PHOENIX – A deal is closer that would allow the move of the Class 5A and 4A football championship games to the new Cardinals Stadium in Glendale.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association approved the plan Monday. It could be finalized within 30 days with the Arizona Cardinals and the city of Glendale, said Chuck Schmidt, AIA assistant executive director.
Title games for 5A Division I and II were at Sun Devil Stadium this season, and 4A Division I and II championships were held at Arizona Stadium in Tucson.
ASU and/or UA still could be involved with big-school semifinals and championship games for 3A and 2A, depending on site availability.
Schmidt said this year’s 3A and 2A title games likely will be played on Thanksgiving weekend, which is the same weekend as the ASU-UA game in Tucson.
The Class 1A, eight-man title game likely will continue at Apache Junction High, which has been configured in the past for the 80-yard field.
Cutoff enrollment figure increases for Class 4A
PHOENIX – The AIA board also approved a reclassification proposal for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 scheduling blocks.
The cutoff enrollment figure for Class 4A high schools currently is 950, but that will increase to 1,201.
Classes 5A and 4A would be divided at the halfway point of the enrollment total of more than 1,201 as of Oct. 1 of this year. Classes 3A, 2A and 1A will be divided into thirds of the enrollment total less than 1,201.
If the proposed system had been in effect last year when the AIA adjusted the conferences, Rio Rico would not have moved to 4A from 3A this year.
Both Douglas and Santa Rita would have been within 75 students of dropping to the 3A.
The Arizona Republic
Shakur hoping workout brings Orlando pre-draft
This could be a big weekend for Arizona guard Mustafa Shakur, who has his heart set on playing in the NBA.
Shakur likely will be part of a group of players working out for a number of NBA personnel in Chicago this weekend He has spent much of the last few weeks working out in Chicago with trainer Tim Grover.
It could be the beginning of Shakur making a decision on whether he’ll return to school.
If he does well this weekend, he could get an invite to participate in the Orlando pre-draft camp next month. Last week, Shakur’s brother said Mustafa was on the tentative list of 100.
Steve Rivera
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com (srivera@tucsoncitizen.com)
Georgia doesn’t like game’s cocktail claim
ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia president Michael Adams objects to the phrase “world’s largest outdoor cocktail party” to describe the annual Georgia-Florida football game.
Adams asked CBS and officials in Jacksonville, Fla., not to use the phrase when promoting the game.
The request is part of Adams’ push to curb on-campus alcohol abuse and change Georgia’s image as a party school.
“There are better images,” Adams told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We have requested they not use that nomenclature. The indication is they are sensitive to our concern.”
But Adams said CBS has made it clear it is within its rights to use the tag line if it wants to.
The Associated Press