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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.”
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