Tonight, Demopolis will get its first look at its local college football team, and we can do it practically across the street from my house.
If you haven’t already gotten your tickets for tonight’s game, I hope you’ll rush to the gate this evening. The event proves to be quite a boon for our city.
The University of West Alabama – nationally ranked, mind you -– brings its season-opener against Shorter College to us this evening in what has been dubbed the RockTenn Classic.
The school has made a substantial commitment to Demopolis since becoming managing partner of the Demopolis Higher Education Center last year. Much of that commitment has been academic.
However, it didn’t take long for the athletic relationship to blossom. The Tigers’ baseball and softball teams visited Demopolis last season.
That the 2010 home football opener will be played in Demopolis is just another huge step in what has become a fantastic working relationship between the city and the school.
I offer my thanks to Mayor Mike Grayson and the city council and Dr. Al. Griffin and the Board of Education for recognizing and pursuing this opportunity.
Also, thanks are due to UWA Athletic Director E.J. Brophy and school administrators for being open to the idea of playing their home opener at their home away from home.
I certainly hope this is the just the tip of the iceberg of the collaborative effort between Demopolis and the University of West Alabama.
A multitude of mutually beneficial ventures likely lie ahead and I am excited to watch as they are discovered and their plans implemented.
Now, thanks to UWA, there are two Tigers in town and they both deserve our full support in all their programs and ventures.
I hope to see each of you tonight at the game, supporting this partnership and the school’s football program.
Go Tigers!

Jason Cannon is the editor and publisher of The Demopolis Times.