Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502070038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In a story in Saturday's editions with a large headline reading ``Virginia Tech to Join Atlantic 10,'' the Post said the A-10 ``will add Tech, Dayton and probably La Salle within the next two weeks.''
The story was based on ``sources familiar with the situation.''
When informed of the story late Saturday afternoon, Braine, speaking from his Blacksburg home, said it's ``nothing more than pure speculation.''
``All along,'' Braine said, ``it has been in newspapers and on television that we're going that way [to the A-10 for all sports except football, which it plays in the Big East].
``But I will deny that anything is definite yet. It's just not so.''
Tech, which ended its 17-year affiliation with the Metro Conference on Thursday when it accepted a $1.135 million equity payment from five league schools, also has held lengthy discussions with the Colonial Athletic Association.
``I talked to both conference commissioners Friday and I told them both that we'd make some kind of decision by next Monday [Feb. 13],'' Braine said.
``I repeat. Nothing is final yet.''
The Post story said the A-10 needs to quickly add the new schools to organize fall schedules and work out television arrangements.
The story said that if the addition of La Salle falls through, Virginia Commonwealth, which received the same monetary settlement as Tech from the Metro, could be a candidate along with Western Kentucky.
The Atlantic 10 was forced to pursue more schools last March, when West Virginia and Rutgers announced they would join the Big East next season.
The A-10 already has accepted new members Xavier (Ohio) and Fordham, giving the league nine schools for 1995-96.
The league ideally would like to expand to 12 schools, which would be divided into two six-team divisions.
The Post story speculated that one division would include Tech, George Washington, Dayton, Xavier, Duquesne and a Philadelphia school, either Temple, St. Joseph's or La Salle, if the latter is invited into the league.
by CNB