Football | 3/9/2016 11:24:00 AM

ATLANTA - Representatives of Georgia Southern University were honored Tuesday in Atlanta on the House and Senate floors as the Eagle football team was recognized for its 2015 season.

Interim University President Dr. Jean E. Bartels, Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein and Eagle football players Favian Upshaw, Wesley Fields and Andy Kwon all took part in the ceremonies.

The party was recognized on the floor of the House of Representatives, where the members were introduced by Representative Jon G. Burns. On the floor of the Senate, the group was introduced by Senator Jack Hill. The group also went to the Governor's office on the tour.

Several individuals and group from throughout the state were also in attendance to be honored, including now-retired NFL star Calvin Johnson.

The invitation of proclamation included:

Honoring the 2015 GODADDY BOWL CHAMPIONS:

GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY EAGLES 

WHEREAS, the Georgia Southern Eagles won the 2014 Sun Belt Football Conference Championship with a overall record of 9-3 and an 8-0 SBC mark in their first season as an FBS football member; and

WHEREAS, in year two, the football team finished 9-4 and accepted its first ever Bowl Invitation to the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on Dec. 23, 2015 and defeated Bowling Green University 58-27, scoring the most points in a bowl season to claim its first bowl win in program history;  

WHEREAS, the team produced the nation's top rushing offense, finished No. 1 in the country in rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns; 

WHEREAS, the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl drew 2.4 million viewers and was the largest viewing audience for the bowl since 2011;    

WHEREAS, Eagle Nation showed its support and soared to Mobile and cheered the Eagles on to victory with an announced bowl attendance of 28,656. 

WHEREAS, Tyson Summers was hired as the TENTH Coach in the program's modern history after stops at Colorado State, UCF and a previous stint at Georgia Southern.