THE ISSUE

On Saturday at noon, Shoals residents have the opportunity to attend the NCAA Division II Football Championship at Braly Stadium.

The NCAA Division II football playoffs whittled 24 contenders down to two top teams that will compete for the national championship.

For the 26th year, residents in the Shoals have the opportunity to support the big game, which calls Braly Stadium in Florence its home.

The game may bring more interest this year with Gulf State Conference representative and University of North Alabama rival Valdosta State playing for the championship.

The Blazers (11-2) will face Winston-Salem State (14-0) on Saturday at noon. Tickets are $25 and on sale at Shoals Chamber of Commerce or by calling 256-764-4661.

In the semi-finals, Winston-Salem defeated West Texas A&M 41-18 and Valdosta State beat Minnesota State-Mankato 35-19.

As ESPN2 televises the game, it would be great if thousands of fans of the two teams and residents of the Shoals, including UNA supporters, fill Braly Stadium.

Much effort has been put into locating and keeping the Football Championship in the Shoals since Grady Liles led a group to fulfill the dream of hosting the game in the mid-1980s.

The Shoals National Championship Committee works diligently throughout the year to make the game and related events a great memory for players and fans. The website, d2championship.com, calls Florence the "Division II Football Capital."

The website also says Braly is recognized across the nation as one of the finest football facilities in Division II. The venue features ProGrass artificial turf, an LED scoreboard and recent sound system upgrades.

Residents of the Shoals can be proud to host the NCAA Division II Football Championship. The game offers an annual chance for visitors from outside the region to discover the wonderful place we call home. It also presents an opportunity for thousands of ESPN2 viewers to sample the Shoals through their TV screens during a lull before the Division I bowls.

It would be great to see all 14,215 seats full at Braly Stadium.