Soaring
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Fall 2013
INSIDE Jerick McKinnon: A Sellout Crowd Would be Pretty Nice! With Gratitude Sports’ Preview Bus Challenge 50/50 Raffle
A Sellout Crowd Every
J
erick McKinnon knows he belongs on a football field—“it’s a one of a kind feeling,” as he describes it. He has known it since he was very young, playing football for the physical aspect, and having a passion and love for the game overall growing up. A multi-talented athlete who excelled in many sports, he waited for the years to tick by so that he could play football with his older brothers, cousins and uncles at family gatherings. He had already begun to prove his skills playing with friends when young, and later at school, until he joined the ranks of a select number of family members who played in college. “As the youngest cousin, I was the young outcast, but not anymore,” says Jerick. “I have grown up and I fit right in.” Yes, he fit right in. And he fit right in with another family — his Georgia Southern Football family who have proudly worn the Blue and the White.
Playing football at Georgia Southern is a simultaneous reach to the past and the future while living in the moment. And right now is a moment that marks a turning point in the history of the school—the moment when Georgia Southern has seized a compelling opportunity to make a difference for so many, both at the University and in the community. Yet, the move to the FBS comes at time that makes a big difference for Jerick, too. He is among the seniors for whom that difference comes with a sacrifice. “I am particularly proud of the senior class,” says Head Coach Jeff Monken. “They are a group of young men who will play their final season at Georgia Southern this fall. They have been part of teams that have won 31 games—that is second only to North Dakota State in FCS football in the last three years. Georgia Southern is the only team in the country to play in the last three semi-finals in the last three years, and won back to back conference championships.”
Game Would be Pretty Nice! Jerick McKinnon has lived the life of a football player embraced by a brotherhood, first with family and now with his Eagle teammates. “I just felt at home when I first came here, like I was a part of the family,” he says. And it is that family that is now being asked to do something significant and noble as they pave the road for future Eagle teams who will be playing at the FBS level.
work for and everybody knows that each and every day they have a chance to get better—not just for themselves, but to make the man next to them better, too,” he says. The opportunity to make the man next to them better, too—an elegant remark that speaks to the grace of the team members and how they regard each other. They are playing for each other, the fans and ultimately for the Blue and the White.
“As a senior, I think the change is a great opportunity to be a part of a major impact on school history. It is such a prestigious opportunity for the University and making this So the question is how to honor such a group of talented and determined young men. A group of eager studentmove is the right move for this University,” he says. athletes who have found peace with the transition year, yet are still focused on a goal of winning all of their games this “A lot of people on the outside see it as what does season. The answer comes from the fans. Georgia Southern have to play for with no playoffs and not being able to play for a SoCon championship, but as a team we see it as more of an opportunity than not. Ultimately, it is a sacrifice the seniors are willing to make. The attitude is that we have a lot to strive for, a lot to
“It would be nice to have a sell-out home crowd every game—that would be pretty nice,” says Jerick. “With the energy from the crowd it helps us to make big plays and then the crowd loves it, and they get louder and louder.
As players, you tend to feed off of that energy and when you feed off of strong energy, you make a big play, then you make another big play and then before you know it you have made three big plays so it really helps you as a football player. You can feel the crowd too…the echoes… you can feel them in your skin. So we use that energy to make big plays.” This is a big year for Jerick and his teammates. Next year the Eagles will be playing in the Sun Belt conference. “We are setting the tone for next season,” says Jerick. Then he and his fellow senior teammates will seek their futures. Perhaps to play pro-ball as is everyone’s dream, according to Jerick. But to all a year to remember that they played for the future of the team, and for the Blue and the White.
With Gratitude for Their Generous Commitment Moore Family
Watson Family
McBride Family
From left: Jonathan, Hannah, Haleigh, and Cheryl Watson
From left: Trey, Tyler, Cindy, Phil and, in the center, TJ “As proud alumni of Georgia Southern, we believe in the leadership and direction of our University, and are pleased to be able to provide financial support to further the vision of Rings and Diplomas. These are exciting times, and by way of our gift we are happy to be associated with a winner like Georgia Southern Athletics.” - Phil Moore
“Georgia Southern has shown that it is dedicated to its student-athletes by continuing to expand the athletic facilities and programs. For years Georgia Southern served as the gateway to thousands of students around the world in search of the American dream. It only makes sense that it would now serve as the gateway for the world’s greatest athletes. We have loyal alumni, dedicated and committed staff, administration and student-athletes. This is why we give “JUST ONE MORE TIME” to the greatest program in America.” - Johnathan, Cheryl, Haleigh and Hannah Watson
From left: Mel, Sunshine, Sydney and Luke McBride (Mackenzie not pictured) “I grew up loving and following Georgia Southern! We have a long family history supporting our Eagles and our daughter Mackenzie currently attends. I was fortunate enough to play football and graduate from Georgia Southern. Now with the growth and the expansion, my family and I are so excited to offer our continued support and be a part of Georgia Southern! GATA EAGLES!!!” - Mel McBride
Cherokee Brick & Tile Company
CeCe and Tim Wallis
Mike Heyden Family
“Cherokee Brick and Tile is excited and proud to be partnering with Georgia Southern University for the renovation of the football stadium. We are honored to help such an established learning institution strengthen the existing association of academics and athletics throughout the college. We are overjoyed with the relationship that we have with GSU and will continue to support the history and tradition of the college.” - John Thigpin
Donors to the Soaring to Victory Campaign* Cherokee Brick & Tile Company Mike and Lori Heyden Mel and Sunshine McBride Phil and Cindy Moore Derek and Kim Sills Tim Wallis Jonathan and Cheryl Watson Edwards Interiors *These donors have given in the $50,000 to $100,000 range.
CeCe and Tim Wallis “I have made a gift to the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation because I want to give back to the institutions that have made a difference in my life. President Brooks Keel and Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein have raised the bar for Georgia Southern both academically and athletically. These changes have brought a new interest in the program. I made the decision to make a gift to name The Wallis Tennis Center and provide a new tennis scoreboard because I believe that student-athletes need a first-class facility to perform at a higher standard.” - Tim Wallis
From left: Mike Heyden, Lori Heyden, Emma Barton (Derek’s fiancé), Derek Heyden “Georgia Southern and the football program invested in Derek with a scholarship, which gave our family the opportunity to become part of the Eagle Nation. The lessons learned in the college classroom combined with the football field are invaluable. They give the players the skills and mental toughness to succeed in whatever life throws at them. We can’t thank the Eagle Nation enough for Derek’s time here, and feel it’s now time for us to return the investment and help pave the way with great facilities for future players.” - Mike Heyden
Sports’ Preview
Nick Lane
Neal Bates
Witt Carlisle
Thomas Valikonis
Eric Dinka
MEN’S SOCCER
FOOTBALL Going into the 2012 season the excitement was high, and the team was ready for the challenge to make the playoffs again and hopefully take it all the way to a championship title. “I think our team last year was really looking forward to the opportunity to get there again, get over the hump, get through the semi-finals and make the national championship game which means so much to this program, community and University,” says Head Coach Jeff Monken. We all know that the story ended differently. It even felt the same in some respects as the team lost to the same team in the same place. “It was a tremendous disappointment to our team,” says Monken. So at the start of the off-season, the goal to make it back there again was strong on everyone’s minds. But having the chance to play again for a national championship all changed with the announcement of the move to the Sun Belt and FBS football.
who surrounds this program was really kind of knocked back on their heels.” Yet, it was time for such a move—an historic time for Georgia Southern Football. As Monken sees it, “if we were ever going to make this move, it was going to have to happen sometime and one group or another—a team that was charged with the move transition was going to have to pay the price—the playoff price—and sacrifice the post season to be able to make the move. It just so happens that that is being shouldered by this senior class and this team.” “We really have the same football team this coming fall that we would have had, had we not made the move to FBS. When the move came in March there has not been much of an opportunity for us to go out and recruit a bunch more guys,” remarks Monken. So with essentially the same team on the field, they are going for another ‘championship’ year Monken says, “The goal is not any less important or less lofty. In our minds, in our hearts, we are trying to win the conference championship—our last opportunity to do that as a Southern Conference member and to try to make a statement that we truly are the premier program in FCS football.”
Last season, Men’s Soccer started off great, went through a really bad patch and then finished with a flourish. “We were excited to see the way the guys finished, being able to finish in the top half of the conference then hosting a first-round tournament game and winning that,” says Head Coach Kevin Kennedy. Then they advanced to the conference semifinals. Unfortunately, Elon, the ultimate conference champion for the second year in a row, knocked them out of the running. But with a large group of returners, the momentum they built last year will hopefully continue. “I do not think I have ever been more excited about a group of returning players,” says Kennedy. This is a group of guys who finished third place in the conference the last two years so they are focused, excited and optimistic about this year.” “With a schedule that is highlighted with eight home games, we will continue to play in the 4-3-
“There was certainly not the understanding of how it would all play-out and that we would not be eligible for the post season. And it really was a moment when everybody on our team— players, staff, administrators and everybody
Roberto Lopez
Hunter Norton
Reed Norton
Rocco Bagley
3 formation. We will look to go after teams and score goals and it will certainly be an exciting brand of soccer,” promises Kennedy. Men’s Soccer has had a member on the Southern Conference all-freshmen team every year. That team is comprised of 11 members out of eight teams, and Georgia Southern and Furman both had three players on the allfreshman team last year. Those freshmen who are coming back as strong sophomores are Reed Norton, Eric Dinka and Rocco Bagley. “We are excited about what the future holds for them,” says Kennedy. The senior class is as equally outstanding. Team captains will be Hunter Norton, Roberto Lopez and Nick Lane. Their leadership coupled with that of Thomas Valikonis, Neal Bates and Witt Carlisle brings great leadership on and off the field. Last season brought the gift of night lights and evening home games to the team. They hosted Elon for their first night game, which turned out to be a great double overtime game with 1,000 people were in the stands. “It was just a tremendous environment,” says Kennedy. This year, six of the eight home games will be night games. “We are excited about people being able to come out and attend a 7:00 P.M. soccer game and not roast in the stands on a 92 degree day,” says Kennedy.
Lindsay Hammer
Nikki Jeschelnik
Lauren LaRocque
Alex Murphy
Emily Archer
McKenna Storey
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Lauren LaRocque
Enjoli Johnson
VOLLEYBALL
Brian Dunleavy begins his first season as head coach for the women’s soccer program. As the former assistant coach, he was part of the vision that developed the team that ultimately won the 2012 Southern Conference Championship. “The past two years have been steady growth and development,” remarks Coach Dunleavy. Former Head Coach Lindsay Vanderspiegel and I had a vision of what we wanted for the program, and it was a cultural change of bringing a winning attitude and demanding a little more from the players.” The approach brought success. “Winning the SoCon was slightly ahead of our projected curve, but showed that we were on the right track. We are not done yet, though.” His remarks point to performances that need to become more consistent and needed work on the team standings in the conference rankings. “Last year we finished eighth and winning the
Sydnie VanCuren
Nikki Jeschelnik
Nora El-Shami
playoffs was a great thing, but when you look at the overall picture, there is still a lot of work to be done,” says Dunleavy. So, a goal for this year is to build players to the level where they are at the top of the league. Returners this season include a number of seniors from last year’s championship team. “There are a few seniors we feel are going to be on the field playing for 90 minutes and doing a great job for us,” says Dunleavy. “We are looking for leadership from four seniors; McKenna Storey, Emily Archer, Alex Murphy and Lindsay Hammer.” Some younger returning players include junior, Sydnie VanCuren and sophomore Nora ElShami who was a second-team, all-conference player last year. “Nora is probably one of our biggest returning players and one of the rising stars in the conference overall,” remarks Dunleavy.
Academic success is high on the team’s list of goals, too. Last semester there were 23 players above a 3.0 GPA. “Our players take their academics very seriously,” says Dunleavy. “One of the great things about Georgia Southern is that everybody here has the best interests of the students first. That is it way it should be and with such priorities, we have success in the classroom.”
First year head coach, Dustin Woods knows exactly how to begin work with his new team. “It is my job to develop these young adults to have success and be better people on and off the court. I am getting to know them, their learning capabilities and what things they need help with. That is my first job,” says Woods. Next are his goals. “My vision is to win a conference championship and we are set up to do that. It is our job as staff to give the players the tools they need. Our second goal is to put out a winning product — an exciting product for people to see by making the games fun and enjoyable.” From the very first day, Woods has been highly impressed by his players and remarked that “there was nothing broken here.” He found a team of hard workers who have a great attitude
toward work. “I told them the first day that what you put into it is what you get out of it,” he says. “And they know what they want to do— they want to win!” So with a focus in filling in any missing pieces for a team that is already well prepared, Woods looks to get them to the next level. Seniors who bring the experience and leadership to help take the team to that level include Nikki Jeschelnik, Enjoli Johnson and Lauren LaRocque. Along with the strong focus on winning on the court is one to win in the classroom. “They are here as students first so we will be monitoring academics very hard,” says Woods of the team that is traditionally successful academically. “We know the balance is already there, though. They are students first and athletes second.” The new volleyball staff is excited about their first year. They have a strong vision and goals for winning, as well as, the desire to engage the community for their support. “We are happy to be here and to get these student-athletes some rings and definitely their diplomas when they leave…as better people.”
Meg Beasley
Sara Meisenhelder
On the Cover
Emma Weisel
Kylee Parsons
SWIMMING AND DIVING Going into his tenth year as Head Coach for the swimming and diving program, Nate Kellogg looks forward to another year of steady achievements which have made his program a success. “Last year, our performances were very good and we were proud of everything we accomplished both in the pool and out of the pool,” says Kellogg. Academically out of 30 swimmers and divers, there were 25 team members who had over a 3.0 GPA for the fall semester, and then as a team they achieved a 3.39 GPA for the spring semester. Every year, there is a natural changing of the guard with new seniors taking leadership positions and freshmen coming in. “We are excited about the transitions,” remarks Kellogg. “We have a really good group of seniors who will lead in a positive way and keep our team as tight-knit as it has been over the years. Seniors take the freshmen under their wing and are inclusive, not exclusive just because they are seniors.” Returning seniors include swimmers Kristen Bates, Meg Beasley, Amanda Macchio, Megan Ostrom and Devan White, and returning diver, Sara Meisenhelder
Other returning swimmers include sophomore Kylee Parsons who was probably the second best freshman in the conference last year. She finished all-conference in all of her individual events and in at least one relay. “Kylee had a really phenomenal year last year and she really worked hard over the summer so we expect her to continue her path of improvement and success,” says Kellogg.
Emily Archer
Another swimmer of mention is junior Elaina Lanson who was especially notable in relay last year. Of the returning divers, Sara Meisenhelder was all-conference in both diving events last year and she broke the school record in the one meter. She has broken school records in the past two years on each board.
Elaina Lanson Megan Ostrom
Roberto Lopez
Sophomore Emma Weisel “really had a blow-out type of freshmen year,” according to Kellogg. “She was really solid all the way through, and then at the very end she made her mark and ended up third on three meter. So that was kind of a nice surprise.” Program goals are always to win the conference championship. “We’re excited for this year,” says Kellogg!
Emily has been an integral part in the success of the Women’s Soccer team over the last two years and is the true definition of a studentathlete. Emily is a senior who will graduate a semester early and currently holds a 4.0 GPA.
Devan White
Roberto, who goes by the nickname Obe, is originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He represented his country at the 2009 FIFA u-17 World Cup played in Nigeria. A great soccer player and student, he is majoring in Civil Engineering, is one of the Men’s Soccer team captains and sits on the Student-Athlete Advisory Board.
Welcome New Head Coaches “I want to create a culture of hard work that is based on the long term development of our student-athletes in their training, skills and techniques, and their mental approach to competition and life. It is important to teach them how to evaluate and correct themselves in competitive situations to create an environment of learning and to produce optimal performance.”
Dustin Wood Volleyball
“I want our team to represent the characteristics of the people of Statesboro, the alumni of Georgia Southern, and the current students which is hard working, giving, and passionate. We are going to focus our lives and day to day goals on the process of winning and what it takes to win championships. We will play basketball the right way and our team will compete, play unselfish, play smart, play together and have fun.”
Mark Byington Men’s Basketball
“My philosophy is to teach, train, and mentor my student-athletes through methods based on the student-athlete’s individual personalities. My philosophy is founded on four pillars of success: physical fitness, mental agility, teamwork and training repetition. I believe these pillars are essential to this sport and will greatly enhance the student-athlete’s success in life. This is a very individualized sport, but it will be essential to teach each shooter that their performance, both in and out of competition, will affect the rest of the team.”
Tim Parks Women’s Rifle
I’m on the bus! Join the Journey, and get on the bus for your Eagles. Eagle Fund Bus Challenge Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ eaglefund.buschallenge
“It is my duty to educate our student-athletes on what it takes to work hard and commit to the shared goal of attaining success on the field and in the classroom.”
Brian Dunleavy Women’s Soccer
New This Year!
Athletic Foundation 50/50 Raffle to Fund Athletic Scholarships
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The Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation 50/50 Raffle will award one lucky fan at each HOME Eagle Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Baseball, and other GSUAF events the chance to walk away with a large cash prize. The contestant with the winning raffle number will receive half of the net proceeds (“Jackpot”) from the
game’s raffle ticket sales, and the other half will go to the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation. For more information about how you may purchase a raffle ticket please go online to http:// ringsanddiplomas.com/5050raffle or scan here.
For the second chance drawing to win a $1,000 gift card to the University Store please go online to www. ps5050.com/gsueagles or scan here.
Soaring Welcome to the 13th 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
Kathryn Bryant Operations Coordinator kathrynbryant@ georgiasouthern.edu
Justin Callaway Eagle Fund Special Projects Coordinator jcallaway@georgiasouthern.edu
Terry Harvin Atlanta Regional Athletics Development Director tharvin@georgiasouthern.edu
Dee Parker Donor Records Director dparker@ georgiasouthern.edu
John Ramfjord Athletics Ticket Manager jramfjord@ georgiasouthern.edu
Pam Parker Administrative Assistant pparker@georgiasouthern.edu Joshua Ware EFAA Graduate Assistant jware11@georgiasouthern.edu
Scan here to visit www.ringsanddiplomas.com
Writer/Editor: Bonnie Jaeger Graphic Design: Hilde Keldermans