Tag Archives: BlueCross Bowl

Athletes and spectators headed to Cookeville Thursday for the opening tip of the Division II high school basketball championships. Tech Athletic Director Mark Wilson said the university is exceptionally proud to host what he calls the greatest private high school basketball in Tennessee. He said the Upper Cumberland is known for great basketball, so more locals are piling into the ... Read More »

The TSSAA would consider the possibility of bringing the high school football championships back to Cookeville upon the completion of Tucker Stadium renovations. TSSAA Assistant Executive Director Matthew Gillespie said a return has been discussed. Cookeville lost the State Championships in 2021. He said the TSSAA has maintained a strong relationship with Cookeville and Putnam County in the years since. ... Read More »

First weekend in 12 years high school football championships will not be played in Cookeville. The BlueCross Bowl will be played in Chattanooga instead this weekend and local businesses are missing the influx of people. Cookeville’s Hampton Inn General Manager Ricky Cherry said for his employees, the weekend meant guaranteed hours in what is usually a slow month. “Heads in ... Read More »

The end of Cookeville’s BlueCross Bowl streak, but what about the future? Cookeville-Putnam County Visitor’s Bureau Executive Director Molly Brown said there is a real possibility the city competes for the next TSSAA contract. “I definitely see that as an opportunity for our community,” Brown said. ” That is something that obviously we will approach together just like we have ... Read More »

Questions about facilities seemed to be a main concern of TSSAA leaders when it came to Cookeville’s presentation to host the State Football Championships. Tennessee Tech Athletic Director Mark Wilson attended the bid presentations Tuesday. He said he was disappointed for the University and the community that the games are headed to Chattanooga. “I believe they had questions about the ... Read More »

The BlueCross Bowl will not return to Cookeville next season. The TSSAA Board of Control voted 11-1 following a marathon session to select Chattanooga as host of the 2021 and 2022 high school football championships. Chattanooga bid some $3,000 less in guaranteed revenue to the TSSAA. Cookeville’s obligation to TSSAA would have been $253,000 under the two-year term. “Very disappointed ... Read More »

Cookeville is competing against Chattanooga to host the next two years of the TSSAA Blue Cross Bowl. Assistant Executive Director Matthew Gillespie said TSSAA usually conducts exploratory visits with potential hosts. But, Gillespie said the organization is comfortable with what Tennessee Tech has to offer. “Obviously, we were there as recent as December for the football championships,” Gillespie said. “That’s ... Read More »

As Putnam County prepares to host high school football teams from across the state, hotels will be busy. So far in 2020 hotel-motel tax is down 19 percent. Mayor Randy Porter said this is a good comeback for the county considering the tax revenue was down by 70 percent at the peak of the pandemic. “Our economy seems to be ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech wants to make sure the community will be protected as high school football fans gather from across the state Thursday through Saturday. The campus will host the Blue Cross Bowl this weekend. Tennessee Tech Athletic Director Mark Wilson said preventing Tucker Stadium from becoming an outbreak is everybody’s main concern. “We do not want a super spreader event ... Read More »

The BlueCross Bowl still needs volunteers as crowds descend on Cookeville this weekend. Cookeville-Putnam County Visitor’s Bureau Executive Director Molly Brown said the need is bigger than ever, with over 700 shifts of volunteers working. Brown said they’re looking for groups inside the same household to help with social distancing during all the different jobs. “It could be anything from ... Read More »