The TSSAA, holding their regular meetings at the Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro, selected the winning bid to host the state championship games in football.

The question and answer was quick “do we have a winner?  Cookeville”

The committee evaluating the sites in Chattanooga, Murfreesboro and Cookeville earlier this year heard the final pitches from those three cities.

Murfreesboro has hosted the event over the past few years.  Cookeville and Chattanooga were seeking to bring the event home with them.

Chattanooga was first up and Merrill Eckstien, Executive Director if Finley Stadium pointed out the positives of his facility.  “It’s the right size for this event.  Your championship game will range from a few thousand to ten to twelve thousand plus.  There is not a bad seat in the house.”

The Cookeville delegation went second and presenters include city and county officials as well as Tennessee Tech and Chamber of Commerce representatives.

Cookeville/Putnam County Chamber President George Halford began the presentation.  “We are very, very excited and the opportunity to get to talk to you today about the dollars and cents of locating the high school football championship to our region. You are going to hear me say region a lot today.  This is going to be a regional effort of the 14 counties of the Upper Cumberland.”

Tennessee Tech Athletic Director Mark Wilson added “We have a fully trained professional staff that we use for all of our home game whether it be football or basketball.”

Golden eagle Head Coach Watson Brown said “Anything we can do at Tennessee Tech or in this community for the TSSAA, we would love to do it”.

A part of the Cookeville delegation was Cookeville Cavalier head coach Jerry Joslin who pointed out “This town is committed to the people of the community, the 16 communities that would get to is going to be awesome for those 16 communities, win or lose.”

Televising the games statewide is a big part of the package and WCTE General Manager Becky Magura was able to express the ability already in place “We would be able to send the signal, because we are right there in the stadium, to every Public Television Stadium in the state.”

The City of Cookeville is ready to contribute as well according to City Manager Jim Shipley.  “We are committed with our full time fire department and police force to provide any type of security issues or parking issues, we are fully committed to that.

The final presentation from the current host for the games,

Murfreesboro, who’s opening remarks were from Murfreesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau director Murphy Fair.  “Number one is that we have the best facility from the press box to the jumbotron at Floyd Stadium”

MTSU Athletic Director Chris Massaro echoed the theme of past performance “Go with the proven track record, we have done a great job and we would love to have you back.”

After the presentations the votes were taken and the Cookeville delegation returns home with the State High School Championship games for the next two years.

This year’s games will be December 4th and 5th at Tennessee Tech on Overall Field at Tucker Stadium.