Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 23, 1990 TAG: 9006230159
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Invited to the meeting called by the Metro and Raycom Sports & Entertainment are representatives from the eight prospective additions: West Virginia, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Miami, Boston College, Temple, Rutgers and East Carolina. Each of the schools was included in Raycom's consultant's study on expansion and addition of football by the Metro.
A source from one of the eight schools considering the Metro said the group will meet Wednesday afternoon and night and Thursday morning at the Marriott City Center. At the meeting, another source said, the group will receive new television and marketing data gathered by Charlotte-based Raycom. The Metro adjourned its spring meetings in Florida last month having agreed to wait for Raycom to compile the information relative to the proposed 16-team league it will receive at next week's meeting.
Virginia Tech athletic director Dave Braine said it is not the first time the group has met, and he said he thinks there is serious interest from other schools in the Metro's plans.
"I don't think they would be coming all that way for a courtesy call," Braine said.
The Metro, which originally had intended to add either two or four teams, reacted to the Southeastern Conference's expansion plans by revising its options to include an eight-team expansion.
"There aren't going to be any final decisions made [at this meeting]," said a source familiar with the Metro's plans. "The people will have to take the information back to their campuses and study it and present it to the presidents. The presidents still have to become more involved in the process before this gets close to a final decision."
Commissioner Ralph McFillen, however, has said the Metro must move quickly with its plans, because the SEC is courting Metro member Florida State and may consider South Carolina in its expansion plans. The other six Metro schools are Virginia Tech, Louisville, Memphis State, Cincinnati, Tulane and Southern Mississippi.
Some in the Metro are skeptical that the 16-team league will be formed.
"Sixteen teams is an awful lot," Louisville faculty representative Burt Monroe said. "It puts the scheduling problems back in there. I don't think they can get that many [schools to join]."
East Carolina athletic director Dave Hart Jr., though, said he thinks the plan can fly.
"The concept is one that is certainly feasible," said Hart, who confirmed that his school has been contacted by the Metro about the league's expansion plans. "No question, we think that's an excellent concept."
by CNB