Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 4, 1994 TAG: 9410050024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Salem High School might be sending the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl a thank-you note in a few months.
Salem officials are considering adding permanent skyboxes to Salem Stadium, site of the Division III college football championship. Salem wants the boxes to house media covering the Stagg Bowl, but it's possible they could be rented during Salem High football games or other events.
Carey Harveycutter, the Stagg Bowl's director, said construction bids still are coming in and that a decision should be made next week on whether the skyboxes will be built.
Forest Jones, Salem assistant city manager, would not disclose the approximate cost.
``When we get a number and it's something we can live with, we'll take it to [Salem City] Council and have them approve it and see where we can get the money,'' Jones said.
Harveycutter, manager of the stadium and the Salem Civic Center, said Salem representatives would like an enclosed structure that would span the length of the stadium on the home side, adjacent to the already-erected press box.
Harveycutter said the structure - which would wipe out about 300 seats at the stadium - would be pre-fabricated and set on site by crane.
Jones said he hoped the boxes could be approved and erected in time for this year's event, scheduled for noon Dec.10.
As for which teams will play before ESPN's cameras, football fans got their first glimpse at likely contenders Monday when the first Division III poll was released by the NCAA in Overland Park, Kan.
Among the ranked were Mount Union (Ohio), which beat Rowan (N.J.) 34-24 in last year's Stagg Bowl at Salem Stadium. Mount Union was ranked No.1 in the North Region; Rowan was No.1 in the East Region
The only ranked team from Virginia was Emory & Henry, which came in third in the South Region. Washington and Jefferson (Pa.) was ranked No.1 in the South. Guilford, an Old Dominion Athletic Conference team along with Emory & Henry, was ranked sixth in the South.
In the West, Wisconsin-La Crosse was ranked No.1.
Last year, 60 media members and officials watched Mount Union's victory from a temporary structure of scaffolding, wood and plastic. But a strong, biting wind and temperatures in the 20s made working difficult.
``We're looking at a permanent structure with heating and windows that would be able to open on nice days,'' Harveycutter said. ``We need something good for the press to work in.''
As of Monday, 1,988 tickets had been sold for the Stagg Bowl, compared to 2,052 at this time last year.
Tickets are available through the Salem Civic Center box office and all Ticketmaster locations. They are $8 in advance, $10 on game day and $5 for high school students and youths.
by CNB