Championship week arrives for prep teams
It?s here! It?s finally here!
The week that high school football fans have been waiting for has finally arrived. The 2006 state championship games are on the immediate horizon.
Yes, the playing of the Division I title games does signal the end of the 2006 high school football season, but it?s also a great week for the prep gridiron fan in Tennessee. Whether your favorite team is involved in one of the five championship games or you?re just an avid high school football fan, the weekend experience in Murfreesboro is truly a special event.
The teams involved in this year?s event bring many great stories to MTSU?s Floyd Stadium. This year?s BlueCross Bowl will feature three defending state champions that are making another trip to Rutherford County.
Teams that won state titles in 2005 that are making a repeat trip to Murfreesboro this year include 5A Ravenwood, 4A Maryville and 2A Alcoa. Players on these teams all had visions of making another trip to Murfreesboro after last year?s games were concluded. Hard work, determination and a few breaks along the way have brought them here again.
4A participant Hillsboro, 3A?s David Lipscomb and 2A?s Goodpasture have also won state football championships in the past, but not last year. The trip to the Big Dance is maybe even more special for this trio of teams because it?s been a little while since they played football in December.
But this year?s extravaganza also features three teams coming to town that have never experienced what it is like to participate in a state football championship. Playing competitive football in December is a whole new experience for these squads. It?s something they?ve only dreamed about in the past. That dream, however, has finally become a reality. A special blend of nervous excitement beats in every player?s heart as they await their ultimate challenge.
Players that represent 5A Smyrna and both of this year?s 1A finalists, Friendship Christian of nearby Lebanon and Jackson Christian, are all making their first trip to the title game. I am always excited to see new teams get to experience the thrills that go along with playing in a championship game.
Officials at TSSAA should be pleased with the matchups. The weather for this coming weekend?s games is not predicted to be as great as we have seen the last few days. But we were blessed beyond expectations for the Thanksgiving weekend. The blue skies and warm temperatures the last three or four days were unbelievable.
Cooler temperatures and even the threat of snow won?t keep diehard high school football fans away from Murfreesboro. The matchups are most intriguing.
This coming weekend marks the 38th year that Tennessee has been crowning champions in high school football. Make it a point to be a part of the thousands who will be in attendance at this year?s games. Good weather or bad, the event is always something special to witness.
For the young men who have sacrificed so much the last few months, it?s the least we can do to reward them for their hard work.
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Murphy Fair publishes the annual TENNESSEE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW. His Web site (murphyfair.com) gives high school fans further insight into the prep football scene.