Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 25, 1990 TAG: 9005250217
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. LENGTH: Medium
Maryland games can't be televised live during the coming season because of NCAA sanctions handed down in March. Every ACC tournament game is on television, leaving the ACC and Maryland with a painful decision.
"We certainly didn't want to jeopardize the television contract," said Lew Perkins, Maryland's athletic director, during a news conference as the ACC's spring meetings ended.
"We wanted to do what what was in the best interest of Maryland. But we also wanted to do what was in the best interest of the conference."
Perkins said the decision was a "mutual agreement" between Maryland and the conference.
"What is the alternative? Let's take the assumption, they tape-delay the first game, and we win," Perkins said. "What are you going to do the second game? Tape-delay the second game? If we win that, we're in the final. It's on national television. They're going to tape-delay that? There's nobody in their right mind that would pick up that contract."
ACC Commissioner Gene Corrigan said there were no other options.
Asked if the decision had been put to a formal vote by ACC officials, Corrigan said, "They were in the room. We didn't throw them out of the room. We talked about it. We just said, `Hey, we've got this problem.' "
The only other time a league team has not played in the ACC Tournament was in 1961, when North Carolina voluntarily withdrew because it was ineligible for the NCAA Tournament.
The eight-member conference has never banned a team from its tournament. However, that may have happened this year had Maryland opted to fight for a spot in the tournament.
Perkins refused to comment on that, saying it was "speculation." He also said he felt no pressure from other league officials.
The NCAA will hear Maryland's appeal in August. The Terrapins were placed on three years probation in March and are ineligible for the NCAA Tournament in 1991 and 1992 for violating 18 NCAA rules under former coach Bob Wade. Maryland now is coached by Gary Williams.
If Maryland does not play, the team that wins the regular-season title will receive a first-round bye in the tournament in Charlotte, N.C.
by CNB