Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 6, 1994 TAG: 9402060102
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Why is it that even in good times, Tech seems intent on finding a way to shoot itself in the foot?
In this school year, the Hokies have had impressive football success, a lopsided bowl victory, their first unanimous All-American in center Jim Pyne and a better-than-solid recruiting season. They've enjoyed nice starts in men's and women's basketball and increased potential for finally gaining admission to an all-sports conference, either through Big East expansion or a new league with their Big East football brethren.
You would think Tech would want to talk about its program as much as possible, right? Apparently not. Athletic director Dave Braine has come up with a ban on media telephone calls directly to coaches and administrators.
Braine said last week, through his assistant athletic director for media relations, Jack Williams, that this policy applies to all media. The Roanoke Times & World-News has been told not to call coaches or administrators at home. The newspaper has been told that if it wants to reach a coach or an administrator at his or her office during work hours, we are to call Williams' office and Williams will relay the message.
Maybe the coach or administrator will call back - if he or she wants to call back. Or, Williams will set up a particular time when the reporter may call back. Apparently, if a coach is called directly and wants to talk, that is permissible, because on Friday at least one football coach took a call from a reporter from this newspaper.
This policy was instituted after a Roanoke reporter called an assistant football coach at home on Super Bowl Sunday. It should be pointed out that calls to coaches' and administrators' homes - at Tech or any other school - are infrequent. The policy also seems to be a reaction - make that an overreaction - to the Title IX lawsuit filed Jan. 26 against Tech by female students in four club sports at the school.
Braine has complained to this newspaper that before the women filed their suit, they didn't have the courtesy to come and talk to him first. Imagine that. That's not the media's fault. He's complained that this newspaper hasn't reported that. Well, television hasn't reported it, either. The media hasn't reported it because it's not the story.
Braine isn't the first person in history to be surprised by a lawsuit. The Title IX suit has been reported fairly across the state. It is the only development surrounding Tech's program this year that could be construed as "negative publicity," which is consistently the Hokies' choice of words, not mine. And in the reporting of the story, it's been pointed out that the Hokies have made significant strides in building their women's programs under Braine's guidance.
The media has been more than fair - "positive" is another word Tech loves to throw around - in covering the resurgence of the Hokies' athletic program. Any school would love the praise heaped upon the football team in print and on the air. Braine was praised for how he handled Tech's bowl opportunities aggressively and wisely. If the basketball improvements haven't returned ticket buyers to the seats at Cassell Coliseum, that isn't the fault of those on press row.
The Roanoke Times & World-News will continue to report on the athletic program at Tech, whether or not the athletic administration and coaches want that. Our readers want to read about the Hokies, and they will be able to do that. Braine also is reminded that he is employed by a state university, a public institution.
As the sports columnist, my policy hasn't changed. Tech staff members still may call me at home. I will take calls in the office and if I am not available at the time, I will return the call. However, I will not call Tech until I can directly reach the person to whom I need to speak.
The job description says that as the columnist, my work is to be thoughtful, reasoned, critical and opinionated. I also am candid and fair, trying to back up criticisms and opinion with facts or analysis.
My thoughtful, reasoned, critical, fair opinion of Braine's decision is that he's only hurting the program that he's helped build. And if his aides and coaches support his decision, they're only undermining their own success.
by CNB