Auburn, Tuscaloosa will no longer host Super 7 football championships
The Alabama High School Athletic Association, in coordination with the cities of Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Opelika, have agreed to remove the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium and Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium from the Super 7 high school football championships host site rotation.
The action became necessary because of the new expanded college football playoff plan that could require both schools to host playoff games in the future, which would conflict with the AHSAA’s annual Super 7 football championships.
“We are grateful to the cities of Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Opelika, Auburn University, the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports and Auburn-Opelika Tourism for joining together to host our Super 7 since the rotation began in 2009,” said AHSAA executive director Alvin Briggs. “The experiences and memories provided for our member schools, the teams, their students and communities have been immeasurable. We understand, however, the conflicts that will be unavoidable in the future based on the expanded CFA playoff structure and format.”
Briggs said that Birmingham and Protective Stadium, which hosts the Super 7 championships next December, will remain in the AHSAA Super 7 host rotation, and the AHSAA is continuing to study other rotation options as well.
The cities’ leaders agreed that participating in the Super 7 championships taught them much about the AHSAA’s education-based athletic experience.
“The Super 7 exposes our state to the best of Alabama,” said Roy Anders, mayor of the City of Auburn. “Talented youth, dedicated coaches, outstanding administrators, devoted families, and faithful communities … It’s been a great responsibility to host this celebration of all that is great about the State of Alabama. We wish all the best for the future of the Super 7.”
Briggs said the AHSAA is indebted to its Super 7 partners. “Having two of the nation’s biggest rivals come together with their cities to provide the opportunity of a lifetime for our member schools is priceless and we can’t thank them enough.
“What we have been able to do with our championships thanks to the cooperation of such rivals has been envied in other states and set a wonderful example for all of us.”
