SPRING 2008

NAIA selects Shorter/Rome to host national football championship

On Thursday, Jan. 3, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced that Shorter College and Rome/Floyd County were selected to host the 2008 and 2009 NAIA National Football Championships. The 53rd annual championship game will be played Dec. 20, 2008, at Barron Stadium in downtown Rome, and the 2009 event will be played at the same venue on Dec. 19, 2009. As the NAIA was making its announcement, Shorter College officials held a press conference on campus to share the news with media representatives, community supporters and campus staff. Shorter President Dr. Harold E. Newman opened the proceedings by saying “The excitement is in the air. We have a great way of starting the new year knowing that we have an opportunity to showcase Rome and Shorter College.” He then introduced Athletic Director Bill Peterson who made the official announcement.

“Everybody knows that we didn’t invite you all here today to say that we didn’t get the bid,” Mr. Peterson told the crowd. “What I will say – and this has been a long time coming – is that Shorter College in conjunction with the city of Rome and Floyd County has won the bid to host the 2008 and 2009 NAIA national football championships. We are excited; there is no doubt. We pledge to do the very best job, collectively, to put on the best national championship they have ever had.”

Coach Peterson added that the planning committee intends for these games to feel like a “BCS game,” referring to the Bowl Championship Series that features NCAA Division 1-A teams. “I think the main reason that we got this bid is a reflection on this community,” he added. “Great people and a great town. The NAIA recognized that; there’s no question about it.”

Shorter began its quest to become host of the championship in January 2007. Click here for a chronology of the bid process. The college formed a partnership with the city of Rome and with Floyd County and recruited other community organizations to assist with earning the right to host the events.

“We believed Rome would be a strong contender in the quest for hosting the NAIA national championships,” Mr. Peterson added. “The town’s central location between Atlanta, Birmingham and Chattanooga makes it easily accessible. Of course, Rome is also recognized throughout the state as a great football town, and Barron Stadium is a wonderful location for football.”

Adding to that attraction was Rome’s reputation for hosting successful large events. The city has hosted the 2007 South Atlantic League All-Star Game, the Tour de Georgia, the Nick Hyder College Football Classic, the USA Tennis League Championships and the Atlanta Steeplechase.

The local community’s support for the effort was articulated by Rome City Commissioner Buzz Wachsteter, who spoke during the press conference. “The people that come to Rome, the people that participate in this game and the people that come to watch that game will have the warmest, best welcome of any community this game has ever been held in. I can promise you that. Rome will open its arms and its heart and will welcome all of the visitors and all of the athletes because that’s the kind of city we have.”

Floyd County Commissioner Eddie Lumsden expresses the community's support for the championship initiative.

Floyd County Commissioner Eddie Lumsden also expressed his certainty that the community will support the championship events. “We indeed intend to put our best foot forward in every respect in regard to hosting this game. We know we have a great community, and now we have an opportunity to broadcast that to a much broader audience.”

The championship game will place Shorter and Rome in a national spotlight as the game will be televised nationally on College Sports Television (CSTV). “A great deal of attention will be focused on Shorter College, Rome and Floyd County as we host these nationally televised games,” Dr. Newman said. “We appreciate the NAIA for its confidence in us and commit ourselves to making this a successful event. We appreciate the city of Rome and Floyd County as they have partnered with us to make the achievement of this goal a reality, and we look forward to a strong collaborative relationship as we work together to prepare.”