DATE: Sunday, June 15, 1997                 TAG: 9706150192

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
                                            LENGTH:   67 lines

IF CAPEL'S TRUE TO HIS WORD, HE'LL LET FSU DOWN GENTLY

No matter what you read or hear, Jeff Capel isn't leaving Old Dominion University to take Florida State's vacant basketball coaching position.

How could he? He's already promised Andre McCullum that he'd stay.

In a story in the June 4 editions of The Virginian-Pilot, McCullum, a transfer student from North Carolina State, says he chose ODU after Capel guaranteed him that he was not leaving.

Upon reading that Capel had interviewed for the Rutgers job, and that his name was mentioned in the search for a new coach at Boston College and the University of Memphis, McCullum initially decided he'd be better off attending UNC-Asheville. But, according to the story, Capel and ODU assistant Mark Cline changed his mind.

``My high school coach talked to coach Capel personally and coach Capel said he wasn't going nowhere,'' said McCullum, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound forward. ``I didn't have the fear of him leaving after that.''

Also quoted in the story was Glenn McKoy, McCullum's coach at Whiteville (N.C.) High School, who said, ``Coach Capel told me he's going to be in Norfolk for years to come.''

Now, less than two weeks after reassuring McCullum, Capel apparently is a candidate for a job in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

As always, speculation runs wild. If Capel goes to Florida State, reports say, he'll take along son Jason, one of America's finest prep talents. What's more, he'll also recruit Hampton High phenom Ronald Curry to play both basketball and football.

Capel's response?

``What else is new?'' And, ``I haven't talked to anybody.''

But he talked to McCullum, or his coach, less than two weeks ago. They said Capel told them he wasn't going anywhere. That he was going to be in Norfolk for years to come.

Should we not believe Capel simply because he belongs to a fraternity of fibbers?

It's one thing for Rick Pitino to string along recruits at Kentucky when he knew he was leaving for the Boston Celtics. But not every coach is a prevaricator of that ilk.

You can see why people would assume Capel is interested in Florida State. The Seminoles job offers more prestige, more money, a chance to coach against Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski, and a better showcase for his son. Besides, everybody thinks of ODU as just a stepping stone.

It's a cynical world in which we live. Coaches, we know, must play the game. They must say and do whatever it takes to protect their recruiting.

``I am very happy with my present job,'' they say (wink, wink). ``I have no intention of seeking another position.'' (Wink.)

And then there are the coaches who make a career of flirting with any offer that comes along. They don't intend to leave, perhaps, only drive up their salary at their current place of employment.

These men are recognized for their savvy and business acumen.

And if in practicing the art of the deal they toy with the emotions of their young players, well, that's just the way the game within the game is played.

Sometimes, a coach can't help it if his name appears on a school's wish list. It is, however, within his power to quickly and decisively remove his name from consideration.

Capel will be removing his name from consideration for the Florida State job, right? Any moment now, right?

Somewhere, Andre McCullum, among others, has his fingers crossed. ILLUSTRATION: STAFF/File color photo

ODU coach Jeff Capel is on Florida State's short list. But didn't he

say he was staying?

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu