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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994                   TAG: 9406300048
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

METRO SCHOOLS SEEK CREATION OF ALL-SPORTS LEAGUE

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Aubrey Lucas, president of the University of Southern Mississippi, says he and the leaders of at least four other schools are continuing efforts to create an all-sports conference.

In a one-page statement issued Monday by the school's sports information office, Lucas said he and the presidents of Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis and Tulane met Friday to discuss the issue.

Southern Miss, Louisville and Tulane play all sports but football in the Metro Conference, which also includes Virginia Tech. They are independents in football, while the Hokies play football in the Big East Conference. Memphis and Cincinnati are members of the Great Midwest Conference in all sports but football, in which they are independents.

``The five presidents agreed to move forward together to create an all-sports conference arrangement and will invite at least one other Division I-A football institution to join whatever arrangement results,'' Lucas said of the brief meeting in Atlanta.

The NCAA requires six teams before recognizing a conference. Lucas said the presidents ``declined to reveal which other Division I-A football-playing institutions are under consideration.''

Among the options being explored, Lucas said, are:

nA merger of the Metro and Great Midwest conferences.

nAll the institutions joining the Metro Conference.

nAll the institutions joining the Great Midwest Conference;

nThe formation of a new conference.

Lucas was out of town Monday and unavailable for additional comment, his secretary said.

by CNB