Dec. 14, 2005

By Sarah Trotto, The Journal Gazette

University of Saint Francis (Ind.) will play Carroll College (Mont.) in the NAIA Football National Championship Game on Saturday in Savannah, Tenn., a city of about 7,000 that labels itself the catfish capital of the world.

Located near where Mississippi and Alabama meet, Savannah's population is no bigger than Bluffton's roughly 9,500. The game will be played at the best football facility in town - Hardin County High School's 5,500-seat Jim Carroll Stadium.

This begs the question: why on earth is Savannah, Tenn., the host site for the NAIA championships?

Savannah beat out West Palm Beach, Fla., and Galveston, Texas (which is located on the Gulf of Mexico, 50 miles south of Houston) in 1996. The NAIA has renewed its contract with Savannah three times, with 2006 being the final year of the current contract.

"I guess the clincher was, we asked the NAIA, `If on the third Saturday in December, when you're having the NAIA championship, if you live in Galveston or West Palm Beach, and the weather is sunshiny, bright and warm, are you going to be on the beach beach or on the golf course or Christmas shopping or at the NAIA championship game?' " said Jerry Hunt, chief executive officer of Team Hardin County, which holds the game contract with the NAIA.

Hunt and three other county officials, who were all big football fans, heard the NAIA needed a championship site and thought Savannah would be a good fit. They visited the NAIA to make their proposal, which outlined how they would pay for the event.

"We said if we host the NAIA championship, we will be the only game in town and our folks will turn out for the game and they will stand behind and support it," Hunt said. "And they made their decision to come here."

All indications are Savannah has supported it substantially. Average attendance at the game since 1996 is nearly 5,669. Hunt said nearly 100 community sponsors give at least $250 and seven major sponsors give at least $5,000 to cover an event that will cost about $110,000, including expenses for team travel, lodging and festivities.

Over the years, the high school stadium has been upgraded with turf, a $75,000 scoreboard, 1,500 additional seats and $100,000 press box. Hunt credited a retired local banker for donating $10,000-$25,000 per year to support the county's efforts to play host to the game.

"They presented us with the best bid we had for that selection process," NAIA championships event administrator Renee Wiebe said. "We thought location and package they was offered was best of the ones we received.

"We're very happy. This is such a small community that this is their big event, and they really turn on the lights and do the fireworks, so it really makes it special for everyone."

The event doesn't use public tax dollars, Hunt said. And the championship accomplishes what Hunt and other Hardin County officials envisioned - bolstering tourism in December. The event brings in $2.5 million, particularly through hotels and restaurants, Hunt said.

Beyond the dollar signs, Savannah's support of the game has impressed coaches and players. Saint Francis will bus the 560 miles to Savannah. Carroll, Saint Francis' opponent based in Helena, Mont., will fly into Memphis and then bus 100 miles east to Savannah. After arriving on Wednesday, the teams will visit local grade schools, attend banquets and luncheons and tour Shiloh National Military Park. They'll eat catfish, hush puppies and barbecue ribs.

"Before going I was probably thinking some of the same things, like, `Why there?' " Saint Francis senior safety Jamie Holman said. "But after going there, I feel it's the ideal place. The hospitality is great. People treat you with respect. Some of the players in NAIA don't get the opportunity to feel like a big-time athlete (like an) NCAA athlete who is probably used to being wined and dined. These people, it seems like they live for the national championship in their town. They treat all the coaches and players with respect and southern hospitality."

Carroll quarterback Tyler Emmert, whose team has won three consecutive NAIA titles, listed visiting Shiloh and staying at Pickwick State Park as highlights.

"It's a first-class event when they take you down there," he said. "They treat you like kings and you get to see that southern hospitality. I had someone ask me my favorite vacation spot and I said it was Savannah, Tenn. You have a great time. I don't have anything to compare it against, but it's definitely been a good trip."

Another luxury is the weather. The average high for the game has been mid-50s. Wiebe said the NAIA takes into account weather, along with facility and financial considerations, for host sites.

The NAIA will be accepting bids for the 2007 title game. She said half a dozen cities have inquired, but Savannah could host again.

"As long as we've got a dry place to play that's halfway-decent warm, I don't care if it's in a dome in Canada or a warm climate in Florida or in Savannah, Tenn.," Saint Francis coach Kevin Donley said. "It's 50 and dry, I'm happy."

The game can be seen live, nationwide, on CSTV.  Kickoff is slated for 12:05 p.m. (Central).

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