Chris Cannon posted on December 07, 2010 09:15
Rome, GA (December 7, 2010) - The sound of a marching band just adds an extra layer of excitement to a football game.
Rome’s NAIA Host Committee is hoping to double the excitement this year as it welcomes two area bands to Barron Stadium for the Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship. Returning for the second year is the Rome High “Sound of the Seven Hills” Marching Band. New to the NAIA championship for 2010 will be the Central of Carrollton “Lion Pride” Marching Band.
“We have been fortunate to have a wonderful band perform at the game during each of the past two years, starting with the Ringgold band in 2008 and then last year bringing in the Rome High Band,” said Bill Peterson, athletic director at Shorter University and co-chair of the NAIA Host Committee. “It was difficult for one band, though, to adequately represent both teams. The addition of Central of Carrollton makes it possible for both Sioux Falls and Carroll to have their own band in the stands. The band directors and players are even working to learn the fight song of the school that they will be representing.”
The Rome band is directed by Lydell Self. Central of Carrollton is directed by Neil Ruby. Both bands have a long tradition of excellence, having earned numerous awards at marching competitions through the years.
“We really are excited to bring two such fine marching bands to this year’s game,” said Jim Williams, who heads the special events subcommittee of the NAIA planning group. “We are confident that they are going to bring even more energy and excitement to the game. We hope that the community will come out to support them and the players who have worked so hard to make it to this year’s championship.”
The 2010 NAIA championship event, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 18, at 4:30 p.m. at Barron Stadium in downtown Rome, promises excitement on its own merit. The game will feature the two top-ranked teams in the NAIA: No. 1-ranked Sioux Falls (S.D.) and No. 2 Carroll (Mont.), both of whom are undefeated in 2010. The game is a rematch of the 2007 and 2008 events, when Carroll won the first meeting and Sioux Falls exacted revenge in 2008. Sioux Falls comes into the 2010 championship with a 42-game winning streak.
Tickets for the Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship Game are $25 each. Tickets are also available for the FCA Champions of Character Breakfast, which will be held Thursday, Dec. 16, at 8 a.m. at the Forum, and for the NAIA Banquet of Champions, which will be held Friday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Forum. Tickets for these events are $25 for an individual ticket or $300 for a sponsor’s table of 10. To purchase tickets contact The Forum by calling (706) 291-5281, (800) 858-7601, or visiting www.forumevents.org.
For more information on the 2010 championship game, visit www.NAIANationalChampionship.com.