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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 24, 1994                   TAG: 9408250040
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NCAA REJECTS BIG SOUTH APPEAL

The Big South Conference took all the appropriate measures, but still won't receive an automatic bid to the 1995 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

``We went through the steps. We hoped very much to get this,'' Big South commissioner Buddy Sasser said Tuesday after the conference's appeal to the NCAA was denied. ``We were hoping our case was different.''

The league lost its bid, which is awarded to the conference tournament champion, after Campbell University announced Jan.17 that it would leave the Big South for the Trans America Athletic Conference.

The NCAA requires a conference have at least six members with five years of continuous membership to receive an automatic bid.

The Big South, which also includes Radford University, should regain its tournament bid in 1996 when Liberty University, a member since 1991, competes for a fifth year in the conference.

In other sports in the region:

Lee Taylor of Roanoke Country Club won the 13-and-under age group competition at the Shenandoah Valley Junior Invitational at Spottswood Country Club in Harrisonburg. He shot 80-86 for a total of 166. Tray Clower, also of RCC finished third with rounds of 83 and 87.

Virginia Tech has appointed Tim East to the newly-created position of athletic promotions director. East will handle all the promotional activities for Tech's 20 varsity sports teams. East most recently worked as a marketing consultant for the Mike Utley Foundation.

An open practice session for drivers in all five divisions will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday at New River Valley Speedway.

The session is to assist drivers in preparing for the Miller Genuine Draft/J-93 250 afternoon race at 3 o'clock Sunday, Aug.28. There is no grandstand admission charge however there will be an infield fee to cover the cost of insurance, ambulance and wrecker services.

The Blacksburg Sports Club's ``Kickoff Luncheon,'' featuring head football coaches Frank Beamer of Virginia Tech and Dave Crist of Blacksburg High School, will be held Aug. 31 and not today, as was reported in Tuesday's editions. Annual membership dues of $15 may be paid at the luncheon, which starts at noon. Call 953-0388 for information.

by CNB