The Host Committee for the Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship in Rome, Ga., announced today that it has reached an agreement with The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics that will bring the association’s annual football championship to Barron Stadium through 2015. Rome and Floyd County have been home to the championship since 2008.
NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr announced the contract extension, saying, “You have set a standard in both organization and hospitality, and you have worked hard to make Barron Stadium a venue that will be one of the best for our student-athletes and fans for many years to come. Rome is known as a remarkable football town, and what a great way to showcase the top teams in the NAIA on a national stage.”
This year’s championship game will be played Saturday, Dec. 18, at Barron Stadium with kickoff slated for 4:30 p.m., but teams will arrive a few days early to prepare for the competition. Each year, Darlington School has made its meeting rooms, athletic facilities and practice fields available to the visiting teams as needed.
“Darlington is excited about being the official site for practices, meetings and workouts for the two NAIA teams," said Darlington Athletic Director Bob Stinchcomb, a member of the Host Committee. "The artificial surface at Barron Stadium will be an alternative site for the teams to practice if the teams need more time on the new surface.”
Host Committee Co-chairman Bob Berry ('64) said the contract extension represents a huge endorsement of the efforts of the entire Rome-Floyd County community in putting on this event. “The NAIA championship game has a major economic impact on our community, and this is another way our community is putting itself on the sports map across the country,” he said. “All of us here in Rome and Floyd County should be proud of this day.”
The Host Committee also announced that Russell Athletic has agreed to extend its title sponsorship of the event through 2015 and that Dr. Pepper will return as a major sponsor through 2015 as well.
“Russell Athletic is a great fit for the NAIA Championship,” said Shorter University Athletic Director Bill Peterson, co-chairman of the Host Committee. “Their ongoing support of the championship game is highly significant, and the support of Dr. Pepper adds great value and brand recognition. We look forward to partnering with them throughout the coming years as we celebrate the best of NAIA football.”
The NAIA has sponsored football since 1956, when its first championship in the sport was held in Little Rock, Ark. Currently, 92 NAIA institutions sponsor the sport of football. Only 16 teams will qualify for postseason play. The two teams vying for the national championship title must advance through first round, quarterfinal and semifinal competition leading up to the championship game in mid-December.
Game tickets are available for purchase from The Forum by calling 706-291-5281, 1-800-858-7601 or visiting www.forumevents.org. Game tickets are $15 through Dec. 1 and $25 thereafter. Also available are tickets for other championship events to be held at The Forum, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Champions of Character Breakfast on Dec. 16 and the NAIA Banquet of Champions on Dec. 17.
