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Houston could lose out in UIL title-game mix
Reliant Stadium's natural-grass surface hurts city's chances
By SAM KHAN JR.
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
July 19, 2010, 10:22PM
SAN ANTONIO — In late December, Cowboys Stadium will be the center of attention in Texas high school football. Six state football championship games will be held in the massive $1.15 billion complex, including five on Dec. 17-18, the final weekend of the season.
Houston was in a similar position in 2008, when the Class 5A Division I and Division II championship games took place at Reliant Stadium, drawing more than 40,000 combined for the two games and making the city the focal point for Texas high schools for a day.
It could be a long time before Houston finds itself in that situation again.
This season marks the first that the University Interscholastic League has set predetermined sites for state championship football games in all classifications. In the hopes of producing a true showcase event, the UIL put the Class 3A, 4A and 5A games at Cowboys Stadium.
If the setup proves to be a success, that would hurt Reliant Stadium's chances of repeating as a state title-game host because the facility has natural grass.
"It would be hard," UIL athletic director Cliff Odenwald said Tuesday at the Texas High School Coaches Association Convention and Coaching School. "When we had the two 5A games (at Reliant), they came in between the games and fixed the divots and mowed the grass and did all that stuff. But when you think about putting five games over the course of the two days on natural grass, that would be hard to do anywhere. It would be a major issue."
Both the Alamodome — which served as the Class 5A state championship site in 2006, 2007 and 2010 — and Cowboys Stadium have artificial turf that can withstand the pounding of multiple games over the course of a day or a weekend. While Reliant's natural grass held up well when Katy beat Wylie and Hightower fell to Allen in the 2008 5A championship games, it would be difficult for the field to withstand double or tripleheaders on consecutive days.
Reliant says not so fast
After Cowboys Stadium was selected last month, Reliant Park assistant general manager Jeff Gaines told the Chronicle that Reliant Stadium should not be ruled out completely.
"There is a possibility we could do it," he said. "For instance, like two years ago. When state was here and the Texans weren't home that weekend, the field held up. Three games in one day would be hard, but we certainly aren't out of the running. We have a good relationship with the UIL, and we have a great football city."
Before 2008, the last time a state championship game in a high classification was held in Houston was 2003, when North Shore and The Woodlands met in the Class 5A Division I title game at Rice Stadium. At that time, the participating coaches from each team in the title game determined the time, date and site. The UIL began using predetermined sites for Class 5A games in 2006 and last fall approved an amendment to extend that to all classifications.
UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt said the organization's original intention this year was to hold every title game at the same site, but when the schedule revealed that nine of the 12 championship games would fall on the same weekend, other venues had to be utilized. Mansfield's Vernon Newsom Stadium will host the Class 2A and A games, and Abilene's Shotwell Stadium will host the six-man games.
Coaching-school rotation
Another major event that will be absent from Houston in the coming years is the THSCA Convention and Coaching School, which is in its 78th year and draws more than 10,000 coaches annually. San Antonio is serving as the host this year, in 2012 and 2014, and Fort Worth will host the conclave in 2011 and 2013. Houston last hosted it in 2004.
THSCA executive director D.W. Rutledge said Houston was given serious consideration for the 2011 and 2013 events and added that the city won't be ruled out because its bids with the George R. Brown Convention Center as the headquarters and the hotels in proximity of the GRB make the city an attractive destination and future possibility.
Cost, mobility factors
Rutledge said expenses such as hotel-room rates are something the THSCA has to consider in the decision-making process. San Antonio and Fort Worth apparently have done the best job of working with the organization in that capacity, which is why those two cities will host for the next four years.
One factor that has hindered Houston in recent years is convenient transit . In 2004, the convention was held at Reliant Center, and with few hotels within walking distance, coaches found it more difficult to get around.
"It was tough because it was spread out pretty good," Rutledge said. "And frankly, they didn't have the quality hotels around Reliant, so that was a concern."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/hso/7115480.html
Reliant Stadium's natural-grass surface hurts city's chances
By SAM KHAN JR.
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
July 19, 2010, 10:22PM
SAN ANTONIO — In late December, Cowboys Stadium will be the center of attention in Texas high school football. Six state football championship games will be held in the massive $1.15 billion complex, including five on Dec. 17-18, the final weekend of the season.
Houston was in a similar position in 2008, when the Class 5A Division I and Division II championship games took place at Reliant Stadium, drawing more than 40,000 combined for the two games and making the city the focal point for Texas high schools for a day.
It could be a long time before Houston finds itself in that situation again.
This season marks the first that the University Interscholastic League has set predetermined sites for state championship football games in all classifications. In the hopes of producing a true showcase event, the UIL put the Class 3A, 4A and 5A games at Cowboys Stadium.
If the setup proves to be a success, that would hurt Reliant Stadium's chances of repeating as a state title-game host because the facility has natural grass.
"It would be hard," UIL athletic director Cliff Odenwald said Tuesday at the Texas High School Coaches Association Convention and Coaching School. "When we had the two 5A games (at Reliant), they came in between the games and fixed the divots and mowed the grass and did all that stuff. But when you think about putting five games over the course of the two days on natural grass, that would be hard to do anywhere. It would be a major issue."
Both the Alamodome — which served as the Class 5A state championship site in 2006, 2007 and 2010 — and Cowboys Stadium have artificial turf that can withstand the pounding of multiple games over the course of a day or a weekend. While Reliant's natural grass held up well when Katy beat Wylie and Hightower fell to Allen in the 2008 5A championship games, it would be difficult for the field to withstand double or tripleheaders on consecutive days.
Reliant says not so fast
After Cowboys Stadium was selected last month, Reliant Park assistant general manager Jeff Gaines told the Chronicle that Reliant Stadium should not be ruled out completely.
"There is a possibility we could do it," he said. "For instance, like two years ago. When state was here and the Texans weren't home that weekend, the field held up. Three games in one day would be hard, but we certainly aren't out of the running. We have a good relationship with the UIL, and we have a great football city."
Before 2008, the last time a state championship game in a high classification was held in Houston was 2003, when North Shore and The Woodlands met in the Class 5A Division I title game at Rice Stadium. At that time, the participating coaches from each team in the title game determined the time, date and site. The UIL began using predetermined sites for Class 5A games in 2006 and last fall approved an amendment to extend that to all classifications.
UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt said the organization's original intention this year was to hold every title game at the same site, but when the schedule revealed that nine of the 12 championship games would fall on the same weekend, other venues had to be utilized. Mansfield's Vernon Newsom Stadium will host the Class 2A and A games, and Abilene's Shotwell Stadium will host the six-man games.
Coaching-school rotation
Another major event that will be absent from Houston in the coming years is the THSCA Convention and Coaching School, which is in its 78th year and draws more than 10,000 coaches annually. San Antonio is serving as the host this year, in 2012 and 2014, and Fort Worth will host the conclave in 2011 and 2013. Houston last hosted it in 2004.
THSCA executive director D.W. Rutledge said Houston was given serious consideration for the 2011 and 2013 events and added that the city won't be ruled out because its bids with the George R. Brown Convention Center as the headquarters and the hotels in proximity of the GRB make the city an attractive destination and future possibility.
Cost, mobility factors
Rutledge said expenses such as hotel-room rates are something the THSCA has to consider in the decision-making process. San Antonio and Fort Worth apparently have done the best job of working with the organization in that capacity, which is why those two cities will host for the next four years.
One factor that has hindered Houston in recent years is convenient transit . In 2004, the convention was held at Reliant Center, and with few hotels within walking distance, coaches found it more difficult to get around.
"It was tough because it was spread out pretty good," Rutledge said. "And frankly, they didn't have the quality hotels around Reliant, so that was a concern."
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/hso/7115480.html
