WHSAA tables decision (Casper Star-Tribune).
By now, though, the decision has been made: The state championships will be at UW the next three years (thanks to CST reporter Clint Robus’ Twitter feed).
What do you think? The move is not all that surprising, and it gives Laramie three years to gain some consistency with the event rather than playing this year-to-year game that’s gone on for the past three years…. Thoughts?
–patrick
My biggest fear when the WHSAA decided to remove title games from individual communities was that Laramie or UW would get board or not take it seriously and then some other location, i.e. Casper or in this case Sheridan,would challenge it and then instead of having the amazing hometown title experience, we would be left with a nine-hour drive each way to play at a stadium that is no nicer than the one we live next to. This is not a cheap shot to Sheridan, but I don’t believe any location should rob the towns of their own title games with the possible exception of the War. I’m still nervous that at some point we’ll be playing in Casper and that is just unacceptable. I’m likely being paranoid, but it has already balooned from a one-year experiment to a five-year experiment with other communities trying to win the bid.
Give me a host town or give me the War, there shouldn’t be any other thought. I know I’m not alone.
Agreed. I’m firmly entrenched in the “Laramie or nothing” side for neutral site football championships. And that’s nothing against Sheridan, or Casper, or Riverton, or any other number of possible locations… it’s just that there really is only one stadium capable of handling five games like that in one weekend, and I drive past it every day.
Sheridan or Casper could do the job. It would just be a heck of a lot more uncomfortable for everyone.
–patrick
Has there ever been a survey of the kids playing football where they prefer playing the game or is it just assumed every kid wants the Laramie experience. I always hear about the War Memorial experience but come to a small town for a playoff game and its hard to top. If the stadium had a dome for perfect weather I would be all for it but as is I prefer top seed home game.
Riverton,
Only informally. What I can tell you is that I’ve done a ton of interviews with players after state championship games at the War and it’s been pretty heavily weighted that they like it. Probably a 5:1 or 6:1 ratio… and usually the guys who don’t like it were on top-seeded teams and wanted to play at home. Can’t blame them for that, of course.
–patrick
If the kids are for it I’m for it. Last year the 4A and 3A teams are located relatively close to Laramie and my question was more if towns like Jackson or some other distant town made it . If I could I would love to watch all the title games but it’s just far enough that it’s not practical unless we were playing. Lots of pros and cons both ways. Love your blog and thanks for your info and hard work!
I played in the game in 2009 for Central and I definitely would have rather our game had been in Sheridan since they were the 1 seed. Yes it’s a longer drive and their home turf but at least it wouldn’t have been the arctic temperatures we’ve had in Laramie the past two years.
Also, this idea that “every boy in the state dreams of playing in War Memorial Stadium” is kind of exaggerated. Maybe they never considered this but not everyone in Wyoming roots for UW and cares at all about their stadium. It’s not really that nice anyways. Heck Okie Blanchard down at East can probably seat almost as many.
Levi: To your opinions on location: Can’t disagree with it. At host sites or at War Memorial is a question that four years of debate has not settled. Some people are firmly convinced that the WHSAA was wrong to bring it up for discussion, much less make the decision to move the title games to Laramie. The first two years won’t tell us whether it was the right decision. The next three will.
To your last thought: Okie Blanchard does not even come close to matching up to War Memorial; it’s ridiculous to even suggest. No stadium in the state even belongs in the discussion (and that’s saying a lot). If you want to play in something nicer, unfortunately, you’ll have to leave Wyoming. And I don’t think THAT is a vote the WHSAA is ready to make…. 🙂
–patrick
I took in all the State Championship games this last Fall and it was fun to see all five games in one location. I would like to see it become a tradition for the State of Wyoming and I am glad the WHSAA is trying to make it one.
Ted