SAVANNAH, Tenn. - On the eve of their fifth national title game in six years, the Carroll College football team tried to relax and enjoy their meals at the annual NAIA Banquet of Champions Friday night.

After getting to know a little bit about their opponent the previous day in an icebreaker game of human bingo, the Saints players realized that when they step on the field against No. 1 Sioux Falls today, they'll be going head-to-head with a pretty nice group of guys. Guys they really want to beat bad.

"I've been waiting," said hard-hitting senior safety Cody Zimmerman of the No. 2 Saints. "It's a fun experience, but I just want to play.

"I think we waste too much time."

They'll have their chance when kickoff occurs at noon CST today in the friendly confines of Jim Carroll Stadium. Savannah has been home to the game for 12 years and workers loading onto the ladders of fire trucks were already tacking up the large NAIA signs on the brick of a nearby building at Hardin County High School. Meanwhile, workers painted the scraggily field that bulges a little more than a foot in the middle. Conditions might be a little slick since Hardin County has receivied rain over the past few days. The sun finally broke through gray clouds on Friday.

The temperature is expected somewhere in the 30s today, which should be about perfect for the two teams from the North.

Both have had plenty of time to prepare. They arrived Wednesday afternoon and have been without a game for two weeks now.

"The anxiety for the game to start is getting a lot higher," said Saints junior free safety Zach Richardson. "We're a lot more focused and ready to take that trophy home."

Zimmerman said he thinks the break has been a benefit to the team which didn't have a bye week until after their semifinal win.

"One week for us, we're usually prepared," he said. "Two weeks for a game and coach isn't going to miss anything." The game can be seen on cable channel CSTV and will be aired at 11 a.m. in MST.

Reporter Jeff Windmueller:

447-4070 or irsports@helenair.com