Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 8, 1994                   TAG: 9412090003
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

STAGG HELD OVER THROUGH 1997

The NCAA Division III Football Committee announced it will submit a recommendation to extend Salem's original three-year contract to serve as host for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl by two years. The extension would keep the national championship game at Salem Stadium through 1997.

Wayne Burrow, the assistant director of championships for the NCAA in charge of the Stagg Bowl, said the plan was to establish a yearly rollover deal under which there always would be three years remaining on the contract.

``The three-year mode gives [Salem] the opportunity to make progress with what they do and also have an end in sight if they so desire,'' Burrow said. ``... I don't anticipate either party backing away, but we wanted to make that available.''

Carey Harveycutter, manager of Salem Stadium and the Stagg Bowl's director, said terms of the contract remained basically the same. The NCAA is guaranteed $25,000 each year, with Salem getting the next $10,000 in receipts. Any additional profit is split 60-40 with the greater share going to the NCAA.

Originally, the parties discussed a one-year extension, but Harveycutter said talks turned to two years Wednesday.

``We would be prepared to sign a long-term deal,'' he said. ``We love this game. It's excellent football. It's great for the community. We can't do wrong with continuing the relationship that has been developed.''

The extension must be approved by the NCAA executive committee, which generally rubber-stamps such recommendations.

NEAR-SELLOUT: The Division III football committee released the Stagg Bowl on Wednesday for television, meaning ESPN's telecast Saturday will not be blacked out in the Roanoke market.

Harveycutter said as of Wednesday 88 tickets remained for Saturday's game, which kicks off at noon and pits undefeated Albion (Mich.) against 11-1 Washington & Jefferson (Pa.).

The tickets - $8 for adults and $5 for youths - are available at the Salem Civic Center and all Ticketmaster locations.

If the game is a sellout, Harveycutter said standing-room tickets will go on sale Saturday at the stadium gate at 10 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.