Contacts: Dawn Tolbert, 706-266-9266
Aimee H. Madden, 706-233-7241  

 Release Date: December 14, 2009
      
 
NAIA National Championship Week Arrives, Offers Wonderful Fan Experience

Rome, Ga. – NAIA National Championship Week has arrived, and organizers encourage fans to make plans now to be part of the excitement.

Headlining the fan experience will be FANatic Friday, presented by the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID). This one-of-a-kind block party is open to the public at no charge and features performances by Hot Shots Cheerleading and the Georgia Blues Brothers.

The event begins Friday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Green with a performance by Hot Shots Cheerleading. Beginning at approximately 8:25 p.m., Rome High’s Sound of the Seven Hills Marching Band will perform. Following next will be the introduction of the teams vying for this year’s NAIA national title: the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Cougars and the Lions of Lindenwood University (Mo.). The Cougars are defending national champions, having won last year’s title bout at Barron Stadium. The Lions are making their first-ever trip to the national championship game. Rounding out FANatic Friday will be a two-hour concert featuring the Georgia Blues Brothers.

“We are very pleased to have added FANatic Friday to this year’s championship event,” said Rome attorney Bob Berry, who serves as co-chair of the Host Committee. “Hosting the NAIA championship is truly a community event, and we wanted to find a way to involve the community to a much greater level. Friday’s entertainment offers a great chance to enjoy an entertaining evening and to get to know the teams who are visiting our community.”

On Saturday, Dec. 19, the Cougars and Lions will go head to head in the 2009 Russell Athletic/NAIA National Championship game. Kickoff is slated for 12 noon in Rome’s Historic Barron Stadium. Tickets to the championship game are $25 and are available for purchase by contacting The Forum Civic Center Box Office at (706) 291-5281 or (800) 858-7601, or by visiting www.forumevents.org. Fans may also purchase tickets at the gate on game day.

“Both Sioux Falls and Lindenwood are undefeated in 2009, so the championship match-up promises to be exciting,” Berry said. “Saturday’s Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship will be the perfect opportunity to enjoy a great afternoon of football.”

Tickets are also available for the NAIA Banquet of Champions, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, at The Forum.

For a complete list of events, visit the championship Web site at www.NAIANationalChampionship.com.

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