Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 14, 1990 TAG: 9005140274
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Bill Brill
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Hokies could be part of an expanded Metro Conference that plays football and shares revenue; they could become a member of a new Eastern Seaboard all-sports league; or they could remain a football independent and consider joining the Colonial Athletic Association in all other sports.
The status quo does not seem to be a consideration, nor should it be.
The Metro, as is, makes no sense. It doesn't play football, and it doesn't split the basketball money, mostly because that is primarily Louisville's money.
It also isn't economically sound to be moving the basketball and baseball tournament sites from year to year, as the league does, allowing each school a chance to be the host team.
The Metro was a good idea for the Hokies a dozen years ago, but things haven't worked out. Tech won the basketball tournament that first year, but hasn't since. And rivalries, other than with Louisville and - to a degree - Memphis State, have not materialized.
The Metro was - and remains in its current grouping - better than nothing. But not much.
So let's consider the new proposals.
The expanded Metro, with Miami and West Virginia, would be very strong in football. Florida State and Miami are two of the top five programs in the nation. West Virginia has been consistently good. South Carolina has had untapped potential forever.
Such a league would lack balance, not just at the beginning but permanently. It would resemble a Big Eight, with the two Sunshine State schools playing the roles of Nebraska and Oklahoma.
The expanded Metro would not be improved in basketball. Miami has shown no capacity to support the sport. West Virginia would help, but not enormously. It still would be Louisville and the nine strangers.
The success of the Eastern Seaboard league would depend on which schools joined. If Penn State really does wind up in the Big Ten, there would be an enormous void. That would make Miami a necessity. And while the league would include schools in major television markets, it would not necessarily include teams television would want.
The Eastern Seaboard would require Syracuse and Pitt to be successful - especially Syracuse. A league might be formed without Penn State and Syracuse, and it might be competitively balanced, but who would care?
Virginia Tech is in the same position as Temple and Rutgers. It is in the add-on category, a school seeking additional revenue and a home for its football program.
In baseball terms, Tech is a middle reliever.
The stars are recognizable.
In basketball, Louisville is the cleanup hitter. The Cardinals get all that national TV money and they play in the NCAA Tournament every season. But they would be willing to give up some privileges to join a football league.
Florida State is the ace. The Seminoles have an excellent overall athletic program, one that is challenged in the Metro only by South Carolina. By agreeing to play in an expanded Metro, with revenue-sharing, Florida State would be giving up the most of all.
Miami and West Virginia are the closers. The Hurricanes need a home for their recently reborn basketball program. The Mountaineers, faced with the potential loss of Penn State from their football schedule, are almost as desperate as Virginia Tech. The difference is West Virginia draws 60,000 for every home football game and offers the Pittsburgh TV market.
The Eastern Seaboard would be dictated by the wishes of Syracuse and Pitt, in that order. The Panthers might be more willing to join such a league. They don't draw 30,000 for home basketball games. The Big East Conference would fight to keep the Orange; without Pitt, it still would have eight schools.
Virginia Tech presently is stalled. Progress in the current setup is all but impossible. The expanded Metro would be a big help, if the revenue sharing was significant. The Eastern Seaboard conference could work, but only if the right schools were members. Nobody cares about Temple, Rutgers or Boston College.
Despite certain objections from well-meaning alumni who have visions of national potential, the CAA is not a bad alternative for the Hokies. It would be great for the non-revenue sports, and the basketball team would have far greater access into the NCAA Tournament.
It wouldn't help the football situation. But, regardless of what occurs, what league Tech eventually embraces, football is helped only by how much other schools - Florida State, Miami, South Carolina, Syracuse and Pitt - are willing to give up.
Tech gives up nothing. So any benefit is a plus.
Metro officials are so paranoid about premature reports on expansion that several athletic directors, after a recent meeting in Atlanta, didn't bring home a report prepared for the league by Raycom. The athletic directors were concerned media members might seek the report under the Freedom of Information Act.
Regardless of what the detailed analysis said, there is little mystery here. Most Metro members want to participate, but most aren't dealing from a position of strength.
by CNB