Dolan said he could not gauge whether Falwell’s December comments had any impact on the VHSL’s departure from Liberty. Dolan said the VHSL had been studying potential moves and seeking prospective host cities since October.

“I don’t know if any of that played into the final determination from a [VHSL] staff standpoint,” Dolan said.

“You’ve always got the people who don’t like what somebody says, and they’re going to say they don’t like it. You have the other group in our family that basically says, ‘Freedom of speech, that’s what America’s based on.’

“For football, I look at what membership says, what they would like to see is a little more diversity geographically, and what are the costs. What’s the upside? What’s the downside? Frankly, with Williamsburg in mid-December, with shopping and football, Colonial Williamsburg . . . that’s not a difficult choice.”

Timesland schools and their supporters have been frequent guests at Liberty for state football finals.

Salem has played in the last two 4A championship games, winning the title in December. Magna Vista won the 3A title in Lynchburg in 2014 and 2015, defeating Lord Botetourt in December. Northside won the 3A crown in 2013.