posted January 26, 2004
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-AA Football Championship Game will once again be held at Finley Stadium Davenport Field in 2004, officials announced Monday afternoon.
The NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee awarded a new two-year deal to Chattanooga after entertaining bids from Chattanooga, Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Iowa, and San Antonio, Tex.
County Mayor Claude Ramsey, Sports Committee President Merrill Eckstein, I-AA Steering Committee Co-Chairs Janice Miller and Dan Saieed, and Sports Committee Vice President and I-AA Game Director Scott Smith made the pitch to the committee in Key West on Jan. 21.
This year’s game will mark the eighth straight year Chattanooga has hosted this National Championship.
Chattanooga’s bid was aided by a strong turnout from locals for the 2003 game. Community awareness and attendance will continue to be a focus for the I-AA Football Committee as they look at Chattanooga for the next two years, officials said.
NCAA Managing Director for Football and Baseball Dennis Poppe said, “Chattanooga’s response (attendance and excitement) was a significant factor in returning to Chattanooga.”
Sports Committee Chairman King Copler added, “We have worked really hard on this event since 1997 and we felt we were the best place for this game. With Chattanooga’s help, I think we convinced the I-AA Football Committee of that.”
I-AA Game Director Scott Smith said, “It is great to get another two years, but we can’t rest with that. We have to continue to look for ways to improve the event as well as continue to get Chattanoogans excited about the National Championship so that they attend and support the game. The economic impact and the national television exposure are easy to get excited about and the great football games are the icing on the cake.”
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