CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Scheduling formulas and perpetuating rivalries were topics at an Atlantic Coast Conference business meeting Tuesday, but athletic directors said expansion was not discussed.
"This was not a meeting about expansion," Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman said after two sessions that lasted about six hours. "We have enough on our agenda without having to worry about that."
The conference will add Miami and Virginia Tech next season, creating an 11-school league. The focus of the meetings is determining the best way to set up schedules for basketball, football and Olympic sports.
Athletic directors also dismissed rumors that Notre Dame and Boston College were being targeted as a possible 12th team. The talk has increased since an ACC proposal to allow 10-team leagues to hold a lucrative football championship was rejected by an NCAA panel last week.
"We did not discuss expansion," said Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver, who led a school contingent to its first ACC meetings. "I don't think expansion is even on the agenda. It's not on my agenda."
North Carolina State athletic director Lee Fowler said 11-team schedules are difficult because coaches, athletic directors and others all have ideas about what's best for their school.
"We've had a lot of meetings that coaches have had, that (senior women administrators) have had, so we're hearing a lot of reports back from some of them about what they'd like to do and what their preferences are," Fowler said, adding a lot of the preliminary work was completed to allow Wednesday's sessions to produce some scheduling resolutions.
Commissioner John Swofford declined to speak with reporters as he left but said any conclusions reached in the meetings will be detailed during a news conference today.
Among the predominant topics are whether to break the conference into divisions, and how best to create perpetual opponents that will allow rivalries to continue.
ALABAMA: Quarterback Brodie Croyle, who has a sore shoulder, says he'll be able to play Saturday at No.11 Georgia.
"It's pretty sore right now, but I'm expecting to go Saturday," Croyle said. "If there's any way possible, I'm going to be out there."
Croyle played the second half and both overtimes last week after dislocating his left (nonthrowing) shoulder against Arkansas.
KANSAS STATE: After a three-week layoff with an injured left wrist, quarterback Ell Roberson will return for Saturday's game against No.13 Texas.
Roberson had four rushing touchdowns and five TD passes when he went down in the first half of a 55-14 win over McNeese State on Sept.6.
NORTH CAROLINA: Tight end Bobby Blizzard, diagnosed with a severe viral infection and unable to get out of bed for about two weeks, is expected to play Saturday against Virginia. Blizzard is still trying to shake off lingering headaches and weakness.
"It's just rough trying to get back to the same way I was at the beginning of the season," Blizzard said. "I feel like I'm in training camp again."
TENNESSEE: Reserve center Chuck Prugh was listed in critical condition and is in intensive care with an unknown illness.
Prugh was admitted to University of Tennessee Medical Center on Friday, discharged briefly, readmitted the next day and has been there since.
UT Medical Center spokeswoman Karen Bultman said his condition was critical but couldn't give other details.
VIRGINIA TECH: Defensive end Cols Colas is suspended for Saturday's game against Rutgers.
Coaches would not discuss their reasons for suspending him, but J.G. Frazier, a Blacksburg, Va., police lieutenant, said Colas was arrested for disorderly conduct in a downtown parking lot early Sunday after a 47-13 win over Connecticut.
Colas, 23, one of three people charged, will be arraigned Oct.9 in Montgomery County (Va.) General District Court.
Also, the Big East rivalry against West Virginia will continue in 2004-05 as a nonconference game. The teams will meet Oct.2, 2004, in Blacksburg, Va., and Oct.1, 2005 in Morgantown, West Va.
Tuesday's game
HOUSTON 27, EAST CAROLINA 13: Freshman Kevin Kolb threw two touchdown passes to Brandon Middleton and Anthony Evans added a 48-yard touchdown run for the visiting Cougars.
Will Gulley had two interceptions for the Cougars (4-1), who won their Conference USA opener for the first time in three seasons. Under first-year coach Art Briles, Houston is off to its best start since winning its first eight in 1990.
Marvin Townes rushed for a career-high 118 yards for the Pirates (0-5, 0-2), who have lost seven straight. East Carolina is off to its worst start since 0-6 in 1986.
Kolb was 18-of-27 for 263 yards and has still thrown just one interception this season.
