Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 15, 1993 TAG: 9310150106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The city's school board approved a modified policy Thursday allowing the scheduling of Group AA teams with enrollments of 500 or fewer students - in effect Group A schools playing at a Group AA level.
However, that loophole won't be big enough to accommodate Group AA Christiansburg and Blacksburg, schools with enrollments well over 500.
Board members said by changing their minds they were not reconsidering a controversial decision in September to drop Radford from Group AA to Group A.
Proponents said that policy, which also specified that Radford play only Group A teams, was driven by safety concerns, not by the traditional football power's recent lack of success on the field.
Several board members said the community feared that football players from Radford, with an enrollment of about 350, consistently risked injury by competing against bigger schools with more physical athletes. They believe a 500-enrollment ceiling for football opponents allows more scheduling flexibility without sacrificing safety.
The board members also expressed hope that their decision would end controversy over Radford's reclassification and the end of long-standing football series with Christiansburg and Blacksburg.
"There are a lot of things more important," said Carter Effler, a board member.
The vote came during a special meeting called to resolve football scheduling. After meeting earlier this week with representatives of other schools in its new Group A league, the Mountain Empire District, Radford could fill only eight of 10 dates for 1994.
Long-time football coach and athletic director Norm Lineburg told the board he shared its concerns for the athletes' safety. But he said lengthy bus trips Radford would have to endure in order to play only Group A teams also presented a safety issue.
The vote on the compromise measure was 4-2, with board members Betty Plott and Guy Wohlford dissenting.
Plott said members of the current Radford football and girls' basketball teams told her they want to continue playing Christiansburg and Blacksburg.
Wohlford said athletic scheduling should be left to the school's coaches and administrators.
Thursday's ruling applies only to Radford's football team. Other sports teams can continue to schedule schools with enrollments of more than 500.
However, principal Buddy Martin said Radford has a full 20-game Mountain Empire district schedule for its boys' and girls' basketball teams, which also will eliminate games against Christiansburg and Blacksburg.
Martin said that completing Radford's 1994 football schedule is complicated by two factors: the openings are on specific dates and most schools already have completed their scheduling.
But the board's vote "gives me what I need" to proceed, he said.
Staff writer Ralph Berrier Jr. contributed information for this story.
by CNB