NewsAthleticsCollege GuidanceFootball
NAIA officials tour Darlington in preparation for championship game
Jul 22, 2008 1:03 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Officials with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics toured Darlington's athletic facilities today in preparation for the group's national football championship to be played in Rome in December. The teams will practice at Darlington and compete at Barron Stadium.
"It would be a huge understatement if I just said I'm pleased," said Dennis Green, NAIA's manager of championship sports for football. "I am very impressed. I am glad I had the opportunity to come here and see everything firsthand. Everyone we talk to [in this community] has been so eager to help. I am very confident that this game will be a huge success. At this point, I don't see anything that needs to be changed."
Mike Feminis, president of the NAIA Coaches Association, was also thrilled with Rome's progress. "I had no idea it would be like this," he said. "I'm impressed and pleasantly surprised. I'm excited about the facilities for players and coaches. The people of Rome and Shorter College have done all the work to make sure this will be a first-class operation for the national championship. I'm really looking forward to it."
This marked the first visit by NAIA officials since July 2007, when a group came to town after Shorter College put in a bid to host the game. While in Rome today, the group also visited Barron Stadium, which has undergone numerous upgrades to prepare for the 2008 championship, and took a short tour of the city.
"We tip our hat to the city, the county and Richard Garland of the Parks & Recreation Authority for the changes that have truly made Barron Stadium a championship venue," said Bill Peterson, Shorter College athletic director. "This effort also wouldn't be as strong without the help of Darlington School and both its incoming and outgoing athletic directors, Bob Stinchcomb and Jerry Sharp. Their support in providing what we believe are the best practice facilities ... gives us confidence that this will be one of the finest events in the country."
Rome will also host the 2009 championship game.
"It would be a huge understatement if I just said I'm pleased," said Dennis Green, NAIA's manager of championship sports for football. "I am very impressed. I am glad I had the opportunity to come here and see everything firsthand. Everyone we talk to [in this community] has been so eager to help. I am very confident that this game will be a huge success. At this point, I don't see anything that needs to be changed."
Mike Feminis, president of the NAIA Coaches Association, was also thrilled with Rome's progress. "I had no idea it would be like this," he said. "I'm impressed and pleasantly surprised. I'm excited about the facilities for players and coaches. The people of Rome and Shorter College have done all the work to make sure this will be a first-class operation for the national championship. I'm really looking forward to it."
This marked the first visit by NAIA officials since July 2007, when a group came to town after Shorter College put in a bid to host the game. While in Rome today, the group also visited Barron Stadium, which has undergone numerous upgrades to prepare for the 2008 championship, and took a short tour of the city.
"We tip our hat to the city, the county and Richard Garland of the Parks & Recreation Authority for the changes that have truly made Barron Stadium a championship venue," said Bill Peterson, Shorter College athletic director. "This effort also wouldn't be as strong without the help of Darlington School and both its incoming and outgoing athletic directors, Bob Stinchcomb and Jerry Sharp. Their support in providing what we believe are the best practice facilities ... gives us confidence that this will be one of the finest events in the country."
Rome will also host the 2009 championship game.
