Campbellsville Fighting Tiger Coach Perry Thomas opened the football banquet by thanking all the people that helped support the Tigers through the season - among the names mentioned were David Pierce, "Mamma" Donna Pierce and Chuck Vaughn.

Thomas went on to say that he really appreciates the core group of players that stuck with the football program while turning an 0-10 season into this past season's 7-4 record. This year, according to Thomas, was a very exceptional year with the win over Georgetown which was only the fourth time in history, and making it back into the top 25 in the NAIA National rankings.

Campbellsville football banquets are not like the traditional ceremonies. At CU they stress the word "Team". There are no individual awards given out so as to stress that everyone contributes to the team goals and and are all equal.

This year had one of the biggest freshmen classes at Campbellsville history, with  90 new players. Some of them were starters and others played a vital role on the scout team.
Thomas said: "This is a solid class. This is the future of our program".

Thomas also stressed that to continue on a path to being a dominate team the program must keep its numbers up. As he introduced the junior class he mentioned that they now have an X on their backs after such a fine 2009 season.

"Campbellsville is no longer the ones chasing the other teams," said Thomas. "We are the ones that are now being chased."

He said the football team means a lot to this community and winning a game is not enough anymore. "Now our goal is to win the Mid-South Conference and win an NAIA National Title."

After the junior class was presented, each individual position coach came up and presented and shared a few stories about the seniors that will be graduating. Standout seniors were Michael Thomas, who is now tied for fourth all-time in receptions in a game and making the longest reception from scrimmage. Thomas is also ranked eight in school history with receptions in a career at Campbellsville.

Linebacker coach Tim Rogers has had 11 players that have made it to the NFL and Trapper Williams has all the abilities to play there, according to Rogers. Williams broke many records and is one of the best players that Rogers has coached.
 
Kyle Long was also recognized and even though his career was ended, due to an automobile accident, he still showed, according to Rogers, his passion by being the coach's right-hand man.
 
Thomas ended his acknowledgments with the team's hostess squad. He believes that they believe in the program and like the direction that it is headed. Committing 10 hours a week, running dinners and giving campus tours to recruits while still going to school, shows a lot of commitment.

Thomas's announced that the turf field will be finished by spring of 2010. Campbellsville will play a Thursday night game against Georgetown next fall to showcase the new field and lights. Another date to look forward to is April 16, as NFL Hall of Fame player Dick Butkus will be on campus to hold a fund-raising dinner for the football team.

In Thomas's closing remarks he said that the team is in the next phase to chase for a national title. He believes that the Tigers need to keep their numbers high by keeping players in the program for all four years. Also, they must win in the classroom to win on the field.

- Story by Matt Oliver