After posting pictures of the Merryman Center last week, I contacted a couple of staffers in the Tech Athletic Department to find out the latest status of the project.  I asked about funding and move-in dates, and here's what I was told:

The Merryman Center budget now stands at $10.7 million, of which $9.8 million has been funded, so we've got less than a million bucks to go.  Remember, the M-Center is funded completely from VTAF donations - bowl money and television revenue is not used for construction of the Merryman Center.

The $10.7 million figure is way above the project's original $7.1 million price tag, but I'm told that the $7.1 million was mainly for construction of the building, and didn't include much money, if any, for furnishings, outfitting the memorabilia areas, or filling the rooms with equipment.

At our present donation rate to the VTAF (somewhere between $5 million and $6 million per year), the funding should take at least two more months to be complete.  Of course, this immediately brings up the question of when the Athletic Department is going to begin moving in, and what the official dedication date of the Merryman Center is.

There is no firm date yet for when people will start moving in, but the feeling is that some personnel will be able to move in this month (July).  The official dedication is set for the morning of the Pittsburgh game on September 26. The time has not been announced.

So now you're up to date on the Merryman Center.  If you want to pitch in some more bucks, give the VTAF a call at 540-231-6618.  They take plastic over the phone now, so donating to Tech is easier than ever!

Those of you who have been crying for Virginia Tech Licensing to extend the reach of the Hokie trademarked logos are about to get your wish.  In the New River Current section of Tuesday's Roanoke Times, there was an article written by Ian Zack about how the Tech Licensing department is going to expand the university's "brand."  The article didn't make it to the www.roanoke.com web site, so here are some highlights:

• This fall, at a Kroger or Wal-Mart near you, you'll find a new line of Hokie party foods, perfect for that tailgate affair:  maroon and orange tortilla chips, extra chunky VT salsa, VT barbecue sauce, Hokie caramel corn, Hokie water, and Hokie chocolate.   Yum, yum.

• In the Hampton Roads area (no kidding, Hampton Roads), several JC Penney stores will open pilot "Hokie Shops" for the loyal, well-dressed Gobbler.  Shop there, people!

• Other new products will include a cookie cutter (in a VT shape, I presume), a maroon-colored decorative wreath (for Christmas?), a Tiffany lamp, and Virginia Tech Barbie (I've already seen these, and I think they took a Tennessee Barbie and slapped a VT logo on her, because her outfit is all bright orange, with no maroon).

The article said that Tech has also approved bean-bag chairs, golf balls, layette sets, brass clocks, wrought-iron patio furniture, and believe it or not, Tech teddies ... as in lingerie.

Also buried in the article was the news that Tech's Director of Licensing, Marti Hale, has just started a one-year term as president of the Association of College Licensing Administrators.  Congratulations to Marti, because that sounds like a big deal.   Wonder if she'll still talk to me, now that she's hit the big time?

According to the article, Tech made $175,000 in royalties last year, up from just $40,000 in 1990 (pre-Starter-jacket days).  The article then says that Tech hopes to generate $400,000 in royalties this year, which is quite a phenomenal growth rate, so it makes me wonder if the $175k figure is for six months, not a full year.

(In the very first HokieCentral ever on March 12, 1996, I reported information from a Roanoke Times article that said Tech had made $159,219 for the last half of 1995, which makes me wonder if the $175,000 figure that was given in Tuesday's article was for the last half of 1997, not the full year.)

Tech receives an 8% royalty on the wholesale price of licensed Tech products.

I have updated the football schedule on my brand new home page with starting times and updated TV information.  All information was taken from a schedule posted on www.hokiesports.com, and according to them, Tech has four games slated for ESPN and ESPN2:  Miami, Pittsburgh, Boston College, and Virginia.

I have also heard that the WVU game might be moved to 6:00 pm and shown on ESPN2, but that's just rumor at this point, with no verification.  You've got to figure it will be on TV somewhere, as will the Syracuse game, so that should give the Hokies six TV games.

At this point, ECU and Clemson are not slated for TV, although it is rumored that ABC may show the Clemson game regionally as part of their ACC package.  It will no doubt get pre-empted in your area by a killer Duke-Florida State game, or perhaps Wake Forest vs. N.C. State.

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