Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501170071
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG NOTE: BELOW LENGTH: Medium
A sometimes-tumultuous 17-year relationship between Virginia Tech's athletic program and the Metro Conference is ending - not with a whimper, but a fax. After 20 years of membership, Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth's athletic program is being kicked out of the Metro Conference.
In the latest twist in Tech's continuing search for a home for all of its athletic teams, the five other current Metro members - North Carolina-Charlotte, Tulane, Louisville, Southern Mississippi and South Florida - have unanimously voted to disassociate Tech and Virginia Commonwealth from the conference effective at the end of the school year.
Dave Braine, Tech's athletic director, said Saturday he was informed late Friday afternoon by Dick Sander, VCU's athletic director.
In a letter faxed Friday to VCU President Eugene Trani, UNC-Charlotte Chancellor J.H. Woodward revealed the course of action the five other Metro schools tentatively plan to pursue in the next few months.
As allowed under the Metro Conference's constitution, the five schools have decided to reorganize the league, adding seven schools - DePaul, Marquette, Cincinnati, Houston, St. Louis, Memphis and Alabama-Birmingham.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained Saturday by the Roanoke Times & World-News, said that since the seven new schools will not agree to join a 14-member league, ``unfortunately, circumstances dictate that Virginia Tech and VCU not continue to be Metro Conference members if the conference realignment is to occur.''
Section 1.204 of the conference's constitution specifies that new members may be admitted by ``the affirmative vote of two-thirds [five of the seven] of the members.''
Section 1.206 states that two-thirds of the members may disassociate a member from the conference, provided a member disassociated for cause will be treated the same as a resigning member.
``It's in the bylaws - `with cause,''' said Braine, emphasizing the last two words. ``I don't know what the cause is.
``We have not heard directly. All we have is the copy of this letter sent to VCU.''
Where does this leave Tech's athletic programs?
Braine said this could be the best thing to happen to the Hokies, short of full membership in the Big East Conference, to which the Tech football program belongs. The school will be free to look at offers to place its other athletic teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference or the Colonial Athletic Association.
``Our goal still is to get in the Big East,'' Braine said. ``We feel like the Northeastern exposure is the most important thing for us.''
Still, the handling of the Hokies' apparent ouster from the Metro left a bad taste in his mouth.
``If the bywords of college athletics today are loyalty and integrity ...,'' said Braine, shaking his head. ``We were going to leave the conference and go in the Big East [if accepted]. We told everybody that up front, and we said we'd pay everybody bowfront.
``I don't believe our university would be a part of something like this. I don't think we'd do it this way.''
The move is all about money, Braine said - NCAA men's basketball tournament money.
``The reason they're doing this is to keep their conference units together and NCAA units together and not pay a $500,000 [per school] fee for leaving the conference,'' Braine said, referring to the money conference schools receive based on participation in the tournament.
It does appear Tech and VCU could be the recipients of a fee from the remaining Metro schools.
Woodward hinted as much in the letter to Trani, saying, ``While the [conference constitution] certainly does not require the conference or any of its members to reach a financial resolution with VCU in connection with the contemplated realignment, the presidents of the remaining Metro institutions have authorized me to initiate discussions with you regarding a financial resolution.''
Braine said his interpretation of the letter is ``it looks like there's room for negotiation.''
Ralph McFillen, the Metro's commissioner, was in Tampa, Fla., Saturday night for the UNC-Charlotte vs. South Florida basketball game, and could not be reached for comment. ``Sooner or later,'' Braine said ``the conference commissioner has to get involved in this thing.''
Braine, though, realizes this could be the best thing that could have happened to Tech. This way, the school could get some settlement money and be free to look at offers to join the Atlantic 10 Conference or the Colonial Athletic Association.
``Our goal still is to get in the Big East,'' said Braine, of the league that includes Tech's football program. ``We feel like the Northeastern exposure is the most important thing for us.''
So, is the Atlantic 10 Tech's springboard?
``That's that,'' Braine said. ``[The A-10] is looking better all the time.
``The Colonial [Athletic Association] is not going down without a fight. [If] they restructure and bring in some other teams ...''
That can happen very easily. Just ask the Metro.
by CNB