General | 8/14/2016 8:36:00 PM

STATESBORO, Ga. – For the third consecutive academic year, Georgia Southern Athletics welcomed its student-athletes back to campus with a special event at Splash in the Boro. 

After a brief presentation by Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein and new President Jaimie Hebert, Georgia Southern's student-athlete population was treated to a pizza dinner and an evening in the local waterpark.

Kleinlein welcomed the student-athletes back to campus and introduced the new University president before Director of Student-Athlete Services Reggie Simpkins handed out trophies to the women's tennis team and the men's golf team for posting the department's best team grade point averages last year.

Kleinlein gave a speech to the assembled student-athletes, laying out his expectations and vision for the department this year, including topping last year's 3.01 department GPA. After the welcoming address, student-athletes were given free reign over the 155-acre waterpark which includes four waterslides. The park also includes Georgia's only FlowRider surfing machine.

Upcoming Events
Aug. 15 – Day 1 – Paulson Stadium – 8 p.m. - Students will fill up the entire student section in Paulson Stadium for Day One to learn our traditions, chants, fight song and alma mater.  Coach Tyson Summers and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein will speak at the event.

Aug. 16 - Men's Soccer Scrimmage vs. SCAD - 7 p.m. - New head coach John Murphy leads his Eagles to the pitch to take on SCAD in an exhibition match at Erk Russell Park. Admission is free.

Aug. 19 - Women's Soccer vs. UNC Wilmington - 7 p.m. - The sports season officially begins as the Eagles kick off the 2016-17 campaign by hosting UNC Wilmington at Erk Russell Park. Admission is free.

Aug. 19 and 20 - Erk Russell Classic – Paulson Stadium - The fifth annual Erk Russell Classic has eight teams playing four games over two days. On Friday, it's South Effingham vs. Tift County at 5 p.m. and Effingham County vs. Coffee County at 8 p.m. On Saturday, it's Bluffton vs. Screven County at 5 p.m. and Sandy Creek vs. Fort Dorchester at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at any of the participating high schools or at the Georgia Southern University Ticket Office. The Erk Russell Classic was started by the Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) in 2012 to honor the late coach Erk Russell. 100 percent of the proceeds from the Erk Russell Classic are donated to the Erk Russell Scholarship. The EFAA started a football scholarship through the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation called the Erk Russell Football Endowment. The Endowment will perpetually fund a scholarship for one Georgia Southern football player.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.