Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501170065
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Now, there's something you won't ever be able to say again two months from now.
The Hokies learned second-hand - that's usually the Metro's way of doing things - that they and Virginia Commonwealth will be booted from the league at the end of this school year ... they think.
At VCU, steam is rising from the head of athletic director Dick Sander. At Tech, AD Dave Braine took a sip of a halftime soda, smiled and said, ``It's just another day at the office, folks.''
Less than 24 hours earlier, Braine learned that Tech was going to be expelled from a conference in which it has played for 17 years. He tried not to grin. Honest.
Really, this isn't like being excluded from Big East all-sports membership, a snub that still pains Tech. The Hokies weren't going to be in the Metro more than one more year anyway.
A two-page letter sent Friday from UNC Charlotte Chancellor J.H. Woodward to VCU President Eugene Trani informed the Rams that the Metro wasn't going to fold, nor were the five members other than Tech and VCU going to bolt to a new football-rooted conference.
The letter answered VCU's threat of legal action against the Metro five by stating that the new 12-team league would be reorganized as the Metro, without Tech and VCU.
The Metro constitution allows two-thirds of the membership to vote in new members and ``disassociate'' members as well, with ``cause.''
What's cause? Does the Metro constitution have an impossible geography clause that was violated because Tech and VCU are the only league members in Metro history from the same state at the same time?
The constitution also can be amended by a two-thirds vote, and five-sevenths makes VCU and Tech history.
I guess this means the 1999 Metro tournament won't be played at the Roanoke Civic Center, huh?
What the move also accomplishes is to allow the Metro five to keep their 26 NCAA Tournament units, because they won't be exiting. Tech and VCU didn't earn any of those units anyway.
It also means the Hokies and Rams won't be paid $500,000 apiece in palimony. They won't be getting those checks, either, although the letter did say the Metro quintet would be willing to discuss ``financial resolution'' with VCU and Tech.
``We're willing to listen,'' Braine said.
While the Hokies figure to be paid to leave instead of paying, all they need is cab fare to the Atlantic 10. Tech can choose between that league and the Colonial Athletic Association. The CAA is a logical choice for the Rams.
Braine said the Hokies will join the A-10 unless that league loses members to the CAA, which has been rumored as a possibility. It is known the CAA wants to expand on its Virginia-North Carolina membership by moving up the Eastern seaboard.
The Tech AD has made it clear that the A-10 is the Hokies' preference over the CAA. However, no one will be surprised if CAA commissioner Tom Yeager makes a pitch to strengthen his league to help attract Tech.
A change in membership might do that. However, adding VCU to give the CAA nine members likely won't be enough to entice the Hokies to become a seventh state school in the Richmond-based league.
Tech didn't want to be in the new Metro because the football exposure and revenue are greater in the Big East.
``Basically, we're being kicked out of the Metro because we play football somewhere else,'' Braine said, ``and we're notified by a school that's only been in the league four years and doesn't play football.''
What grated Braine about the latest Metro development was the way it was delivered, the manner in which the lame ducks were left out by a league with lame leadership.
Dr. Paul Torgersen, Tech's president, learned of Tech's forced exit only via fax from VCU. Braine learned in a late Friday afternoon phone call from Sander.
``We've been members for 17 years,'' Braine said. ``Last year when we wanted to leave [had the Big East granted all-sports membership], we were going to do it up front and pay our $500,000.
``These people don't want to pay $500,000. Fine. At least they could have contacted us and told us what they were planning to do. And everybody likes to talk about the integrity in college athletics.''
Certainly, the Metro will be stronger with 12 members and the addition of football. However, it hasn't been and never was to be the answer for the Hokies.
The Metro no longer will be a daily question for Tech, either.
by CNB