CIAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RETURNS TO DURHAM ON NOVEMBER 8
July 23 2008
Hampton, VA – The 2008 CIAA Football Championship Game will
return to Durham and Durham County Stadium on Saturday, November 8.
The Championship Game enjoyed its greatest success in the Bull City
having hosted six of the eight Championships that have been played
since the Game was resurrected in 2000.
“We look forward to the Football Championship returning to
Durham in November. The City of Durham has been the host of some of
the most exciting Championship Games and we expect the 2008 version
to be no different,” Commissioner Leon Kerry said. “The
Championship Game has been great for our fans who have watched the
game all over the country, whether at the stadium or on
television.”
The CIAA is billing itself as “the Conference of the
Quarterbacks” in 2008. Nine starting quarterbacks return
including Harlon Hill Candidate (Division II Most Valuable Player
Award) Lamar Little of Virginia Union who has amassed 4103 passing
yards and 51 TDs over his illustrious career. The versatile
quarterback has also rushed for 1138 yards and 20 TDs in just two
seasons. With so many outstanding returning quarterbacks like
VUU’s Little, the level of play should be as high as any
conference in college football.
The 2007 Season was an exciting one culminating in the first
overtime CIAA Championship Game ever. In Charlotte, Shaw upset
favorite Virginia Union, 31-24 in double overtime, to win its first
title since its 2004 upset of then two-time defending champ
Fayetteville State. Subsequently, both Shaw and Virginia Union were
invited to postseason play. Shaw was defeated in the first round of
the NCAA Playoffs by Delta State. Virginia Union fell short in its
furious fourth quarter rally against eventual Black College
National Champ Tuskegee. The Panthers dropped a heartbreaking 58-51
defeat to the Golden Tigers in the Pioneer Bowl.
“The Stadium Authority and the County of Durham are extremely
happy that the CIAA has chosen Durham County Memorial Stadium as
the site of their 2008 Championship Game,” Durham County
Stadium Authority Chairman Tommy Hunt said. “Durham County
Stadium hopes their choice of Durham County will be an ongoing
relationship.”
Both Shaw and Virginia Union will be heavy favorites to return to
the Championship Game this fall with a significant amount of their
starters returning. However, Fayetteville State and Elizabeth City
State will be among the contenders looking to dethrone the Bears
and Panthers as divisional champs.
“We have another fantastic game planned this Fall and
returning to Durham adds an air of excitement,” said
Championship Game Director Jeffrey McLeod. “We encourage all
college football fans to come out to Durham County Stadium on
November 8 and see one of the great games of the season.”
