SPRING 2008

The Games

53rd Annual Championship
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Barron Stadium, Rome

54th Annual Championship
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Barron Stadium, Rome

Community Partners

City of Rome
Floyd County
Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau
Darlington School
Rome/Floyd Parks & Recreation Authority
Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce

Championship Facts

NAIA Football
Began competition in 1956

First Championship
Held in Little Rock, Ark.

Most Recent Host
Savannah, Tenn., 12 years

The Process
90 NAIA institutions sponsor football. 16 teams qualify for postseason play. Teams must win at the semifinal, quarterfinal and final levels to reach the title game.

Host Committee

Co-Chairs

Bob Berry, Rome attorney
Bill Peterson, Shorter athletic director

Committee Members
(with area of responsibility)

Randy Bowen, Rome CPA - Treasurer

Will Byington, Rome realtor and key administrative assistant to Georgia Southern’s coach during their national title run - Transportation and Logistics

Andy Davis, Rome attorney - Legal and Governmental Affairs

Richard Garland, executive director, Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority - Stadium Operations

Phil Jones, Shorter head football coach - Football Operations

Ricci Lattanzi, Shorter’s director of operations - Game-Day Operations

Jim O’Hara, Rome News-Tribune sports editor - Media and Sports Information

Linda Smith and Ann Hortman, Convention and Visitors Bureau staff - Hospitality/Special Events

Roger Smith, president, River City Bank - Sponsorship Programs

Jim Williams, former executive director, YMCA - Special Programs

Eddie Wilson, CEO, River City Bank - Chair of Advisory Committee

The Site

Approximately 6,500

Location

At the corner of Second Avenue and West Third Street near downtown Rome.

Check the Offiicial NAIA Football National Championship website for current news and event information. Visit www.naianationalchampionship.com.