The SOUTHERN BELL FORUM National Extemporaneous Speaking Round Robin an annual invitation-only event that brings together the best in the country for unequaled competition. 

In 2013, the MBA community mourned the sudden passing of MBA Director of Forensics and former NSDA Board President, Billy Tate. We have named Southern Bell Forum in his honor and welcome the opportunity to continue this tradition that Billy created! As such, it is our simultaneous desire to honor his legacy with this event and to celebrate elite-level extemporaneous speaking. In the Spring of 2025, we mourned the passing of Assistant Round Robin Director, Sandip Gupta. Sandip helped me administer the tournament for a decade and was a wonderful friend. We improved our use of technology tremendously during this time; and Sandip was deeply committed to putting on an excellent event. He was 38 years when he passed away on February 20, 2025 - I miss him every day. We have named the Extemp Round Robin in his honor. 

The tournament organizing committee has worked painstakingly to prepare for this event. Schools from over 25 states have been invited to this year’s Forum and approximately 10 states are typically represented in the Extemporaneous Speaking Round Robin. When you arrive in Nashville, you will meet a group of individuals working diligently to produce an educational and rewarding forensic experience as well as providing unequaled “Southern Hospitality” for our guests.  

Rules and entry materials are listed on this website. Please read carefully all information and adhere to the stated guidelines. The complete list of invited "extempers" will be posted closer to the event.

We are excited to have the tournament with the full MBA Policy Debate Tournament occurring at the same time. If you are also interested in the Policy Tournament, please visit tabroom.com where registration will open on October 29, 2025. 

We look forward to having you on our campus to continue the grand history of our Round Robin.

Sincerely, 

Josh Clark 

Director,  Department of Debate Montgomery Bell Academy 

Kevin Hamrick

Debate Coach, Department of Debate Montgomery Bell Academy

Adam A. Johnson 

MBA ’00, Round Robin Director 

Rhonda Smith 

Round Robin Committee 

Jason Warren 

Round Robin Committee