State 5A Championship Games to Be Played at Same Site

[MrMustang1965]

Local high school football coaches had no complaints Tuesday about the University Interscholastic League's decision to play both Class 5A state championship games at a site to be determined before the season.

The UIL Legislative Council on Monday unanimously approved a two-year trial that will put the 5A Division I and II football championship games at the same site on the same date. The Division I and II title games have been played on different weekends, with the sites determined by the participating teams.

UIL official Kim Rogers said major metropolitan areas including Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are being considered as sites for the championship games. (Note from MM1965: think Orsini can swing these games for Ford Stadium?)

The other UIL classifications will continue to use championship sites agreed upon by the participating schools. However, the council changed the rule regarding coin flips to determine championship sites.

Under the new rule, a school cannot be forced to flip for a stadium that cannot accommodate its fans. If there is a dispute, UIL officials will determine whether a stadium is adequate based on attendance at the school's previous game.

The change resulted from a controversy last season when Highland Park officials lost a coin flip and had to play the 4A Division I championship game against Marshall at 12,000-seat Rose Stadium in Tyler. Highland Park officials wanted to play at Texas Stadium so more of their fans could attend the game.

[Mustangs35SMU]

The HP/Marshall game was no where near the expected crowd...the Longview/Lufkin 5A State Quarterfinal 2002 game had more people than that State Title game did (I was at both)

But I'm glad they're doing that. Can attend both games now.

I know Louisiana has there State Championships (all classes) at the same stadium on Friday and Saturday of a picked weekend.

[McClown27]

UIL official Kim Rogers said major metropolitan areas including Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are being considered as sites for the championship games. (Note from MM1965: think Orsini can swing these games for Ford Stadium?)

I think Orsini could get these events (Copeland could have too). Folks in UP/HP won't want people from Navarro County interfering with their botox parties.

[Stallion]

you expect Highland Park fans to sit in the endzone in a small East Texas stadium rather than eating quiche and sipping champagne in Daddy's Texas Stadium Box. How gauche! But really this is long overdue-maybe they can even get cities to bid on the championship for greater revenue and develop local sponsorship and activities. There is a lot of untapped potential in this event.