Should the Stagg Bowl find a better site or stay in Salem, Va.

[section13raiderfan]

The only possible acceptable move for me is to Fawcett Field in Canton. Save the NCAA a ton of travel money and save my marriage

I know this was said half in jest...but...I have had the same thought myself. And there is NO DOUBT of it being as successful as in Salem Va. Dont get me wrong, I have been to Salem a few times over the years and really enjoyed myself everytime. But Virginias weather in December is not that much better than Ohios. And you get to play on turf in Canton. Im not sure you need 20,000 seats for the Stagg Bowl, but in Stark County Ohio, if you light up the stadium the locals will come just out of curiosity. That adds to the ticket sales. Im not sure how many VA locals attend the Stagg Bowls. Ive met few myself. Then theres the Pro HOF next door for the out of towners as a bonus. The Volunteer mechanism is already in place because of the Ohio State Highschool Playoffs being there already. A nearby airport with hotels is another good factor for travellers. If Stark County loses the highschool championships to Columbus eventually, im sure they would jump at the chance to host another championship of any type.  If they cant pull it off, Massillon is only 8 miles away...and they damn sure would love the job.

[Pat Coleman]

I doubt the NCAAA would want to give Mount Union a virtual home game, though.

[D3Newbie]

I think Columbus, GA would be a great place for the Stagg Bowl! 

[section13raiderfan]

I doubt the NCAAA would want to give Mount Union a virtual home game, though.

It is not a given that MUC would make the playoffs anyway. IMHO the competition has gotten much better lately. What is a given is that IF the game were to change locations to Stark County.... Ohio would be able to host a great Stagg Bowl for whoever were lucky enough to qualify. And please dont get me wrong, I LOVE MY TRIPS TO VIRGINIA. Its just that we have already proven that we can successfully  host big football events. Equal to Virginia, if not better.

[Hawks88]

I think Columbus, GA would be a great place for the Stagg Bowl! 

That would work for me as it's only a little over an hour from my house.

[Pat Coleman]

It is not a given that MUC would make the playoffs anyway.

Possibly the funniest thing I've read today.

Perhaps after a couple of years in a row of Mount Union not making the playoffs then they might consider an Ohio location.

[Jonny Utah]

Im still pushing for the 1-aa/2/3 game but even without three games you could always thrown in a coaches conference/clinic or some sort of NFL and college combine or something.  Maybe even the NCAA could hold football type leadership conferences or any of that other crap they do.  Then they can force people to work those games at the same time....

[kickerdad]

I think Columbus, GA would be a great place for the Stagg Bowl! 

It's been several years since I visited Columbus, GA. What kind of facilities have they built and where is it. I know they built a baseball stadium down close to the river, but that's all I know about.

[K-Mack]

I doubt the NCAAA would want to give Mount Union a virtual home game, though.

It is not a given that MUC would make the playoffs anyway. IMHO the competition has gotten much better lately. What is a given is that IF the game were to change locations to Stark County.... Ohio would be able to host a great Stagg Bowl for whoever were lucky enough to qualify. And please dont get me wrong, I LOVE MY TRIPS TO VIRGINIA. Its just that we have already proven that we can successfully  host big football events. Equal to Virginia, if not better.

Screw Canton.

I went there after the MUC game the other day ... After about 6 trips to Alliance, finally I had the time and my own car. And even though they say they're open until 8, they asked me which Christmas Party I was with when I got there.

I was denied entry (which at that point wasn't all that bad since I was dead tired. Plus I could see Donovan McNabb through the window from the parking lot).

Seriously speaking, that's not a bad idea, although I hope they'd rope off about 10,000 seats. Nothing worse than when there's more empties than filled seats. I like how the A's did it this year.

Pro Football HOF seems like a semi-logical site though ... unless they're too big time for us. With their cool corporate Christmas parties and all 

[K-Mack]

Im still pushing for the 1-aa/2/3 game but even without three games you could always thrown in a coaches conference/clinic or some sort of NFL and college combine or something.  Maybe even the NCAA could hold football type leadership conferences or any of that other crap they do.  Then they can force people to work those games at the same time....

Good idea.

Maybe that's why the D3 coaches meet every year in Salem and D3 coaches and players host a clinic (some years) for kids on the morning of the Stagg Bowl.

I still don't see more than a passing crossover interest in D2 and I-AA bowls ... How many of you knew it was UMass and Appy State, and another rematch, Grand Valley and NW Missouri State?

[Ralph Turner]

Maybe that's why the D3 coaches meet every year in Salem and D3 coaches and players host a clinic (some years) for kids on the morning of the Stagg Bowl.

I checked witha couple of coaching staffs in Texas, and the coaches are watching the state highschool semi-final games, looking at talent, this weekend.

[K-Mack]

Maybe that's why the D3 coaches meet every year in Salem and D3 coaches and players host a clinic (some years) for kids on the morning of the Stagg Bowl.

I checked witha couple of coaching staffs in Texas, and the coaches are watching the state highschool semi-final games, looking at talent, this weekend.

I'm sure some go recruiting instead.

The official AFCA grand meeting might not be until a little later.

All I'm saying is the D3 committee coaches, if not several others, are always there on business. I met a bunch of coaches who had no dog in the Stagg Bowl fight that way, and I could also could always count on seeing a bunch of familiar (ODAC) faces there, all of whom couldn't have been on the committee.

I've also participated in the clinic in the past, though word was there was not going to be one this year. But I know something similar has been done before.

So that's proof Jonny Utah is on the right track with his thinking.

[K-Mack]

Tomorrow in USA TODAY, Page 3C everybody ... Salem gets love!

I did not edit the piece however, so I hope there's no mistakes. 

[Pat Coleman]

Glad to see we're still the JV. 

[K-Mack]

I just read the Salem story. I really liked it.

Sidebar about the Staggs and some other stuff too.

Definitely check it out online if you can't get a hard copy.