Football monuments dedicated in homecoming ceremony
A project that began almost as soon as the Albany Lions won the Class 2A Division II state championship last December was brought to conclusion Friday, Oct. 20 with the dedication of monuments honoring Albany’s three state championships.
The granite monuments, installed in what was dubbed Champions Park outside the main entrance to Nail Stadium, bear the names of players, coaches, and cheerleaders from the 1960, 1961, and 2022 seasons, as well as game results of each year.
Lion head coach Denney Faith, who spoke briefly, said it “was a great event.”
“I’m glad we got to do it at homecoming so people could come back and be a part of it,” he said. “Not only did we get to recognize lastyear’sstatechampions, which we’ve done several times already this year, we got to recognize some of our history, too. That was a neat deal.”
Albany superintendent JonathanScottsaidhaving members of the 1960-1961 teams was a major part of the plan.
“That was one of our goals, knowing people were going to be in for homecoming andtheparade,”hesaid. “Ithinkitworkedoutgreat, ashortandsweetceremony butmeaningfulfortheones namedonthemonuments.”
Scott said one final piece of the puzzle involves renovating the old sign recognizing the first two state titles to include the name Champions Park.
“I have an order in for a redesign,” he said, “but I’m waiting to be called back on it.”
Among the attendees were two families with connections to both eras. Wayne Balliew and Larry Shelton played on the early teams, while grandsons LandonBalliewandParker Shelton were members of the 2022 team. Both grandsons are also on the 2023 team.
“I’m not sure I was much help to the team then besides getting kicked around,” Wayne Balliew said, “but we all got together.”
Larry Shelton was glad another generation was able to enjoy the same level of success he and his teammates did. “These boys are making memories that will last a lifetime, and they need to enjoy it,” he said.
For Landon Balliew, being able to share last year’s championship run with his grandfatheronlyenhanced the experience.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve heard the stories of Lions being state champs,” he said. “Whenever it came to where I could be one, it added a lot of pressure, but I really just enjoyed being part of that ’22 team and sharing it with my grandfather as an Albany Lion.”
During his address, Faithsaidtheonecondition he had for the project was that it be designed with roomforexpansion.Hethen challengedthe2023players to be the first to fill some of the available space.
“And I hope they do get to add more,” Wayne Balliew said.
