The Big Business of High School Sports

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

For years I've been talking about how the commercialization of high school football isn't necessarily good for the sport! Click here to see my commentary on the 2007 "Made for TV" football game between Northwestern (FL) and Southlake Carroll (TX).

The latest head shaking story for me comes from Alabama where the state's high school athletic association, that recently moved its Super Six football championships from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa and Auburn, is building revenue streams at a pace that left the AHSAA with a $2.3 million surplus at the end of 2007-08 according to a report on al.com. Click here to read the report.

Of course Alabama isn't the only state capitalizing on the popularity of high school sports. And, for the record, I'm not against such financial windfalls. I just hope that the money trickles down to ALL of the schools in the state.

In this day-and-age, money needs to be given to the education of students. Remember, sports is part of the education process...not the other way around!

For high school football news from around the nation, click here to go to The High School Football Huddle.

Super Six High School Football Championships Leaving Birmingham

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

After a 13-year run in Birmingham's Legion Field, the Alabama High School Athletic Association is moving the state's Super Six high school football state championships. The AHSAA has voted to award the title games to Tuscaloosa and Auburn on a rotating basis, beginning with Tuscaloosa this fall.

The six-year deal calls for the Super Six to use Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium and Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“I want to thank the City of Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa Sports Foundation, the Cities of Auburn and Opelika and the Auburn/Opelika Tourism Bureau, and the City of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as both the University of Alabama and Auburn University for their diligent efforts during this process,” said Moe Smith, President of the AHSAA Central Board in a news release on the AHSAA website. “I also want to thank Birmingham for its role in making the Super 6 and Final 48 events what they are today. As we move forward, we see this new arrangement with each city as one that will take our championships to new heights.”

To read more, click here.