Eagle Nation,
Our student-athletes are distinguished, our facilities are top-notch and our coaches are some of the best in the nation.
More importantly, our students, facilities and coaches excel because of donors like you. For that reason, I would like to thank you for supporting the Georgia Southern Athletics Department and our student-athletes during our historic 2015 football season. Your support motivates our students to be the best they can be. It is because of your unwavering True Blue spirit that our football team was not only invited to, but also won, their first bowl ever.
On Dec. 23, 2015, over 5,000 Eagle Fans cheered on from Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the pouring rain and 2.335 million people across the nation watched ESPN as our boys handled Bowling Green with a 58-27 win in the GoDaddy Bowl.
There is no question that Georgia Southern has an exceptional athletics program. And thanks to the bowl win, there is no question the nation now knows that Georgia Southern is a force to be reckoned with.
Following the GoDaddy Bowl, reports stated that:
- Georgia Southern scored more points in a postseason game than any other FBS team (NCAA).
- Georgia Southern Football is ranked 40 out of 128 football teams (CBSSports.com).
- Georgia Southern listed 4th of the "5 Best Team Performances from the 2015 Bowl Season" (Fansided.com).
- Cornerback Caleb Williams was named to All 2015-16 College Football Bowl Season Team (BleacherReport.com) and named to Associated Press 2015 All-Bowl Team (collegefootball.ap.org)
- Georgia Southern is 1st for 2015 FBS (I-A) Team Rushing Offense Statistics (ESPN).
- Favian Upshaw was recognized by BleacherReport.com as one of the "20 Best Performances of 2015-16 College Football Bowl Season."
Prior to our bowl game win, we drained the swamp in 2013 with a win against Florida (26-20), in 2014 we were undefeated our first year in the Sun Belt Conference and it keeps getting better.
2016? We look forward to another incredible Eagle Football season with the addition of head coach Tyson Summers and his team.
Not only are our student-athletes successful on the field, but they are also successful in the classroom. They posted a semester GPA of 2.98 for the Fall 2015, which is the highest overall Fall GPA for all student-athletes in the history of athletics at Georgia Southern. Additionally, 222 student-athletes the made honor roll - 36 of those being members of the football team.
In the coming weeks, you'll receive information regarding season ticket renewals for the 2016 football season and the Athletic Foundation's Eagle Fund - the University's annual fund that supports scholarships for student-athletes. In addition, you'll learn more about other ways of giving, including the Coaches Continuity Fund. If you'd like to set up a six month payment plan for your 2016 Eagle Football season tickets, please call the Ticket Office at 1 (800) GSU-WINS.
Thank you again, Eagle Nation, and Go Eagles!
Tom Kleinlein
Director of Athletics
Georgia Southern University
