.

Not surprisingly, Yeager said the Colonial is the natural home for Tech, VCU and UNC Charlotte.

``South Florida isn't very close to our schools, but it's a lot closer to us than it is to Oleon, N.Y.,'' Yeager said in reference to St. Bonaventure, an Atlantic 10 school.

Yeager acknowledges that Temple and Massachusetts give the Atlantic 10 an edge over the CAA in men's basketball.

But he says the CAA ``takes a back seat to nobody'' when all sports are considered, and that the four schools should look toward the future, not the past, in selecting a home for men's basketball.

Rutgers and West Virginia are leaving the Atlantic 10 for the Big East in 1996, and both losses will hurt the league's ability to market itself in men's basketball.

``You've got to look at how other leagues will be constituted in 1996, not how they're constituted now,'' he said.

``If you add those four schools to our league, it becomes a pretty major player in men's basketball.

``A few years ago, when the Atlantic 10 had all of their guns in place, they took a pretty good run at three of our institutions. And those institutions decided the best place for their programs was the Colonial.''

Officials won't say so for the record, but it is widely believed that VCU is leaning toward the CAA and UNC Charlotte toward the Atlantic 10.

Tech athletic director Dave Braine is inclined to join the CAA, say sources in Blacksburg, but the alumni and the administration there could change his mind.

South Florida is undecided, and likely will go either way if the other three schools can agree.

``I've spoken with people at the four schools informally,'' Yeager said.

``At the appropriate time I would like to visit with them formally and lay things out.''

He's already got a stump speech in hand. by CNB