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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994                   TAG: 9407220095
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.                                 LENGTH: Short

METRO, GREAT MIDWEST EYE MERGER

The Metro and Great Midwest conferences could merge into a 16-team, all- sports superconference by next week, former NCAA executive director Dick Schultz said.

Merger talks have been spurred by a lucrative television contract negotiated with Liberty Sports, a Texas-based company that televises games through Prime Network. Prime distributes college sporting events nationwide.

``It makes sense to merge the two conferences,'' said Schultz, who has been working as a Metro consultant and negotiated the contract. ``I think folks are looking a lot harder at doing just that. They should make a decision by early next week.''

University officials at Virginia Tech have said Tech supports any move that will strengthen the Metro Conference, whether it be expansion or a merger. The Hokies play all sports but football in the Metro and would continue to play football in the Big East Conference.

Schultz said a decision must be made quickly because Liberty's contract offer expires next week. The contract is for a larger all-sports Metro Conference, but could be readjusted if the merger is done, said Liberty group vice president Dave Almstead.

It's still unclear how many teams in the league would play Division I-A football and which school would be the 16th member.

The Metro's members are North Carolina-Charlotte, Louisville, South Florida, Southern Mississippi, Tulane, Virginia Commonwealth and Tech. The Great Midwest is made up of Alabama-Birmingham, Cincinnati, Dayton, DePaul, Marquette, Memphis and St.Louis. They would joined by East Carolina and possibly Houston.

by CNB