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

DATE: THURSDAY, January 26, 1995                   TAG: 9501260107
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MEDIATOR WILL TRY TO RESOLVE METRO CONFERENCE CONFLICT

Lawyers representing Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth, and the legal counsel of 12 universities that are trying to expel Tech and VCU from the Metro have agreed to let the dispute be heard by Boston-based mediator Eric Green.

Green, a law professor at Boston University, is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of mediation and arbitration.

Green will hear both sides' arguments on Feb.1-2. Although it has not been settled, Richmond is the likely site for the discussions.

After learning of a plan to expel their athletic programs from the Metro, Tech and VCU filed a lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court on Jan. 17 to stop realignment of the conference. Named as defendants were the conference, its commissioner - Ralph McFillen - and 12 schools.

The schools are: Louisville, Tulane, UNC Charlotte, South Florida and Southern Mississippi from the Metro; and Houston, Cincinnati, Memphis, DePaul, Marquette, St. Louis and Alabama-Birmingham, which plan to join the Metro members in a 12-team superconference.

The suit asks the court to determine what Tech and VCU are owed by the league. Tech and VCU officials view the expuslion plan as an attempt by the other Metro schools to avoid paying a $500,000 departure fee and shares of other conference revenue, such as TV fees and NCAA Tournament receipts.

The suit also asks for a temporary injunction to maintain the current conference alignment until the suit is resolved. A hearing on the temporary injunction, scheduled for this morning in Richmond Circuit Court, was postponed because of the mediation process.

If the two parties can't reach an agreement in mediation, another temporary injunction hearing has been set for Feb.3 at 9 a.m. in Richmond Circuit Court.

VCU President Dick Trani originally had asked for the NCAA to intervene and mediate the dispute. But the NCAA, citing its history of not getting involved in conference problems, opted not to volunteer its services.

The willingess of the 12 schools to agree to mediation may indicate they have decided to offer Tech and VCU a resolution in the form of a financial settlement.

Dave Braine, Tech's athletic director, said Wednesday he couldn't comment on how much compensation would be required to satisfy his school.