CPA TO PLAY MILAN IN FOOTBALL AT VANDERBILT
By Jeff Lockridge | The Tennessean
When Vanderbilt Stadium had artificial turf installed in 2012, athletics director David Williams said he wanted high school football games to return to campus.
Christ Presbyterian Academy was first to jump at the offer.
CPA will play Milan on Sept. 26, a Thursday night, at Vanderbilt. Milan edged CPA each of the last two years in the Class 3A semifinals in their only previous meetings.
High school football was last played at Vanderbilt when Franklin and Hillsboro met in the 2008 Clinic Bowl Kickoff Classic.
“Vanderbilt has always reached out to us — within the NCAA rules, of course — and we have a number of former Vandy athletes and graduates tied to CPA,” CPA athletics director Mike Ellson said.
“So we thought, ‘Let’s make it fun for the Nashville community and worthwhile for Milan to come here.’ They wanted their students to experience something special. It’s an SEC football field and it’s a beautiful facility with all the upgrades they’ve made. A lot of things really aligned.”
CPA will play at Milan in 2014 season as part of a two-year deal.
“Milan has been to back-to-back state championships and they have a rich tradition,” Ellson said. “We’re 0-2 against them, and we’re ready to meet the challenge. We want to play good competition.”
Vanderbilt vice chancellor Brock Williams, who oversees facilities and game operations, said there are ongoing conversations with high schools about the possibility of a second prep game on campus this fall.
“There’s been quite a bit of interest,” Brock Williams said. “The artificial turf helps tremendously. You don’t have to worry about disease on the field or what happens if it rains or any of those things.”
Ellson said CPA also is considering playing baseball and basketball games at Vanderbilt. CPA has won the last two boys and girls Class AA basketball championships, and the boys team will have four potential Division I players. Prep baseball games are taking place on Hawkins Field’s new turf this spring.
Beginning in the early 1980s, Dudley Field was site of the TSSAA football championships — then known as the Clinic Bowl — for all classes. The Division I (non-financial aid) finals moved to Murfreesboro in 2000. Division II followed in 2005. All of the finals are currently in Cookeville, and the TSSAA last summer voted to keep them there through 2016.
Vanderbilt officials and coach James Franklin have said they would like to get the championships back on West End.
CPA coach and former Montgomery Bell Academy star Ingle Martin quarterbacked his last prep game at Vanderbilt when the Big Red beat Brentwood Academy 8-7 in the 2000 Division II-AA final.
Vanderbilt declined to release the specifics of its contract with CPA, but Brock Williams stated that high schools must pay a fee to “rent the stadium” and have the university staff it with everyone from ticket takers to concession workers to medical personnel.
A start time has not been finalized for the CPA-Milan game, but Ellson said it would likely be at 7 p.m.
