RAMS CALL MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY TEMPORARY TRAINING SITE

The St. Louis Rams have chosen Maryville University in St. Louis for their temporary pre-season training camp, but that decision is neither final nor does it eliminate Southeast Missouri State from future consideration.

Rams Public Relations Director Rick Smith said the one-year lease agreement between the Rams and Maryville University hasn't been signed yet. "It's still not a done deal," Smith said during a telephone conversation from the Rams' office in Anaheim, Calif. "There is always the chance that if there are any unforeseen glitches, the deal could fall through."

However, if both parties have no problems hammering out the agreement, the Rams will be at Maryville to start preseason camp July 16.

Smith said the Rams felt it was important to establish a training camp in St. Louis during the first year as a show of faith to the fans and to generate excitement for the inaugural season.

"Because of the commitment St. Louis made to the Rams, the team felt it was incumbent on them to have a presence there as soon as possible."

The Rams chose the Mathews-Dickey Boys' Club, located in the city of St. Louis, as the site for its regular season practice facility. Maryville University is in St. Louis County.

"Mathews-Dickey will be a permanent facility, but as far as the future of the pre-season training camp, the decision hasn't been made yet," Smith said. "There were other sites we felt were attractive and desirable. Maryville is just a temporary thing."

Because of a scheduling conflict with Pat McBride's soccer camp, the first five days of the Rams' training camp will be held at Parkway Central High School.

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce President John Mehner said he felt Southeast Missouri State had a serious shot at luring the Rams after team officials made a second visit three weeks ago.

"They brought the head coach Rich Brooks and key club officials," Mehner said. "If they didn't think we had a good facility and something to offer they wouldn't have made the second trip."

Mehner said he first learned about the Rams' decision at 6:15 p.m. Thursday. "I still haven't had a conversation with them since they made up their minds," he said. "Until I talk to someone from the Rams it's hard to say what our chances are of getting them to come here after their first year at Maryville."

The Rams also considered Washington University. "It just didn't work out," Smith said. In addition to Southeast Missouri State, the Rams also were considering Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois Universities.

Mehner said the next step will be to find out whether Southeast is among the sites for future consideration. "The proposal put together by the university was a good one; that's why we got the second visit," Mehner said. "I just want to know what our chances are for the future."

Smith would not rule out Southeast as a possible contender for the future. "To be honest, all of the plans being made are for right now," he said. "The Rams want to get the first year ironed out and then begin thinking about other things some time down the road."