Keeping it home

From the day NCAA Division II officials heard Shoals representatives give their presentation, they had a feeling that the Division II National Championship Football Game had found its home.

"The reason we came to the Shoals was because of the individuals," said Dennis Poppe, managing director of football and baseball. "They came in and made a presentation and they seemed to have a good idea of what it took to provide a good championship game."

That was more than two decades ago, and the Shoals group apparently has proved itself.

On Saturday, Florence hosts the national title game for the 22nd time.

"The people of the Shoals do an outstanding job with this," said David Sharp, athletic director of Ouachita Baptist University, in Arkadelphia, Ark.

Sharp has had a long tenure with the NCAA's Division II Football Committee. "It's been a great experience for me all the years I've been to the game," he said. "They've done it for so many years that they have a great organization and work on it year-round, and it shows."

The notion of bringing the game to Florence was the brainchild of Grady Liles, and local officials have joined the effort throughout the years.

"He knew the Shoals area would embrace it and love it," said Sarah Beth Vandiver, who is the Shoals Chamber of Commerce's Division II Game Coordinator. "The Shoals has definitely perfected it."

Vandiver said local workers and volunteers know the game experience should begin long before kickoff.

"A lot of people think, 'Well, they just get together and play on Saturday,' but there's a lot to it ahead of time," she said. "The players are busy from the time they get here. We've just really taken care of everything."

The Shoals created the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is named for Hill, a local resident who was a Division II and National Football League star. It is Division II's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, and is awarded during a dinner on the night before the game.

In addition, events are planned for the players, and a news conference takes place the Thursday before the game. Teams are greeted by local contingents when they arrive in the Shoals and even enjoy a police escort everywhere they go. The chamber also designates residents to be sponsors for the team during their stay.

Vandiver said the Shoals continues to tweak the event in order to give it something new.

For example, this year's game will include a Jumbotron in one end zone to allow fans to see instant replays. "Nashville Star" winner Angela Hacker and her brother, Zac Hacker, who was runner-up, both local residents, will perform during the pregame ceremony.

Three Division II Hall of Fame inductees, including former University of North Alabama standout Ronald McKinnon, will be honored.

"Something else we're doing new this year is a reading-initiative program that Friday morning," Vandiver said. "The teams will go to elementary schools and read to the kids.

"We hope the kids will want to go see them on the field after seeing them in the classroom."

Those are examples of why the NCAA continues to have the Shoals host the game.

Poppe said the Shoals has shown it can adapt to changes to keep the game exciting for the teams.

"The community should be given an A in adaptability just from the sheer number of NCAA officials, selection-committee members and regional-committee members who have been a part of that game through the years," he said. "They've had to work with a lot of people and a lot of different personalities.

"They keep adjusting with the times and doing things necessary to make this a great championship. They've never assumed that just because they've always done something a certain way, it should stay that way. They have adapted to change."

Poppe said good ol' Southern hospitality also helps make the game special.

"Part of the allure was the manner in which people in that area treat the student-athletes, the teams and their fans," Poppe said. "There's a lot of people like Grady Liles, Shirley Tucker and Mickey Haddock who we formed a good relationship with and have remained friends through the years. We've had a great partnership through the years.

"The Shoals is one of the few sites where we hold repetitive championships, and that speaks for itself and the relationship we have enjoyed through the years."

Vandiver said the Shoals will continue to strive to improve the event.

"I think the NCAA is really happy about the way we've done things," she said. "A lot of cities would like to take it from us, so we can't just take it for granted."

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.