The future of the NCAA Division II National Football Championship Game in Florence does not depend on the University of North Alabama remaining a Division II program, an NCAA official said Monday.

Cameron Schuh, associate director for public and media relations for the NCAA, added it’s too early to gauge whether the move would influence the NCAA’s decision to continue having the game in Florence.

The Shoals has the contract to hold the title game at Braly Stadium through 2013, Schuh said.

“The bid cycle for future championships has not been determined at this time,” he stated in an email to the TimesDaily. “Discussions are currently taking place as to the announcement of the University of North Alabama pursuing Division I membership and the impact this might have on the Division II Football Championship.”

Schuh cleared up one point, however.

“It is not a requirement for a Division II institution to serve as the host for a Division II championship game,” he stated in the email.

The Shoals has been the home of the NCAA Division II National Championship Game for 26 years, including for Saturday’s 35-21 victory by Pittsburg State over Wayne State in front of 7,276 fans.

Only Omaha, Neb., has a longer consecutive year streak of hosting an NCAA championship event. The city has been home to the Division I College World Series since 1950 and recently signed a contract to keep the game through 2030.

The man most responsible for bringing the NCAA Division II National Football Championship Game to Florence said the game’s future at Braly Stadium is safe, even if the UNA moves to Division I.

The university announced earlier this year their intent to pursue Division I status. The Lions have been unable to obtain an invitation to join a Division I conference, though, which is a requirement.

Grady Liles said NCAA officials indicated their pleasure about the job the Shoals does in hosting the event when local committee members and NCAA officials met during an annual post-game meeting Saturday afternoon.

“Even if UNA moves up to Division I, we could still have the Division II Championship here,” Liles said. “In our meeting after the ball game, they said that if we wanted to keep it, we could keep it, regardless whether (UNA) moved up or not.”

Liles said the NCAA also likes the annual Harlon Hill Trophy presentation and Division II Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which honors the top Division II football player. The event, which takes place the night before the game, was created by local officials.

“They said we’ve got a lot of stuff invested in the Harlon Hill Trophy,” Liles said. “That thing is nationwide and we definitely are going to keep it.”

Other teams have expressed interest in past years in hosting the championship game. Pittsburg State, from Kansas, is among those.

Mickey Haddock, a member of the Shoals National Championship Committee’s executive committee, said the Shoals group plans to bid for the game in the spring. He said the bid would be for the 2014 and 2015 games. The NCAA traditionally has awarded three-year contracts for the game, but is reducing that to two-year contracts.

Haddock said NCAA officials told them they have no problem with the way the Shoals hosts the game.

“They have absolutely zero issues, nothing that we needed to change,” he said.

He said it could be a positive for the championship game if UNA moves up to Division I.

“To me, it would be more beneficial, because Braly Stadium would be a neutral site for the game,” he said.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 256-740-5739 or bernie.delinski@TimesDaily.com.