Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502140039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
To at least one student, the A-10 is a bomb.
``A-10, to me, is a plane that destroys tanks,'' said Brian Hepler, a junior psychology major from Annandale, a member of Tech's Corps of Cadets and an avowed non-sports fan.
To others, the A-10 saves Tech's athletics program from going in the tank. The A-10 means increased exposure, better competition and a potential springboard into all-sports affiliation in the Big East Conference, according to a random sampling of opinions extrapolated from students at the Squires Student Center on the Tech campus.
``I'm not as happy as I would have been had it been the Big East,'' said Greg Boling, a Tech sophomore from Radford. ``This is a good conference, though. It's good for Tech basketball.''
Most of the students interviewed Friday favored the A-10 over Tech's old conference, the Metro, and the Colonial Athletic Association, Tech's other option. Apparently, playing the likes of nearby CAA schools Richmond, James Madison, Old Dominion and East Carolina was unappealing.
``I went to East Carolina for two years and I didn't like the Colonial at all,'' said Glen Gordick, a junior mathematics major from Newport News. ``The A-10 is a better choice.''
Most students relished the thought of playing against the nationally known A-10 basketball programs of Massachusetts and Temple. The only problem is that the 12-team A-10 most likely will split into two divisions, with Tech aligned with Dayton, Duquesne, George Washington, La Salle and Xavier.
Tech would play teams in the other division - Massachusetts, Temple, Fordham, Rhode Island, St.Bonaventure and St.Joseph's - only once per season.
``Realistically, the people are going to want to see UMass and Temple, when actually we should be out there supporting our team,'' said Catherine Lee, a junior communications major from Burke.
Most students agreed the A-10, with its national television contract and Northeast base, would allow Tech to introduce its sports programs to new fans.
``I'd never heard of Virginia Tech until high school,'' said Chris Colbert, a senior from Philadelphia who grew up a few blocks from La Salle's campus. ``The Northern exposure will be good for Tech.''
The A-10 does not offer automatic qualifiers to NCAA championship play in sports such as baseball and volleyball; the CAA and Metro offer bids in both.
by CNB