Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 12, 1994 TAG: 9412130038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ Salem is 0-for-2 on weather, but batting 1.000 in about every other category as host of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.
Such were the opinions of NCAA and local officials following Albion of Michigan's 38-15 victory Saturday over Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) in the national championship game of Division III football.
The game was a sellout at Salem Stadium for the second straight year despite a cold, steady rain that drenched the crowd of 7,168. Last year, after the event had moved from its home in sunny Bradenton, Fla., the weather was frigid, with a biting wind and snow flurries.
``Those things happen,'' said Bill Manlove, chairman of the NCAA Division III football committee. ``It's a shame for those people who were only here on game day. They missed all the other amenities that go into the whole Stagg Bowl package here.''
Last year's conditions prompted the addition of permanent, supplemental press boxes at the stadium. Carey Harveycutter, manager of the stadium and the Salem Civic Center and tournament director for the Stagg Bowl, said Saturday's game ran smoothly and that he anticipated having to make few changes.
Salem will have at least three more years to improve on the weather, having agreed with the NCAA to extend its original three-year contract through 1997. Wayne Burrow, an assistant director of championships for the NCAA who oversees the Stagg Bowl, announced last week that the football committee would recommend the extension to the NCAA's executive committee at its spring meeting.
``We're very happy here in Salem and looking forward to the next three years,'' Burrow said. ''We're 0-for-2 on the weather, but we feel like the warmness of the peoples' hearts makes up for that.
``Anyway, we're due now.''
by CNB