Last dance: WAFF to air UNA’s final game at Braly Stadium

FLORENCE – Can’t make it to the University of North Alabama’s final football game at Braly Stadium this Saturday?

No worries. WAFF 48 has you, and the game, covered.

UNA’s Athletics Department and WAFF in Huntsville reached an agreement to air the Lions’ final game at historic Braly. UNA will host Southern Utah for the last dance at Braly Stadium with kickoff set for 1 p.m. The game will also be available on ESPN+.

Home to the NCAA Division II Football National Championship Game from 1986-2013, Braly Stadium is the site of UNA’s three straight national titles – 1993, 1994, and 1995. To celebrate this “Final Season at Braly,” the university has recognized a different era of UNA football at each home game by welcoming football players, coaches, staff members, and spirit squad members from each era to special tailgates and on-field recognition.

To commemorate this final Braly game, WAFF will produce a one-hour pregame show, “A Farewell to Braly,” with an inside look at the history of the stadium and a sneak-peak inside Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium. Sports Director Carl Prather will host the show.

WAFF will also broadcast the game on Tennessee Valley Sports Entertainment Network, which can be found over the air on 48.3 or by checking with a cable provider. “Voice of the Lions” Benjamin Ray will be joined by Bryan Neece and Arielle Schaffer to call the game. 

“We are excited to partner with WAFF 48 to bring the final game at Braly Stadium to fans across the Tennessee Valley,” said Athletics Director Dr. Josh Looney. “This broadcast allows our community to share in a truly historic moment as we celebrate decades of memories at Braly and look ahead to a new and exciting era at Bank Independent Stadium.

“WAFF 48 is a tremendous media partner in our region, and we look forward to more UNA broadcasts on WAFF in the future.”

Braly Stadium has been home to the UNA football team since the full restart of the program in 1949. The venue was previously known as Coffee Stadium, adjacent to the former Coffee High School. It was renamed in 1964 in honor of Tom Braly Jr. who coached in the 1940s and 1950s.

With a major renovation to the facility in 1980, the stadium was renamed Braly Municipal Stadium, signifying the partnership between the University of North Alabama, the Florence School Board, and the Florence Parks and Recreation Department.

Renovated again in 1998, the stadium seats 14,215 and has an artificial ProGrass playing surface.

Including their three national championships, the Lions have an all-time record of 281-134-8 in the stadium for a 68.7 win percentage. In playoff games at Braly, the Lions boast a 26-8 record. UNA also has a 41-25 record against ranked opponents inside Braly.

“It’s an honor to help commemorate UNA’s final home game at Braly Stadium,” said WAFF General Manager Jama Killingsworth. “This collaboration reflects WAFF’s commitment to telling the stories that matter most to our viewers. Our station has always believed in serving our local communities, and highlighting this historic moment is an example of that mission in action as we celebrate the past and look ahead to the next chapter in UNA’s legacy.”