Team gets championship rings
By Sam Waller
The Albany Lions celebrated their 2022 state football championship one more time Wednesday, April 5 with the presentation of championship rings at the high school gym.
“We finally got to give the guys their rings,” Lions head coach Denney Faith said. “It was a big deal. It was a great celebration for them and gives them an emblem they can remember this year by.”
A sizable crowd of fans filling most of the east stands was treated to a highlight video of Albany’s 41-21 victory over Mart in the Dec. 14 championship game. The gym’s scoreboard clock was set to 20 minutes, 22 seconds with the final score from AT&T Stadium.
Following opening remarks by Albany ISD superintendent Jonathan Scott and the video, which was created by Kevin Hill from the Bally Sports Southwest telecast with audio from both radio and television crews, Faith addressed the crowd. In addition to covering the highlights of the season, Faith thanked fans for their role, bringing up Albany’s selection as recipient for the 2023 Gordon Wood Award presented by the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
On Saturday, May 6, Faith will lead the Albany delegation at the Hall’s induction banquet in Waco to receive the award. The Gordon Wood Award is presented to an especially noteworthy high school football team that displayed good sportsmanship, the ability to overcome challenges, had the support of the community, and achieved success on the field. Faith said the role of community support was especially important in the championship run.
“We had great community support, and it’s been like that every year,” he said.
In addition to the rings presented to the coaches and players with matching pendants for coaches’ wives and cheerleaders, Faith addressed the fundraising project to place monuments honoring Albany’s three state titles – 1960, 1961, and 2022 – outside the entrance to Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.
According to Albany Athletic Booster Club officer Amanda Tabor, more than $10,000 has been raised toward the goal of $50,000.
“We’re still raising money,” Faith said. “I hear we’ve collected a significant amount, so we’re getting closer to having what we need.”
Faith said no timeline has been established for placing the six foot-by-six foot granite monuments once the fundraising goal has been reached.
