Contact: Sid Salter
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University will host the Mississippi High School Activities Association's Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Gridiron Classic on Dec. 5-6 at Davis Wade Stadium on the MSU campus in Starkville.
MSU personnel are advised that Friday parking and campus traffic patterns may be slightly impacted and are urged to accommodate university guests during the two-day event.
The Friday [Dec. 5] schedule will include these games: Class 1A Championship game at 11 a.m. between Cathedral (Natchez) and St. Aloysius (Vicksburg); Class 2A Championship game at 3 p.m. between Calhoun City and Bassfield; and the Class 6A Championship game at 7 p.m. between South Panola and Oak Grove.
The Saturday [Dec. 6] schedule will include these games: Class 3A Championship game at 11 a.m. between Collins and Charleston; Class 4A Championship game at 3 p.m. between St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis) and Noxubee County; and the Class 5A Championship game at 7 p.m. between Laurel and Oxford.
Oak Grove and Bassfield are defending State Champions from 2013.
South Panola is aiming for a record 11th MHSAA State Football Championship, including eight from 2003 through 2012.
Oxford, Cathedral and St. Aloysius are playing to win their first State Football Championships.
Tickets are $13 per day (or $12 from the participating 12 schools) and are good for all three games on each day of the championships.
University officials announced that some temporary road closures will be necessary in hosting the event, along with changes in standing university parking as outlined in the detailed timeline below:
Friday [Dec. 5]
-- 8 a.m.: Parking lots and tailgating open.
-- 8:30 a.m.: Barr Ave. and B.S. Hood close. Memorial Hall staff parking will have to enter from Bailey Howell Dr.
-- 8:50 a.m.: Creelman St. closes for team drop off for team walks.
-- 9 a.m.: Gates open at Davis Wade Stadium with ticket gates at C, F, H and L. Pass gate is B. Also, both north and south ticket offices will open.
-- 9:10 a.m.: Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk.
-- 12:40 p.m.: Creelman St. closes for team walks.
-- 1:10 p.m.: Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk. Please note: Media move to media room in north end zone if inclement weather.
-- 4:40 p.m.: Creelman St. closes for team walks.
--5:10 p.m.: Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk.
Saturday [Dec. 6]
-- 8 a.m.: Parking lots and tailgating open.
-- 8:30 a.m.: Barr Ave. and B.S. Hood close. Memorial Hall staff parking will have to enter from Bailey Howell Dr.
-- 8:50 a.m.: Creelman St. closes for team drop off for team walks.
-- 9 a.m.: Gates open at Davis Wade Stadium with ticket gates at C, F, H and L. Pass gate is B. Also, both north and south ticket offices will open.
-- 9:10 a.m.: Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk.
-- 12:40 p.m. Creelman St. closes for team walks.
-- 1:10 p.m.: Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk.
-- 4:40 p.m.: Creelman St. closes for team walks.
-- 5:10 p.m.: Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk.
Additional information:
-- No video cameras or videotaping will be allowed. Artificial noisemakers including bullhorns, air horns, sirens or vuvuzelas are prohibited by MHSAA. Cannons, umbrellas, propane heaters, ice chests, outside food and drink, weapons, alcohol or tobacco are prohibited by MHSAA, including any other items deemed inappropriate by venue personnel.
-- Tailgating is allowed in the Junction, but no wheeled vehicles may park on the grass.
-- For information about MSU's free shuttle routes, visit www.smart.msstate.edu.
For more information on the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Gridiron Classic, contact www.misshsaa.com. MSU is Mississippi's flagship research university, available online at www.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate.