Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 22, 1993                   TAG: 9309220192
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BLACK COLLEGES MAY FORM FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

Possible members include Tennessee State, Grambling, Jackson State, Southern, Florida A & M, South Carolina State, North Carolina A & T and Howard.

"It is strictly an exploratory conversation so we can get a feel for where different schools stand at this point," said Bill Thomas, Tennessee State's athletic director.

"On the surface, I think a football league like that would do very well in attendance and fan interest," he said.

Tennessee State has a combined attendance of more than 100,000 for games this season against Florida A & M, Jackson State and Grambling.

The Tennessee State-Florida A&M game drew about 31,100 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Tennessee State-Jackson State game had 43,800 in Chicago, and Saturday's Tennessee State-Grambling game drew about 42,000 in Memphis.