Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 16, 1991 TAG: 9102160144
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Braine, Metro commissioner Ralph McFillen and athletic directors from Louisville, Tulane and Southern Mississippi met with representatives from theO two Sun Belt Conference schools in Atlanta on Friday. A Metro spokesman said no formal invitations were issued, but Braine said the two prospective members quizzed the Metro on its operations and discussed how the league would operate if the two schools joined, beginning with the 1991-92 school year.
Now, Braine said, chief executive officers at South Florida and UNCC must approve the union.
"The meeting went very smoothly," Braine said. "I feel as confident with this as I did about [Virginia Tech joining] the Big East [football league] a month before that happened."
Braine said the Metro in effect told UNC Charlotte and South Florida that the only way they won't be in the Metro next year "is [if you] keep yourself out."
McFillen has said he wants two new schools in the Metro no later than the Final Four, which is the first week of April.
UNCC athletic director Judy Rose and South Florida athletic director Paul Griffin could not be reached for comment Friday. But Griffin said this week that if the six schools could agree on a long-term financial commitment, he didn't see any reasons not to recommend that his school join the Metro.
Rose would not go that far, but a source at UNCC said this week that if Metro stability is resolved, the school almost certainly will join.
Braine said Friday's meeting included discussion of revenue sharing, TV package and other conference issues, and he said there were no serious disagreements on any issues.
Assuming the NCAA adopts a recommendation by a special committee to rewrite the continuity-of-membership rule, the new Metro will not have an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament next year, but it will regain the bid in 1992-93 instead of having to wait four more years, as with the current rule.
Although some Tech fans are convinced the Big East eventually will add the Hokies in basketball and say Tech should not make a long-term commitment to the Metro, Tech President James McComas disagrees. On Wednesday, McComas decided Tech should stay in the Metro rather than jump to the Atlantic 10 or Colonial Athletic Association.
"I don't think we can enter into the Metro with that kind of looking-to-the-next-step philosophy," McComas said Thursday. "Our reason for staying in the Metro should have nothing to do with that topic. [Without a commitment] there's always that degree of tentativeness. By our action, we've made a commitment to the Metro."
Braine said on Wednesday that the Metro will try to add one or two more schools next year. Apparently, the league has tried to get one of its wandering brothers back in the fold. On Friday, sources at two Metro schools said Southern Miss athletic director Bill McClellan paid an unannounced visit to Memphis State athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro on Thursday to try to convince Memphis to leave the new Great Midwest Conference and rejoin the Metro.
Braine didn't confirm McClellan's visit, but said, "We've all called Memphis State at different times, because everyone thinks they're making a mistake. But they said they're too far in [to back out]."
Memphis State and Cincinnati, which plays at Tech today, are joining the Great Midwest after this school year, when current Metro members Florida State and South Carolina will join the ACC and Southeastern Conference, respectively.
by CNB