Players, coaches, and staff from the Marian University football team made two NAIA Trophy Tour stops this week to celebrate the 2012 NAIA Football National Championship and to invite local youth football players to the season opener on Saturday, August 31.

Monday, August 19, sophomore receiver Jacob Fleet spoke to the parents, coaches, and players at Saint Michael the Archangel School, while Tuesday, August 20, Head Football Coach Mark Henninger visited his Alma Mater, Our Lady of Greenwood. Coach Henninger spoke to the players and coaches about the Catholic education he received and how it important it was to his overall formation.

The Knights will hold a championship celebration on August 31 at St.Vincent Health Field to officially kick off the defense of the NAIA title; that night is also Youth Football Night, when any youth player wearing their team jersey will get in free of charge at the 6 p.m. game against Kentucky Christian University.

The trophy tour will continue Monday, August 26, with a stop at Saint Matthew Catholic School in Indianapolis and Tuesday at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Noblesville. Knights single game and season tickets and tailgate passes are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.marian.edu/tickets.