The State Championship ring ceremony the Nanih Waiya football team had on Monday afternoon may have been one of the most unusual held in Mississippi High School football history, but was also likely one of the most appreciated.
After being cooped up due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Nanih Waiya football team and cheerleaders filed through the Nanih Waiya parking lot in their cars, being awarded their rings one at a time. In all, NW head football coach James Courtney said it took about 45 minutes.
“I just wanted the kids to have something positive to look forward to and something to enjoy,” Courtney said of the decision to have the unusual ceremony. “A lot of them had their families in their cars so they could be a part of it.
“We didn’t know how long it would be before we could have an assembly, so we decided to go head and do something,” Courtney said.
The Warriors won the MHSAA Class 1A State football championship in December 2019 with a 28-13 win over Lumberton on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. It marked back-to-back state titles for Nanih Waiya.
The cars entered through the day care parking lot and passed through the bus entrance. Seniors were first, followed by juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. Each of the players also signed a football that would be displayed in the school trophy case.
“It was great to see the kids,” Courtney said. “It’s been several weeks since we have laid eyes on most of them. We are ready to get back after it.”
