Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991 TAG: 9103230233
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A Metro source said Friday that the league has given Tulane extra time to decide. Metro commissioner Ralph McFillen, Tulane athletic director Tom Peters and president Eamon Kelly could not be reached for comment on Friday.
Tulane's indecisiveness is holding up the Metro's addition of UNC Charlotte and South Florida.
SWC commissioner Fred Jacoby said there is "mutual interest" between the league and Tulane. He said he and several other representatives from the league plan to visit the New Orleans campus in April and meet with school officials to discuss Tulane replacing Southeastern Conference-bound Arkansas as the SWC's ninth member.
Jacoby said he doesn't expect the issue to be resolved quickly.
"It'll probably be determined by this spring," he said. "We're not talking days."
McFillen has said he believes the SWC is not interested in Tulane's independent football program. But Jacoby said the league and the school are discussing all sports and, asked about a basketball-only scenario, said, "You're looking for a total program."
Tulane must decide if it wants to agree to pay $500,000 if it leaves the Metro within the next five years - as have Virginia Tech, Louisville, Southern Mississippi, UNCC and South Florida - or if the SWC's interest is serious enough to entice the Green Wave to jump leagues. If Tulane leaves the Metro, the league may target South Alabama and/or Virginia Commonwealth of the Sun Belt Conference.
VCU athletic director Dick Sander has lobbied the Metro, and South Alabama athletic director Joe Gottfried said Friday that he has told the Metro of his school's interest. Gottfried, however, said he didn't know if South Alabama would be the Metro's top choice to replace Tulane.
The Tulane-SWC courtship has clouded the Metro expansion picture that seemed to clear up last month when Virginia Tech chose to stay in the Metro. Tech's commitment helped spur Sun Belt members UNCC and South Florida to agree to join the league, although that move has not been announced officially.
"I get a little irritated at people pointing the finger at us and saying why don't you leave [the Metro] alone," Jacoby said. "I say, why don't you leave the Sun Belt alone? I don't desire to be put in newspapers as a whipping boy."
The Sun Belt already is trying to save itself by discussing a merger with the American South Conference, an idea that has gained momentum in recent weeks. American South commissioner Craig Thompson said 12 athletic directors - from the seven American South schools and five Sun Belt members (minus UNCC and South Florida) - met March 8 to discuss the issue.
Thompson said a meeting of the two leagues' basketball coaches is scheduled during the Final Four, and that a meeting of the 12 schools' presidents, faculty representatives and athletic directors is scheduled shortly thereafter.
Gottfried said the merged league would be split into East and West divisions.
by CNB