Former “Voice of the Eagles” Inducted into Hall of Fame

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Category: Athletics

Published on Thursday, 25 October 2012 09:33

MACON, Ga. - Former “Voice of the Eagles”, Nate Hirsch, was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of fame over the weekend. The 6th Annual Induction Awards Ceremony was held in Macon, Ga., at the Wilson Convention Center.

Hirsch, who served as the play-by-play voice for Georgia Southern from 1970-2006, was one of eight selected in the Career Achievement category.

Hirsch was on the call for the first football game, after the program was restarted in 1982, and called all  six of Georgia Southern's FCS national championships. The Bronx, N.Y. native first began calling Eagle games during the 1971-1972 Men's Basketball season, and in 1973 he broadcast the entire baseball schedule during the team's first College World Series run, a first for any school in the NCAA. In all, Hirsch called the action for two College World Series and three NCAA basketball tournaments in addition to the six FCS championship games.

Hirsch was previously inducted into the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame, the Statesboro Athletic Hall of Fame and the Georgia Southern Baseball Wall of Fame.

Fans can download "Eagles GATA" to their android devices or iPhones and continue to follow their Eagles at GSEagles.com, facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics.

Freedom

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Category: Athletics

Published on Friday, 29 June 2012 12:41

National Symbol & School Mascot

The Bald Eagle, found only in North America, became the official national symbol of the United States of America in 1782. In 1960, "Eagles" became the new mascot for Georgia Southern and the majestic, soaring raptor depicts the spirit and pride of the University. The Bald Eagle makes its home along coastlines and near large bodies of fresh water. With a wingspan of 6-8 feet, eagles require a 25-mile hunting territory and appear to mate for life. Eagles have been known to live for as long as 50 years! 

Despite common belief, the word "Bald" refers to the French term meaning "white" and does not refer to the bird being hairless or lacking feathers. The population of Bald Eagles was affected by use of the pesticide DDT and eagles were placed on the Endangered Species List. In Georgia, not a single pair of nesting eagles could be found. Due to a ban of DDT and concerted recovery effort on the state and federal level, the Bald Eagle has made a remarkable comeback and is now off the Endangered Species List. 

The Story of Freedom

Found knocked out of a nest in Maitland, Fla., the Southern Bald Eagle "Freedom" was only weeks old and resembled a brown ball of fuzz. He was rushed to the Florida Audubon Center for Birds of Prey to provide care for an infection and an injury to his beak. He made a complete recovery from the infection, but permanent injury to his beak prevented his release into the wild. With the permission of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Southern acquired Freedom in May 2004.

At eight years of age, Freedom has now reached adulthood and his head and tail feathers have the bold white plumage marking maturity. Both his eyes and beak, which are black at birth, now are the distinctive yellow seen in mature bald eagles. Freedom serves as an ambassador for wildlife and as a symbol for the University. Through the Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center, thousands of visitors young and old are embraced by the power of Freedom.

Georgia Southern Eagles

In true Eagle tradition, Glory, a 23-year-old Southern Bald eagle, first appeared at a football game in 1998. She presided over numerous events, including three national championships. Glory now enjoys her status as the revered matriarch and welcomes visitors at the Center for Wildlife Education, home to three bald eagles and one golden eagle.

Freedom now assumes the role of the live mascot and is one of only two American Bald Eagles in the country flying during collegiate football games. His presence at games and other events will continue Glory's tradition of inspiring and educating Eagle fans. In September of 2007, just before kickoff, Freedom made his debut flight from the top of the Paulson Stadium pressbox to midfield to the cheers of thousands.

Georgia Southern fans can visit Freedom, Glory and Franklin at the Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center on campus Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 1-5 p.m. (closed Saturday throughout June, July and August). Learn more about the inhabitants at the Center online at at http://welcome.georgiasouthern.edu/wildlife/.

Former Athletics Director Cook Passes Away

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Category: Athletics

Published on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 12:33

STATESBORO, Ga. - Former Georgia Southern Director of Athletics George Cook, who also served as a coach for the baseball, basketball and golf programs, passed away this weekend. Cook guided the Athletics Department from 1975-1981 after a successful career as a baseball coach and administrator at South Georgia College. Visitation is set for Sunday, October 16th, from 1:30-3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church on Main Street in Statesboro. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m.

A Guyton, Ga., native, Cook played baseball for Georgia Teachers College (now Georgia Southern University) and graduated in 1950. He taught and coached at several high schools in south Georgia before returning to Statesboro in 1961 to pursue a graduate degree. Prior to earning his M.Ed. in 1962, he served as an assistant baseball coach under J.I. Clements as the Eagles' won the national championship that season. He also served as an assistant basketball coach under J.B. Scearce and was instrumental in the start of the Georgia Southern Golf program, which recently recognized its 50th year as a team.

Cook joined the faculty and coaching staff at South Georgia College in Douglas, Ga., and in 1964 he was appointed Athletic Director and Division Chair of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He also served as head baseball coach for the Tigers and guided the program to five consecutive Georgia Baseball Championships, three regional championships, two district crowns and two national tournaments. The Tigers' baseball stadium is named the George A. Cook Stadium in his honor.

For his coaching efforts, he was honored as the Southeast Coach of the Year for back-to-back years in 1969 and 1970. He was also named the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Coach of the Year four times (1966, '67, '68 and 1970).  For seven years, he served as the national president of the NJCAA College Baseball Coaches Association. In 1988 he was inducted into the National Junior College Athletics Association Baseball Hall of Fame to recognize the success in his coaching career. His name was added to the Georgia Southern Baseball Wall of Fame in 2002.

A longtime member of the local Kiwanis International Club, Cook was preceded in death by his daughter, Carol. He is survived by his wife, Sara Betty, and son, Kevin, a faculty member in the Georgia Southern Political Science department.

Game Day archives

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Category: Athletics

Published on Wednesday, 27 July 2011 15:47

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