Soaring GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Summer 2013
INSIDE Breaking Ground Bishop Club Seating For All the Right Reasons With Gratitude Transition 20
Add a Little Rain and Watch it Grow Above, L to R: Head Football Coach Jeff Monken, Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein, President Brooks Keel, Athletic Foundation President John Mulherin.
Celebrating Groundbreaking for the New Football Operations Center
Construction of the Football Operations Center began on June 13 with completion expected by August 2014, in time for our first season with the Sun Belt Conference. Watch the construction of both the FOC and the new stadium seating on our live streaming cameras on ringsanddiplomas.com.
Football Operations Center Live Stream
Paulson Stadium Live Stream
With Gratitude for Their Comm Logan, Brett and Anthony Tippins
Garrett, Joni and Ted Smith
“From the first time we saw ‘the prettiest little stadium in America,’ we knew we wanted our family to be part of the True Blue Eagle tradition. We firmly believe in the ‘Rings and Diplomas’ philosophy and the character that Georgia Southern student-athletes develop through athletics. Our family is proud to be a part in leading the construction of the new Football Operations Center. It is our responsibility to help the next generation of Eagles reach their full potential, on and off the field.” – Ted and Joni Smith
“I made the commitment to the Athletic Foundation and the Football Operations Center because I’ve seen the impact the program has had on the University and therefore the local community over the past 30 years. With the current leadership at GSU and coaching staff, along with the direction the program is headed, I’m even more excited to see what great things the future holds for Georgia Southern. It’s a privilege and honor to be a part of this great program and be able to help the student athletes reach their goals. My family and I have enjoyed many exciting weekends while following the Eagles over the years. GO EAGLES!!” – Anthony Tippins
Leadership Donors
mitment and Generosity
We deeply thank our leadership donors* who led the way to make the dream of a new Football
Rob Taylor
Tim Evans
Operations Center a reality. Ted and Joni Smith Anthony P. Tippins, and children Brett and Logan Tippins Rusty Parrish Sidney and Shawn Steverson Rob Taylor Catherine C. Warren Remainder Trust Evans General Contractors Kevin “Catfish” Jackson and Libby Jackson E.G. and Lynn Meybohm Bill Parr Family Michael and Danna Sanders Sea Island Bank
“Brasfield & Gorrie is committed to being a long-term partner of
As of June 20, 2013
Georgia Southern University. We share the love of college football and understand what the program means to the students and alumni. We are proud to be part of the team making this stadium expansion a reality, and we appreciate the opportunity to be part of the project.” - Rob Taylor, Regional President, Brasfield & Gorrie
“I’m involved with this project because I believe in the vision set forth by Dr. Keel and Coach Monken and the perseverance and commitment of John Mulherin. This University is on the rise and I’m excited to be a part of its historic growth.” - Tim Evans
*Leadership donors made a commitment of $100,000 or more to the Football Operations Center.
With Gratitude for Their C Libby and Kevin Jackson
E.G. and Lynn Meybohm
Darron Burnette, Sea Island Bank CEO/President, Sea Island Bank Team
“This new facility is another example of our commitment to the long-standing partnership between Sea Island Bank and Georgia Southern University. We are a proud supporter of the University and believe the new Football Operations Center will move the program into the future, and support the goal of preparing our talented student-athletes to become better leaders. We are proud to play a role in the development of this project and we are looking forward to the impact it will have on the University and our community.” “My wife and I want to contribute to the athletic programs that “Lynn and I are grateful for the education we received at Georgia Southern, and are very proud of the academic and athletic growth of our fine university. Supporting new athletic facilities will help to continue that growth, and we are proud to do our part.” – E.G. Meybohm
provide a meaningful experience for Georgia Southern student-
– Darron Burnette, Sea Island Bank CEO/President, pictured center with the
athletes by educating them about the fundamentals of integrity,
Sea Island Bank Team
fair play, sportsmanship, and amateur competition. GSU strives to promote the personal growth and physical well-being of their student-athletes and to steer them in the right direction in life”
– Libby and Kevin Jackson
Commitment and Generosity Lee Anne, Katherine, Bill, Lee, and Billy
Danna, Caroline and Mike Sanders
“My family and I deeply appreciate how Georgia Southern has benefited us. We felt it important to give back to Georgia Southern Athletics and the Football Operations Center in hopes that other Alumni will benefit in the same way.”
– Bill Parr
“Why did we make this pledge? Because Jeff Monken, his staff, our players, Tom Kleinlein, and Brooks Keel all work their tails off trying to make Georgia Southern University the best it can be. Therefore, they deserve the best and this is our small contribution to that shared goal.” – Mike Sanders
The Bishop Club at Paulson
Stadium Seats Seats Still Available Still Available
T
he Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation is providing additional premium seating opportunities for the 2013 football season at the newly formed Bishop Club at Paulson Stadium.
The Bishop Club is an exclusive, members-only venue to entertain clients and guests at a Georgia Southern University football game. Located in the West end zone, the Gene Bishop Field House will host a maximum of 200 guests and provide indoor and outdoor seating options. Members of the Bishop Club will receive entry into the existing pre-game festivities hosted in the building, and then be allowed to remain in the building for the duration of the football game. Members will enjoy air-conditioned entertainment space, heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverage selections, and soft drinks. The outdoor seating includes 200 newly installed chair back seats attached to the front of the building, as well as, use of the courtyard seating during the game.
Bishop Club Qualifications
• • • •
Bald Eagle Level Donor ($600 - $1,199) Opportunity to purchase a maximum of four seats Bronze Level Donor ($1,200 - $2,999) Opportunity to purchase a maximum of eight seats Silver Level Donor ($3,000 - $5,999) Opportunity to purchase a maximum of twelve seats Gold Eagle and Platinum Level Donors ($6,000 and above) Opportunity to purchase unlimited seats
Bishop Club Guidelines
• All Bishop Club seats are $425 each. • Bishop Club members will be provided a special game pass for each game. • A designated Bishop Club entrance has been created where credentials will be checked and passes scanned • Members will need to exit building (courtyard) when the pre-game social has ended and re-enter once the building is cleared. • Last call will be in the middle of the fourth quarter. • For the 2013 season, members will need to exit the building through the front doors immediately following the game so the post-game press conference can be set-up.
For All the Right Reasons Georgia Southern Student-Athletes Make the Grade in Spring Semester
F
orty Georgia Southern student-athletes made the President’s List by posting perfect 4.0 grade point averages in the spring semester, and 68 made the Dean’s List with a GPA of 3.50 or better. All told, 194 student-athletes posted a 3.0 GPA or better in the spring, and the combined GPA for all student-athletes was a 3.03. The Southern Conference champion football team had seven student-athletes on the President’s List, 10 on the Dean’s List and 37 players recorded a 3.0 grade point average or better. The SoCon champion and NCAA Tournament participant women’s soccer team boasted four members of the President’s List, seven on the Dean’s List and 22 student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA or better.
The softball team, which won the SoCon Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, had four representatives on the President’s List, five on the Dean’s List and 14 student athletes were above a 3.0 GPA. The volleyball team, which captured the SoCon South Division regular-season title, had three student-athletes on the President’s List, four on the Dean’s List and 12 players with at least a 3.0 GPA. “Our goal is to foster an environment in which each of our student-athletes earns a diploma and wins a championship ring during their career at Georgia Southern,” said Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein. “As a department, we are proud of our studentathlete’s achievements in the classroom, and I thank our coaches and academic support staff for their constant efforts in helping our student-athletes reach their goals.”
On the Cover
Left to right:
Darius Eubanks Eagle #13: A first-team all-Southern Conference pick, Darius Eubanks signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings. He forced the fumble in overtime for Georgia Southern’s win over topranked Appalachian State in 2010 that helped propel the Eagles to a playoff bid and the first of their three-straight trips to the NCAA FCS Semifinals. Brent Russell Eagle #66: Brent Russell signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears. Russell finished his Georgia Southern career at the top of the career sacks chart and second on the all-time list for tackles for loss. J.J. Wilcox Eagle #19: Eagle All-American J.J. Wilcox became the highest-ever NFL draftee in the history of the Georgia Southern program when he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round and 80th pick overall. John Stevenson Eagle #41: Winner of the 2012 Erk Russell Award and Georgia Southern’s leading tackler last season, John Stevenson, was invited to the New York Giants rookie camp in May.
Bellissimo and Tomic Named Scholar-Athletes of the Year
M Moriah Bellissimo (Volleyball)
Aleksandar Tomic (Men’s Soccer)
oriah Bellissimo (volleyball) was named the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Aleksandar Tomic (men’s soccer) earned Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors at the Georgia Southern University Honors Day in April.
a semifinal appearance in the SoCon Tournament. The senior defender played in 14 matches and registered an assist this season. Tomic, a native of Sydney, Australia, played in 61 career contests and recorded a goal and two assists. He carried a 3.56 grade point average in construction management.
Bellissimo earned the honor for the second consecutive year. A recipient of the Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship and a first-team CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American, Bellissimo helped Georgia Southern to a 25-7 overall record and the SoCon South Division title with a 15-1 league record in 2012. The second-team All-SoCon selection was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week and SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week this season when she averaged 2.99 digs, 2.84 kills and 0.28 service aces per set. A three-time member of the SoCon Academic Honor Roll and two-time SoCon All-Academic selection, Bellissimo also served as president of the Georgia Southern Student-Athlete Advisory Board and carried a 4.0 grade point average in exercise science.
Each Georgia Southern head coach nominates a student-athlete for the award, and the University Athletics Committee selects winners from the nominees.
A three-time Academic All-SoCon selection and threeyear member of the SoCon Academic Honor Roll, Tomic helped the Eagles to a 3-3-1 league record and
You are True Blue!
Thank you students for your commitment to your Eagles with your vote to add 6,300 additional seats to Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
The Transition 20… Our Next Generation of Visionaries
W
e are faced with a tremendous generational opportunity — FBS football is coming to town giving Georgia Southern University football the opportunity to take its rightful place among the football elite in America.
exciting three-year transition. While the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation is increasing the number of rank-and-file donors over a three-year period, the Transition 20 will help hyper-fund the annual campaign as these new donors are being added to the rolls.
Not since Erk Russell’s ‘Dirty Dozen,’ the group that led the effort to put Georgia Southern Football on the map in 1982, have we had an opportunity to impact the entire athletics program, the University, the community and the region in such a meaningful way.
We are asking you to become a member of this influential group and to ‘Join the Journey’ as we travel the road to FBS football. Each member of the Transition 20 will be donating a minimum of $20,000 annually for five years. Members of the Transition 20 made their commitment as a separate gift, above and beyond their other Eagle Fund Annual gifts and Soaring to Victory Capital Campaign gifts.
This new, bigger and more exciting era will open the doors to a future that can only bring untold growth and opportunities for Georgia Southern and the entire Southeast Georgia and Coastal Empire Region. The Transition 20 is an elite group of individuals and companies taking the leadership position in the new FBS era by helping Georgia Southern fund this
We are truly grateful for such a significant and caring commitment to our student-athletes.
The Transition 20 – A New Era* Leonard Bevill Paul and Elizabeth Gillespie Dr. John and Shannon Hodges Walt and Lee Huggins Kevin “Catfish” and Libby Jackson Rotary Corporation-Don Martin Ed and Jeannie Nelson Dan and Wanda Parrish Planters Telephone Foundation Ted and Joni Smith Sidney and Shawn Steverson Anthony P. Tippins, and children Brett and Logan Tippins Tim Wallis *Through June 20, 2013.
New Transition 20 members are welcome. Please contact Frank Hook at 912.531.7766 or email fhook@georgiasouthern.edu.
Soaring Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation PO Box 8115-01 Statesboro, GA 30460-8115
www.ringsanddiplomas.com 912.478.5520
Welcome to the 12th edition of the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation’s quarterly newsletter, Soaring. Support Georgia Southern University student-athletes. Call 912.478.5520 or visit www.ringsanddiplomas.com to find out how you can help. John Mulherin President johnmul@ georgiasouthern.edu David Beaubien Eagle Fund Executive Director dbeaubien@ georgiasouthern.edu Frank Hook Director of Donor Relations fhook@ georgiasouthern.edu Lindsey C. Randolph Atlanta Regional Athletics Development Director lrandolph@ georgiasouthern.edu Kathryn Bryant Operations Coordinator kathrynbryant@ georgiasouthern.edu
Dee Parker Donor Records Director dparker@ georgiasouthern.edu Sally Scott Eagle Fund Program Coordinator swscott@ georgiasouthern.edu Justin Callaway Eagle Fund Special Projects Coordinator justincallaway50@gmail.com John Ramfjord Athletics Ticket Manager jramfjord@ georgiasouthern.edu Pam Parker Administrative Assistant pparker@georgiasouthern.edu Writer/Editor: Bonnie Jaeger Graphic Design: Hilde Keldermans