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2023 FHSAA Football State Championship Series to be played at FAMU's Bragg Memorial Stadium
PUBLISHED
Thu, Sep 21, 2023 11:30 AM
TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida High School Athletic Association announced Thursday morning that the site of Florida's 2023 FHSAA Football State Championship Series will be headed to the Highest of Seven Hills.
Florida A&M University's Bragg Memorial Stadium will serve host of ALL nine state championship games of Florida's 2023 FHSAA Football State Championship Series. Three football state finals will be played daily December 7th, December 8th, and December 9th on FAMU's newly dedicated Ken Riley Field.
FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon, FAMU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes, Leon County Commission chairman Nick Maddox, and the staff of Visit Tallahassee were on board to announce their excitement on this strategic partnership to bring the 2023 State Championship in it's entirety to Florida's capital city.
Sykes stated "THE FHSAA High School Championship games coming to FAMU is not just a sporting an event, it's a celebration of excellence. We look forward to welcoming you all to our campus in December and showcasing what it truly means to be a Rattler".
View the announcement below:
Fitting Tribute for Ken Riley
The FHSAA deciding to move all the state championships to Bragg Memorial Stadium where Ken Riley continued to cement his legacy as one of the greatest ever is a fitting tribute for "The Rattler", who was enshrined into the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Ken Riley is a Bartow native who excelled on Florida's gridiron in his prep days, before a legendary career at FAMU and with the Cincinnati Bengals. The FHSAA named Ken Riley, as one of only 33 players out of Florida's long rich football history, to Florida's All Century Team.
ONE OF 33 ON FLORIDA'S ALL CENTURY TEAM BY THE FHSAA
Ken Riley, Union Academy (Bartow), 1965. One of 9 Union Academy graduates who made it to NFL before school closed in 1968. Played offense and defense in high school and QB at FAMU, where he was a 3-time All-American. Moved back to the secondary in the NFL, where he played 14 seasons with 65 INTs. Was later head football coach (1986-93) and athletic director (1994-2003) at his alma mater FAMU.
Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)
Dedication of Ken Riley Field
Bragg Memorial Stadium serves as home to the Florida A&M Rattlers. Just this past week before the Rattler's home game vs. West Florida, FAMU Athletics held the dedication of the Ken Riley Field.
As the nation's number #1 ranked Historically Black College & University, Florida A&M University continues to make waves in academic excellence as the university has recently been ranked #91 in the TOP 100 of US News & World Report world recognized collegiate rankings amongst all universities.
READ: Ken Riley is FINALLY Enshrined Into Pro Football Hall of Fame
ALSO READ: We Mourn the Passing of a Legend, Ken Riley
PHOTO CREDIT: Florida A&M website (https://www.famu.edu)
Florida A&M University's Bragg Memorial Stadium will serve host of ALL nine state championship games of Florida's 2023 FHSAA Football State Championship Series. Three football state finals will be played daily December 7th, December 8th, and December 9th on FAMU's newly dedicated Ken Riley Field.
FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon, FAMU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes, Leon County Commission chairman Nick Maddox, and the staff of Visit Tallahassee were on board to announce their excitement on this strategic partnership to bring the 2023 State Championship in it's entirety to Florida's capital city.
Sykes stated "THE FHSAA High School Championship games coming to FAMU is not just a sporting an event, it's a celebration of excellence. We look forward to welcoming you all to our campus in December and showcasing what it truly means to be a Rattler".
View the announcement below:
STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SITE ANNOUNCEMENT https://t.co/vFSaHthZfm
— FHSAA (@FHSAA) September 21, 2023
It’s Official! The 2023 FHSAA Football State Championships will happen on the campus of Florida A&M at Ken Riley Field in Bragg Memorial Stadium! Dec. 7th-9th! All 9 classes! Make plans TODAY! Visit https://t.co/9ERk1s9ssf for more information. pic.twitter.com/G10ViGVITI
— FHSAA (@FHSAA) September 21, 2023
Fitting Tribute for Ken Riley
The FHSAA deciding to move all the state championships to Bragg Memorial Stadium where Ken Riley continued to cement his legacy as one of the greatest ever is a fitting tribute for "The Rattler", who was enshrined into the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Ken Riley is a Bartow native who excelled on Florida's gridiron in his prep days, before a legendary career at FAMU and with the Cincinnati Bengals. The FHSAA named Ken Riley, as one of only 33 players out of Florida's long rich football history, to Florida's All Century Team.
ONE OF 33 ON FLORIDA'S ALL CENTURY TEAM BY THE FHSAA
Ken Riley, Union Academy (Bartow), 1965. One of 9 Union Academy graduates who made it to NFL before school closed in 1968. Played offense and defense in high school and QB at FAMU, where he was a 3-time All-American. Moved back to the secondary in the NFL, where he played 14 seasons with 65 INTs. Was later head football coach (1986-93) and athletic director (1994-2003) at his alma mater FAMU.
Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)
Dedication of Ken Riley Field
Bragg Memorial Stadium serves as home to the Florida A&M Rattlers. Just this past week before the Rattler's home game vs. West Florida, FAMU Athletics held the dedication of the Ken Riley Field.
As the nation's number #1 ranked Historically Black College & University, Florida A&M University continues to make waves in academic excellence as the university has recently been ranked #91 in the TOP 100 of US News & World Report world recognized collegiate rankings amongst all universities.
READ: Ken Riley is FINALLY Enshrined Into Pro Football Hall of Fame
ALSO READ: We Mourn the Passing of a Legend, Ken Riley
PHOTO CREDIT: Florida A&M website (https://www.famu.edu)
