In a news release Tuesday, the IHSA said bids to host the football state finals have been submitted by Northern Illinois, Illinois State and Southern Illinois.
The University of Illinois has hosted the state championship games at Memorial Stadium since 1999, but changes to the Big Ten schedule forced the IHSA to find a host for title games in odd-numbered years starting next year. The site proposal specifications seek a host for five seasons (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021).
The Daily Chronicle reported in January that NIU was interested in submitting a bid.
"I think it would be an outstanding opportunity for our community as well," NIU athletic director Jeff Compher said in January.
The IHSA board is scheduled to act on the proposals by June 11.
Update 11:44 a.m: Huskie Stadium director John Gordon told the Daily Chronicle this morning that NIU's bid included a letter signed by 114 high school athletic directors supporting the state football finals at NIU. We'll have a full story on the bid in Thursday's Daily Chronicle.
– John Sahly, jsahly@shawmedia.com, @JSahly on Twitter
