For the first time since 2009, neither Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium nor Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium will host the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s (AHSAA) Super 7 high school state football championships in 2024.
On Wednesday afternoon, the AHSAA announced that the two stadiums had been taken out of hosting rotation due to the expansion of the College Football Playoff, which could add an extra home game to the Tide and the Tigers’ seasons.
AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs, who is retiring in September, put out a statement thanking the cities and universities for some fantastic state championship football over the years.
“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,” Briggs said. “The experiences and memories provided for our member schools, the teams, their students, and communities have been immeasurable.”
“Hosting the Super 7 has been a tremendous honor for the city of Auburn,” Auburn mayor Ron Anders said. “The Super 7 serves as a pinnacle moment in the lives of many young students in Alabama.”
“Although Tuscaloosa and Auburn will no longer be able to host due to the expansion of the College Football Playoffs, we are grateful for our partnership with AHSAA and look forward to seeing the event thrive across other cities in Alabama,” said Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox.
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Birmingham’s Protective Stadium, which was added to the rotation in 2021, will remain an option, said Briggs. The Super 7 has a history in the city – Birmingham’s Legion Field hosted the event from 1996 to 2009, at which point it moved to the SEC stadiums.
Mobile’s Hancock-Whitney Stadium, which plays host to the South Alabama Jaguars and numerous high school events, could be seen as a potential option to join the rotation. Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl could also be on the table, although the AHSAA hasn’t yet explicitly named any replacements.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
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