The Division I-AA Football Committee has expressed a desire to continue playing the annual championship game in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for at least the next two years.

The committee, which met January 22-25 in Indian Wells, California, voted to recommend to the Division I Championships/
Competition Cabinet that the Chattanooga Sports and Events Committee, along with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, remain as hosts of the championship game through at least 2002, with an option for 2003.

Chattanooga has hosted the title contest for the past four years, the second-longest run in the championship's 23-year history. Marshall University filled the role for five consecutive years from 1992-96.

Among the possible changes the committee discussed for the 2001 championship game were increasing ticket prices and moving the game to Friday evening from Saturday afternoon. The committee noted that the ticket prices for some of the preliminary-round games played on the campuses of participating institutions were greater than those charged for the championship.

In other action, the committee decided to make a change in the principles for selecting at-large teams in those years when teams will be permitted to play 12 games. The principle, when based on an 11-game schedule, is that a team with more than three losses is in jeopardy of not being selected.

In those years when 12 games are permitted, the first of which is 2002, the principle will be changed to four or more losses.

In other matters, the committee:

* Recommended granting automatic qualification for the 2001 championship to the Patriot League, and the Atlantic 10, Big Sky, Gateway, Mid-Eastern Athletic, Ohio Valley, Southern and Southland Conferences.

* Discussed the appointment of the Committee to Oversee the NCAA Football Study and the issues it will review that pertain to Division I-AA.

* Reviewed NCAA championships policy on charter flights and recommended that some flexibility be permitted in the policy.