If ever the TSSAA wanted to prove its decision making prioritizes the benefit of the state’s student-athletes, now’s the chance.
When the high school sports governing body’s Board of Control meets next month to listen to and vote on proposals from Chattanooga and Cookeville to decide which city should host Tennessee’s prep football championship games the next two seasons, there is only one choice that puts the teams – players, coaches and fans alike – first, and that is to award Chattanooga the right to host.
Before laying out the reasoning, first let me clarify that this isn’t an “us versus them” view from someone who’s merely interested in bringing the BlueCross Bowl to our town. Nor is it a shot at the hundreds of volunteers who work the state title games or any of the fine folks who call Cookeville home.
It is, however, calling out the fact that Tennessee Tech’s 55-year old Tucker Stadium has never been a suitable site, and it’s an argument I began making more than a decade ago, right after Cookeville’s first year as host. Back then my contention was that Middle Tennessee State University should have maintained hosting rights because its facilities were much better, plus Murfreesboro offers more hotels and restaurants and is simply easier to travel to.
When the TSSAA moved the title games from Murfreesboro to Cookeville, it was based solely on the assurance of more guaranteed money. That was also the first time in the association’s history that it downgraded in facilities for championship events.