NFL Vs. High School State Championships: Who Should Move?
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FORT WORTH (CBS 11 NEWS) - With knowledge that there is a conflict between the Cowboys-Jets game at AT&T Stadium Saturday December 19, and that being the weekend the Texas High School State Championship football games are to be held, which entity should step aside?
The Cowboys game is on NFL Network, which obviously means major exposure and major money committed to that being the only game that day in the entire National Football League.
The Texas HS State Football Championships, which started playing some of their games at AT&T Stadium in 2010, gives kids going to the next level in football and those at the height of their athletic careers, a chance to play the biggest game of their lives (to that point) at the ultimate sports venue in the nation.
Speaking to Kate Hector, the media coordinator of the Texas University Interscholastic League (the official governing body over state high school athletics), the sides are talking about a compromise. According to Rector, all hope is not lost in the high school games staying in Arlington and the Cowboys game being re-positioned.
But in the case that doesn't happen, the requirements to host 10 high school games over the course of three days that weekend (Thursday-Saturday) are a dome stadium, artificial turf, and four locker rooms. The need for a dome is obvious. The artificial turf is necessary because with 10 teams scheduled to play on the same field over the course of three days, the grass would never hold up. The need for four locker rooms comes into play because while two teams are actually playing and need to use the locker rooms, two other teams need access while they are getting ready to take the field following the conclusion of the previous game. Rector tells CBS11 the two logical choices of venue if the high school games have to be relocated are the Alamodome in San Antonio and NRG Stadium (home of the Houston Texans…who are in Indianapolis that weekend).
Cowboys officials tell CBS11 they are confident something will be worked out. A decision will come in the near future. In the meantime, our question for you is which side should move aside… the Cowboys or the Texas HS State Football championships?
I see both sides. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar business with each game being a multi-million dollar event. The high school kids are staring at a unique experience that athletically, may eclipse anything else they experience over the course of the rest of their lives.
I am very interested in your opinions and also if you have some creative solutions you would like to propose. While I won't go as far as saying there is going to be a loser in this dilemma, I also cannot say I see a case where both sides come out winners.
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