Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State University will host the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Gridiron Classic on Dec. 2-3 at Davis Wade Stadium on the Starkville campus.
MSU personnel are advised that Friday [Dec. 2] parking and campus traffic patterns may be slightly impacted and are urged to accommodate university guests during the two-day event.
Friday’s schedule will include: Class 1A Championship at 11 a.m., Lumberton vs. Simmons; Class 2A Championship at 3 p.m., Bay Springs vs. Calhoun City; and Class 6A Championship at 7 p.m., Pearl vs. Clinton.
Saturday’s [Dec. 3] schedule will include: Class 3A Championship at 11 a.m., Kemper County vs. Charleston; Class 4A Championship at 3 p.m., Poplarville vs Lafayette; and Class 5A Championship at 7 p.m., Laurel vs. West Point.
Tickets are $15 per day (or $14 when purchased from the participating 12 schools) and are good for all three games on each day of the championships. Ticket offices will open at 9 a.m. on both days at Davis Wade Stadium.
University officials announced that some temporary road closures are necessary in hosting the event, along with changes in university parking as outlined in the detailed timeline below:
Friday [Dec. 2]
— 8 a.m., Parking lots/tailgating open
— 8:30 a.m., Barr Ave. and B.S. Hood close
—Memorial Hall staff parking enter from Bailey Howell Dr.
— 8:50 a.m., Creelman St. closes for team drop off for team walks
— 9 a.m., Gates open at Davis Wade Stadium and Ticket Offices open
—Ticket gates-C, F, H, and L
—Pass gate-B
—Both north and south ticket offices open
— 9:10 a.m., Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walks
— 12:40 p.m., Creelman St. closes for team walks
— 1:10 p.m., Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walks
—Media move to media room in north end zone in case of inclement weather
— 4:40 p.m., Creelman St. closes for team walks
— 5:10 p.m., Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walks
Saturday [Dec. 3]
— 8 a.m., Parking lots/tailgating open
— 8:30 a.m., Barr Ave. and B.S. Hood close
—Memorial Hall staff parking from Bailey Howell Dr.
— 8:50 a.m., Creelman St. closes for team drop off for team walks
— 9 a.m., Gates open at Davis Wade Stadium and Ticket Offices open
—Ticket gates-C, F, H, and L
—Pass gate-B
—Both north and south ticket offices open
— 9:10 a.m., Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk
— 12:40 p.m., Creelman St. closes for team walks
— 1:10 p.m., Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk
— 4:40 p.m., Creelman St. closes for team walks
— 5:10 p.m., Creelman St. reopens immediately after team walk
Additional information:
—No video cameras or videotaping will be allowed. Bullhorns, air horns, sirens or vuvuzelas are prohibited by MHSAA. Cannons, umbrellas, propane heaters, ice chests, outside food and drink, weapons, alcohol or tobacco are prohibited by MHSAA, including any other items deemed inappropriate by venue personnel.
—Tailgating is allowed in the Junction, but no wheeled vehicles may park on the grass.
—For more information on MSU’s free shuttle routes, visit www.smart.msstate.edu.
For more information on the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Gridiron Classic, visit www.misshsaa.com. The games will be televised live. A complete listing of broadcast stations can be found at http://www.misshsaa.com/2016/12/02/gridiron-classic-broadcast-stations-announced/.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.