When news first broke this summer that the state championship games were moving to Mississippi State University and Davis Wade Stadium for the 2014 season, a smile broke out.

Having worked at four daily newspapers around the state, there have many road trips to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium from all parts of the state. However, after seeing about 20 or so games in that stadium, that is quite simply enough.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association is now moving its Gridiron Classic state championship weekend to the campuses of MSU and Ole Miss. While nothing is official, it is a safe bet the games will also trickle their way down to Hattiesburg and be played at the University of Southern Mississippi in the not-too-distant future.

So the excitement when the move was made was purely selfish. No more long car rides in the freezing temperatures of December. No more hour-long wait for the elevator at Memorial Stadium. No more hoping that the Internet would hang in there just long enough to give you a signal to send a message. Those days are now over.

Quite simply, the games are moving somewhere that can handle the event.

So those were the preliminary thoughts when the news first broke. Now as kickoff of the first state championship game arrives this morning, there is more reasons to be excited. Again, some of these are selfish but here are some of the things your faithful scribe looks forward to seeing this weekend:

1. In 6A, Oak Grove coach Nevil Barr: My newspaper career included an eight-year stint at the Hattiesburg American. When I first moved to Hattiesburg, Barr was my next door neighbor. At the time, he was coaching at Petal High School.

One morning, the conversation went like this:

Barr: “Why don’t you ever cover us?”

Me: “Coach, you throw the ball too much. Newspaper people can cover teams who throw the ball too much on deadline.”

From that conversation, our friendship really grew. I did go see the Panthers from time to time. They always played hard and always played with a plan. Those are the same reasons why Barr has won and won big at Oak Grove.

Oak Grove will play South Panola for the Class 6A title. Here is hoping the Hattiesburg American can break out a former headline of mine from back in the day “Grooving in the Grove.”

2. In 3A, Collins coach Ryan Earnest: While living in Laurel, one of my favorite athletes to cover was former Laurel High School running back Ryan Earnest. Ryan had the moves of a deer. He had swift feet and an incredible knowledge of the game. He knew what the other team was thinking before they thought it.

Off the field, I formed a friendship with Ryan. I got to know he and his family. They were all really first-class people.

It is no surprise that Ryan got into coaching. It is no surprise that he has been very successful at it.

This will be my first time to see Ryan coach. If he coaches like he played and his players play like he played then I like Collins’ chances in the Class 3A game against Charleston.

3. In 2A, Mississippi State commitment Jamal Peters: While in Hattiesburg, your faithful scribe had the good fortune of covering several games at Bassfield High School. There are two convenience stores and one red light in Bassfield.

The boys down there know how to play some football and basketball though. Coach Berry Govan coached both sports and he never had a player that wouldn’t say “Yes sir.”

Peters is headed to Mississippi State this fall, so it is always exciting to see future Bulldogs play before their opportunity to play on the next level.

If Jamal delivers the same sterling performance he delivers every night on Twitter, Bassfield should be in good shape in the Class 2A title match with Calhoun City.

4. In 5A, my alma mater Laurel High School: To say Todd Breland has done an outstanding job at Laurel High School would be huge understatement.

Breland has kept the Golden Tornadoes in the Class 5A playoff hunt on an annual basis. Under his watch, the Golden Tornadoes have won 24 games in the last two seasons.

Our paths have not crossed professionally. However, we have a Jones County connection and a friendship that goes back to his playing days at Laurel’s main county rival, West Jones High School.

In a county school versus city school battle, we would like to welcome Todd to the other side of the rivalry. The Tornadoes are happy to have him.

Laurel will play Oxford for the Class 5A title. Fans will need to get here early to get a good parking spot.

5. In 4A, Noxubee County looks for second title in three seasons: There is so much to like about Noxubee County.

One of the best programs in the coverage area, Noxubee County takes on all challengers and beats most with dignity and class.

In the past three seasons, coach Tyrone Shorter has matched South Panola for the most college signees. Shorter is a total professional in everything that he does. The fact that he and his coaches stay on the players until they walk across the stage and move to the next level speaks volumes of the character on display.

With a roster full of juniors, Noxubee County will be doing a test-run for the 2015 Class 4A title by taking on St. Stanislaus in this year’s final.

6. In 1A, the popularity of Brian Hadad: As most in the area know by now, Bulldogs Sports Radio director Brian Hadad is a graduate of St. Aloysius High School.

So in today’s 1A opener between St. Aloysius and Natchez Cathedral, the plan is to stand at the main entrance and ask people coming in if they known Brian Hadad.

Needless to say that should get championship weekend off to a great start.

Scott Walters is a sports reporter for the Commercial Dispatch. He may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @dispatchscott.

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.