Staff Editorial

Nov. 15, 2000 10 PM

For the first time ever, the Alabama Independent School Association is hosting a state playoff format that will pit the top two teams in each of three divisions against one another in a state championship game to be held in one location on one day.

The day is Friday and the place is Memorial Stadium here in Troy.

So is this a big deal? It’s huge. As big as Troy being honored to host Girls State.

This playoff format means that students from some of the top private schools in the state of Alabama will be exposed to Troy and Troy State University, some for the first time.

It means that high school students will be able to get an impression of Troy State, some for the first time. It means that TSU will have great exposure to potential academic and athletic recruits. And the friends, brothers and sisters of the players and who come to Troy will also be able to see what TSU has to offer.

But the recruiting opportunities extend beyond Troy State. This is a chance for the community to showcase its strong sense of pride, its values and its opportunities in order to continue to garner favorable rank among state residents. The dividends of such public relations work are difficult to quantify, but suffice it to say that if these folks come and are impressed with what they see and how they are treated, events like this one will continue to come back to Troy.

Most of us here know what our most valuable assets are, and that’s why we’re here. But it is important for us to convey those same feelings to others so they, too, will realize what a strong community we have and how supportive we can be of such events and of the people who represent those events.

That’s why we are encouraging you to spend some time Friday checking out the games. The first game begins at high noon and the last game begins at 8 p.m. One $8 ticket gets you in for the entire day and the proceeds from ticket sales go to the Alabama Independent School Association, which is paying Troy State University for the use of the field.

What you’ll see if you go will be three gutsy contests, with the 1A, 2A and 3A schools fighting it out for the state’s top honor in AISA football.

Teams that will be playing are Macon-East, Morgan, Chambers, Clarke Prep and area competitors Fort Dale Academy and South Montgomery County Academy.

Merchants, people in the hospitality industry and local residents, we encourage you to roll out the red carpet when these schools and their supporters roll into Troy. Our goodwill and their satisfaction with the athletic event, the facilities and the community are key to getting them back to Troy year after year for this fun event.

And with each return visit to Troy, our cash registers will continue to chime and our praises will continue to be sung around the state, bringing the right kinds of people and positive energy back to Troy time and time again.  

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