THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 24, 1994 TAG: 9406240647
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940624 LENGTH: CHARLOTTESVILLE
But, close behind is protecting the integrity of the university and Copeland admits he is ``frightened'' by recent reports that some Florida State football players last year engaged in a multi-thousand dollar buying spree, funded by pro agents.
{REST} ``That scares the devil out of me here, because there is absolutely no control over those people (agents),'' Copeland said during a far-ranging interview with members of the state media.
Copeland said if evidence from a current investigation reveals Florida State was guilty of a lack of institutional control, ``then that is serious, if that can be proven.''
But, Copeland is not convinced Florida State is guilty of wrong-doing.
``From what I've heard, Florida State did what it could to prevent that, did what anyone could do to prevent that,'' Copeland said.
``It is frightening. It really is frightening.''
Copeland, though, spent much of the session on financial matters, including the on-going Capital Campaign fund drive to raise $24 million for the athletic program.
About $10 million will be used for athletic scholarships and another $10 million to renovate University Hall, the basketball arena.
Another $2 million will be spent returning the playing surface of Scott Stadium to grass and installing an artifical cover on the football practice field in 1995.
While the University Hall project may be three years away, Copeland expects to contract with architects this summer to begin plans.
``We want to make it the best arena in the country,'' Copeland said.
Only 1,500 to 2,000 new seats are expected to be added, leaving the facility still one of the smallest in the ACC.
Copeland said Virginia remains among a low percentage of NCAA schools operating in the black, but the only money-making sports continue to be men's football and basketball.
``I would like to think down the road that women's basketball will be a revenue-producer,'' he said.
Copeland commented on several other issues concerning college athletics:
On the prospect for a national championship playoff in football:
``I think because of the finances there is going to continue to be pressure for a playoffs. I don't know if the $60 million figure you hear is accurate or not, but if it is even close to that, it is going to be hard for that to go away. I think we are going to have to continue looking at it.''
On how the ACC's views a playoffs system:
``(The league) has never taken an official position. We talked about it in our meetings, but never took a vote on it. My sense was if it had come down to a vote, the majority would have voted for it. I think it is inevitable. I wish it wasn't.''
On paying college athletes:
``I think, really, giving kids a stipend would help. There are kids who come to school who have the grant, and that is all they have, except for what they are able to make in the summer. They don't have money to go out on weekends, to buy clothes that they feel comfortable in, and we need to do something for those people.
``I say that, but you can't do that just for football and basketball players. If you do it, you got to do it for everyone on scholarship, and we've got over 200 grants in our program. If you go $100 a month for nine months, that is $900 per grant, for over 200 grants. If you are losing money to start with, like they are at some schools, how do you justify that financially?''
On the proposed postseason bowl alignment beginning in 1995:
``They are trying to establish three exclusive (starting) time periods on New Year's day, and by doing that they up the value of those three bowls.
``It looks like that is going to work. There will be a scramble for (ACC teams) other than the league champion. We will probably end up cutting deals with other bowls for our second, third, and fourth place teams.
``There will be a lot of bowls out there that find the ACC attractive because we are good, and because we are close to many of the bowls.''
On reports that the NCAA may consider lowering SAT entrance requirements:
``The intent (has been) to improve graduation rates, going back to the Prop 48 deal. I think the sliding scale is going to cut out an inordinate number of minority kids. I have mixed feelings on that. We know on the old Prop 48 rule that there were kids who got in Virginia and graduated who may not be eligible on the sliding scale. So, is that right?
``Yet, to drop down considerably on entrance tests, can the kid do the work? I think across the board those kids are not going to be able to do the work. I'll tell you one thing, if our graduation rates drop here, that is as serious as not winning. That is part of our culture here.
``Regardless of what they do nationally, we are going to be very careful about the kids who get in here.''
by CNB