Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

9150 North Meridian Street, PO Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240–0650

Phone: 317–846–6601    Fax: 317–575–4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

________________________________________________________________________________

MEDIA INFORMATION                                                                                              November 19, 2006

Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director                                                                    

E–Mail: jwille@ihsaa.org

 

 

 

THE 34TH ANNUAL IHSAA FOOTBALL STATE FINALS

 

Friday, November 24, 2006

Class A at 3:30 pm EST: Sheridan (14-0) vs. Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter (13-1).

Class 2A at 7 pm EST: Harding (11-3) vs. Southridge (12-2).

 

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Class 3A at Noon EST: Norwell (14-0) vs. Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (13-1).

Class 4A at 3:30 pm EST: Concord (14-0) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral (12-2).

Class 5A at 7:05 pm EST: Carmel (12-2) vs. Warren Central (14-0).

 

 

WHERE: RCA Dome, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Capacity: 55,506 | www.iccrd.com

Dome layout: http://www.iccrd.com/dome/Seatingcharts.aspx

Parking: www.iccrd.com/dome/parking.aspx

 

TICKETS: $10.00 per day; All seats are general admission. Tickets may be purchased at participating schools the week prior to the state finals. Contact those schools for ticket distribution hours. Tickets also will be available game day at the RCA Dome Box Office which is located on the east side of the venue at street level along Capitol Avenue.

 

GATES OPEN: The RCA Dome will open its gates to fans beginning one hour prior to kickoff of the first game each day. On Friday, gates will open at 2:30 pm EST and on Saturday at 11 am EST.

 

TELEVISION: All five state championship games will be broadcast live throughout the state by the Indiana Cable Network which consists of Comcast, Bright House Networks and Insight cable systems.

 

RADIO: The IHSAA Championship Radio Network will be broadcasting all five games to stations statewide.

 

SOUVENIR PROGRAMS: $3.00 per copy, available at the event. $5.00 by mail. To pay by Visa or MasterCard, contact the IHSAA at 317-846-6601 (M-F, 8-4 p.m. EST).

 

LODGING: For those interested in making hotel reservations in Indianapolis during the state finals, visit www.indy.org or call 800-556-INDY Monday through Friday (Closed Thursday for Thanksgiving). Be sure to mention the IHSAA Football State Finals!

 

MEDIA HOSTS: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille along with assistants Mike Wilson and Brian Rejer will be on hand to assist in your coverage of this year’s state finals.

 

PARKING: There is no designated parking area for media for this event. Please be advised that the parking lot directly to the south of South Street is unavailable due to the on-going construction of Lucas Oil Stadium. There are numerous other parking options within walking distance of the Dome.

Map: www.iccrd.com/dome/parking.aspx

 

MEDIA CREDENTIALS: For media outlets intending to cover the football state finals on Nov. 24-25, please fax a credential request on company letterhead to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at 317-575-4244. Please include the names of the working individuals representing your outlet. The deadline for requests is 4 pm EST on Wednesday, Nov. 22. No credentials will be granted after that time. Approved requests will be available for pickup at the state finals coaches meeting on Monday, Nov. 20 (please indicate your intentions to do so) otherwise they will be available at media will-call on Senate Avenue on the south side of the RCA Dome on game day. Credentials will not be mailed.

 

MEDIA WILL-CALL: If not claimed at Monday’s coaches interview session, approved credential requests will be available for pickup at media will-call at the RCA Dome on game day. Media will-call will be located at a mobile building located on Senate Avenue on the south side of the RCA Dome and will open at 1 pm EST on Friday and 9:30 am EST on Saturday. Please have identification available.

 

MEDIA ENTRANCE: Credentialed media may enter the RCA Dome off of Senate Street on the facility’s south side. Please be prepared to have bags and equipment checked by security officials. Doors will open at 1 pm EST on Friday and 9:30 am on Saturday. The entrance is at Field Level of the facility. To access the broadcast booths and press box, please take the elevator to those respective levels.

 

SEAT ASSIGNMENTS: With the exception of the Associated Press and Indianapolis Star who have permanent lines installed, an open seating policy will be used in the press box. Booth assignments for television, radio and internet broadcasters will be posted at the broadcast level of the facility.

 

BROADCAST PHONE LINES: Electronic media requiring phone lines should contact Pat Hull at the RCA Dome on Monday to make arrangements – 317-265-7456.

 

POOL TELEPHONES: Pool phones for filing purposes will be available in the press box. Only credit card and 800 number calls can be made from those phones.

 

FIELD LEVEL: All credentialed media will have access to the field level. However, we solicit cooperation in keeping the sidelines as clean as possible during the games. During the games, all media personnel must observe the field markings at the RCA Dome and work behind the white-painted area that is approximately two yards wide around the perimeter of the field on the sides and in the end zones. Photographers may work from the end zone to the 30-yard-line at each end of the field from either sideline. The defined team bench area between the 30-yard lines is a restricted area. Your cooperation is appreciated for the safety and working conditions of players, coaches, officials and other media professionals.

 

HOSPITALITY: The IHSAA will provide a hospitality area with food and drinks on Friday and Saturday on the Press Box level for all credentialed personnel.

 

GAME DAY WEBSITE UPDATES: Scores will be updated at the end of each quarter of play on the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org. Final box scores, play-by-play along with a recap will be posted as soon as possible after the conclusion of each championship game.

 

LIVE TELEVISION CUT-INS: Spot news reports showing live game action are prohibited. Stand-up reports for newscasts are permitted from inside the dome provided that no live action is shown.

 

POST-GAME GUIDELINES: Due to contractual obligations, the IHSAA Television and Radio network personnel will have priority in conducting interviews with coaches and players on the field immediately following each game. If time permits before the awards ceremony, additional interviews may be conducted with the assistance of IHSAA media stewards. Otherwise, all interviews will be conducted off the field following the awards ceremony and team photograph session.  We solicit your continued cooperation with this policy in order to continue on-the-field post-game access in the future. The post-game ceremonies order will be as follows:

·         Mental Attitude Award presentation

·         Runner-Up medals and trophy presentation

·         Championship medals and trophy presentation

·         Team Photographs by Visual Sports Network

 

NO CHILDREN, PLEASE – With the exception of high school students representing their school’s newspaper, yearbook, radio or television station, and who have a team participating, no young people or children will be issued media credentials or be allowed in the working media area.

 

 

EVANSVILLE’S MARK HOLSAPPLE TO BE HONORED AS TOP OFFICIAL

In a special ceremony at halftime of the 4A championship game, Mark Holsapple will be honored as the 2006 recipient of the Interscholastic Officials Association Award for football.

The IHSAA, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in 11 sports during the school year.

A resident of Evansville, Holsapple has held a football officials license for 19 years working a sectional every year as well as 16 regionals, seven semi-states and has earned assignments to the state finals on four occassions -- 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2005.

Holsapple was selected for this award by a committee of representatives from the 26 officials associations throughout the state of Indiana. He was nominated by his peers in the Southern Indiana Officials Association.

While a member of that association, Holsapple has served as a football rules interpreter at both the state and local levels, been a clinician, elected to its Board of Directors and served as football chairman. In addition, he also maintains a license in basketball.

Professionally, Holsapple is employed by Kight Home Center as a store manager in the Evansville area where he’s worked for 27 years.

He is a graduate of Bosse High School and Ball State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1978 in Law Enforcement and Political Science. He also played football for the Cardinals and was selected for the North South All-Star Game out of Bosse in 1973 after earning all-state honors as a prep senior. In 2002, he worked as a referee in the All-Star Game.

He and his wife of 28 years, Kathy, have three grown children, Shelby, and twin sons Casey and Corey, and two grandchildren, Leo and Ce Ce.

 

 

BILL NIMNICHT TO BE HONORED WITH NATIONAL OFFICIALS AWARD

In a special ceremony during the 3A championship game, Evansville resident Bill Nimnicht will be honored with the National Federation Sectional Official Award.

Nimnicht was Indiana’s nominee for this award which honors an official from the Section 4 states who exemplifies the highest standards of ethical conduct, moral character and are judged on their significant contributions to interscholastic officiating. Section 4 is comprised of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Nimnicht has been involved in the Indiana state football tournament for 30 years having earned three state finals assignments and also maintained licenses in basketball (32 years) and baseball (29 years).

He has spent most of his officiating career working within the Southern Indiana Officials Association to better the skills of the local officials. He was previously honored as Indiana’s Outstanding Football Official in 2004.

While a member of his association, he has served in the positions of President, Vice President, Board member, as Basketball Chairperson for 20 years and as Football Chairperson for five years. He also has worked as a rules interpreter, clincian and observer.

Nimnicht is employed by the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation as physical education teacher.

He is a 1968 graduate of Washington High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in 1973 from the University of Evansville and a Master’s Degree in 1976. He and is wife, Becky, have four children, Eric, Katy, Brian and Elizabeth.

 

 

 

IHSAA 06-07/19