12/16/2009 4:37:53 PM
For the second consecutive year the NAIA National Championship game will be held in Rome, Georgia. A year ago the Sioux Fall Cougars beat the Carroll College Saints 23-7 in the first national title game held in Rome.
Shorter College, who competes in the NAIA, is the host school for the event. The game is played in Barron Stadium which is in the middle of Rome. Barron Stadium seating capacity is 6,400 and will be the host of the 54th NAIA National Championship Game.
Shorter College was founded in 1873 in Rome, Georgia as the Cherokee Baptist Female College, Shorter College moved to its present 150-acre hilltop location in 1910. Men were first admitted in the early 1950s. The city of Rome has a population of 36,000 and is 70 miles northwest of Atlanta, Georgia. Floyd County’s population is 93,000.
Rome is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Northwest Georgia. Located conveniently between Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Birmingham, Rome is an ecologically diverse community with three rivers that meet in the heart of downtown, known as the “Between the Rivers” Historic District. Rome is extremely pedestrian-friendly with miles of trails throughout the city and along the riverbanks.
When the teams arrive in Rome there is numerous events scheduled for the two teams. On Thursday morning the teams will enjoy the FCA Champions of Character Breakfast which features Phil Jones, 2009 Grant Teaff National FCA Award Recipient and head coach for the Shorter College Hawks. After the teams enjoy breakfast they will visit local schools to hang out with the students. On Friday night, the teams will attend the NAIA Banquet of Champions.
Finally on Saturday morning at 12:00 p.m. the two teams will put all of the week’s activities behind them and do what they have been wanting to do, play football.