THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 21, 1995 TAG: 9501210325
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Deadlines don't mean much, as La Salle proved Friday.
The Explorers were to declare by Friday afternoon what conference they would compete in next year. Instead, La Salle was granted an extension until Monday by the Midwestern Collegiate Conference - its present league - and put the Colonial Athletic Association on hold.
But the Colonial isn't holding the phone. CAA commissioner Tom Yeager said the offer made at the NCAA convention to La Salle to join the league has been taken off the table.
``If they had called us this morning and said, `We want in,' we'd have started setting up a press conference,'' Yeager said Friday. ``Now if they call us Tuesday morning and say `We want in,' we say, `We'll get back to you.' ''
La Salle athletic director Bob Mullen could not be reached for comment.
Yeager said the two sides could renew talks again, but acceptance of the Explorers would no longer be automatic.
``Basically, the votes were lined up,'' Yeager said. ``I don't know how (member institutions) will react if this resurfaces Tuesday. La Salle could come back with their hat in hand Tuesday morning, but from our point of view, that's a new discussion.''
Yeager said one sticking point for La Salle was it sought divisional play in the league. The CAA has eight members, and Yeager said at least 12 would be necessary to split into divisions.
Virginia Commonwealth and Virginia Tech, currently embroiled in a lawsuit they filed after their ouster from the Metro, are both considering CAA affiliation. Yeager was in Blacksburg on Friday morning talking with Virginia Tech coaches and administrators about what the CAA has to offer. by CNB