Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 1994 TAG: 9404070084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
Ralph McFillen, the Metro's commissioner, said several former Schultz members of the recently disbanded Southwest Conference or other current Division I-A football independents could join the Metro schools that play football to develop a quality football conference.
It takes at least six schools to make a football conference under NCAA rules.
Metro member Virginia Tech plays football in the Big East Conference, but three Metro schools are Division I-A independents: Louisville, Southern Mississippi and Tulane. The Metro has discussed a merger with the Great Midwest Conference, which includes two Division I-A football schools - former Metro members Cincinnati and Memphis. Two weeks ago, McFillen said a Metro/Great Midwest deal could include two of the four schools left out by the SWC's split, probably Houston and either Southern Methodist or Texas Christian. Rice is the other remaining SWC member.
Schultz, who is president of Global Sports Enterprises, will collect data about possible television contracts, markets and demographics that will help shape the makeup of the conference, McFillen said Wednesday.
Agreements by SWC members Texas A&M, Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech to join the Big Eight Conference in 1996 completed the destruction of the league. The breakup began when Arkansas bolted to the Southeastern Conference in 1990.
Other Metro schools that do not play football - North Carolina-Charlotte, South Florida and Virginia Commonwealth - would retain full membership.
In 1990, the Metro hired Raycom Sports, Inc. as a consultant in its expansion attempts. The Metro tried and failed to create a superconference that would have included a 16-team football league and a 12-team basketball conference.
by CNB