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Business Professors Repeat as Co-Chairs of Ticket Committee for NAIA Championship
That, however, was not the case for Gina McDaniel and Melissa Hickman. Instead, the professors in Shorter College’s School of Business Administration were adamant about returning to be a part of Rome’s Host Committee in the same role, eager to use the lessons they learned from the 2008 championship game for the 54 th annual showdown Saturday at Barron Stadium between the University of Sioux Falls and Lindenwood University. ” I truly believe that part of being a teacher is being involved,” said McDaniel, who along with Hickman are among the dozens of Shorter’s faculty and staff who have given up their own time to play important roles in very aspect of the championship event. That involvement, she emphasized, is something that not only underlines Shorter’s mission statement for its students – commitment to active life-long learning, personal spiritual values, responsible citizenship, and community and societal leadership – but also shows that those same values are adhered to by the entire Shorter family. ” It’s about being a part of the community,” McDaniel said. “Something like this game is good for the community. It’s a good reflection on Rome and what Rome has to offer.” Shorter Athletic Director Bill Peterson, who serves as co-chair on the Rome Host Committee for the championship game that is co-hosted by the college, believes the community involvement by the college’s faculty, staff and students has intensified thanks to the leadership of Shorter President Dr. Harold E. Newman and Trustee Chairman Dr. Nelson Price. ” We want to come off this hill and build a bridge to Rome,” said Peterson. “We’re all proud to be a part of this.” ” It takes a lot of time and effort and comes at a time when we’re all busy,” he said, referring to the recent end the semester that includes posting grades, graduation, clearing residence halls and the other tasks needed to make the transition to the Christmas break. “But I think almost every department is involved. At every corner, the school has embraced hosting this game.” McDaniel points out that the teamwork the Shorter community has developed for the three-day event – for most it is a year-round planning effort – strengthens the relationships and the bonds between every department. “We love and respect everyone in our athletic department,” she said, “and because we teach so many of the athletes, we want to become involved. Plus Melissa and I love sports.” That passion helped McDaniel and Hickman bear up to the obstacles they faced in last year’s inaugural game, the biggest being the overwhelming request and demand for tickets on Shorter’s small box office. Perhaps using the business lessons they teach in the classroom, the duo have solved the problem for this year’s game by shifting the ticket process to the box office staff at The Forum in downtown Rome, which also serves as the facility for the event’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes/Chick-Fil-A Breakfast and the NAIA Banquet of Champions. “There are no words to tell you how much easier it is because the Forum is set up to handle tickets for large events,” McDaniel said about the relationship between The Forum and the Host Committee. “Everything is mainstreamed now. This is the way to go.” Hopefully, this year’s game will also avoid the heavy rain that drenched everyone who was a part of last year’s game, including McDaniel and Hickman who simply donned their wet-weather gear to withstand the conditions and offer a sunshine smile to the fans. “Melissa and I work as a tag team,” McDaniel said with a laugh. “They are truly loved by every single member of the athletic department,” Peterson said about McDaniel and Hickman. “They care about the kids.” And about others. “All of us love out jobs, love Shorter College and love our community,” said McDaniel, “and this game is something that is good for everyone.” 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. ### |
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Dec. 16 - ROME, Ga. - One would think that being swamped with pre-game responsibilities and literally flooded during the game would be more than enough to persuade the two people tasked with being in charge of ticket sales for the Russell Athletics/NAIA Football National Championship not to do it again.