THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 10, 1994 TAG: 9408100568
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Tomorrow, a party of 17 representing the Old Dominion University basketball team departs for France.
The team's plane will set down in the Riviera, at Nice.
Nice is nice.
So is the 12-day, six-game barnstorming tour the Monarchs are taking through France.
The trip costs $35,000. That includes travel, room, board and maybe some brie.
``It's for our flagship program,'' athletic director Jim Jarrett says. ``We've been able to take this trip and stay within our budget.''
The purpose of the trip is not to introduce the young Monarchs and a new coaching staff to Burgundy or Monet, but to each other.
Those 10 days of practice Jeff Capel's team was allowed prior to leaving the country should be a big help in preparation for a season that gets under way on the absurdly early date of Nov. 16 with a game against Virginia in the NIT.
For a coach, 10 extra practice days are like found treasure. If the trip were called off right now, ODU still would be ahead of the game.
The exhibitions in France give Capel more opportunity to assess talent, but they also allow the players to draw closer. At least that's the idea.
``All that made sense to us,'' Jarrett says. ``The timing of the trip was perfect because of the new coaching staff and the need of the players and coaches to bond.''
And while $35,000 may sound like a lot of money, the expenditure seems less extravagant when you consider that it comes from a $5 million athletic budget.
``It's not easy to come up with $35,000,'' Jarrett says. ``But you can find $35,000 in a $5 million budget.''
Especially if you view the money as an investment.
``I like to compare the athletic program to a ship,'' Jarrett says. ``If you can't afford the gas, you better not buy the boat.
``There are certain things you need to do if you want to be competitive in Division I, and if you can't do those things, you probably shouldn't be in Division I athletics.''
Travel is a major item in any Division I budget. It is not unusual for the ODU soccer and baseball teams - which have lower profiles and less earning potential than basketball - to make occasional visits to the West Coast.
At the Final Four in Charlotte, University of Florida coach Lon Kruger cited his team's tour of Europe as the reason for the Gators' greater cohesiveness.
Whatever Florida spent on the trip, it was repaid many times over in tournament winnings and free publicity, not to mention those generous alumni donations that arrive on the heels of a successful season.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though. ODU's trip is meant to satisfy more immediate concerns. Recruiting, for instance.
Without the August workouts, ``We'd be guessing at what we need for the early signing period,'' Capel says. ``We know what our needs are now because of the practices.''
The work will continue in France, though play will not be limited to the gyms.
``When we're on the court, we're going to be all business,'' Capel says. ``But there will be some downtime, and we'll be sure to see the sights. My wife has given me five rolls of film to take with me. I'm expected to snap every picture on them so she can see them as soon as I get back.''
Capel's camera will be busy this season. In December, ODU plays in Hawaii.
For what it's worth, this is ODU's first overseas summer basketball excursion since Sonny Allen's 1975 defending Division II champions toured Algeria.
Algeria, say those who recall the trip, was not so nice.
At least over the last two decades, ODU has found a smarter travel agent. by CNB