Bronze Statue of Legendary Coach Erk Russell to be Dedicated December 1st

Considered the “Father of Georgia Southern Football,’ Erk Russell will be honored with a bronze statue depicting the legendary coach as the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation unveils the nine-foot sculpture on Saturday, December 1st. The unveiling and dedication ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m. in front of the Gene Bishop Field House after the Eagle Football team arrives at Allen E. Paulson Stadium for its NCAA playoff game vs. Central Arkansas.

Fans and friends are invited to join members of the Russell family and those who donated to the statue project to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man and witness the official unveiling and dedication of this remarkable artwork.

Through the tireless efforts of Athletics Steering Committee member, Derek Sills, the impressive sculpture, titled “One More Time,” was commissioned, funded and installed for fans to enjoy at the west end of Paulson Stadium. The statue will be moved to its permanent location in the plaza of the new football operations center. Construction on the facility is expected to begin in late spring 2013.

“The statue of Coach Erk Russell is a great addition to the ‘Prettiest Little Stadium in America’ – the house that Erk built,” said John Mulherin, President of the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation. “We are appreciative of all the donors who helped make this possible, especially Derek Sills, who led the fundraising effort.”

Russell spent 17 years as the defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia and arrived in Statesboro to resurrect the football program at Georgia Southern that had been dormant for 41 years. His attitude and enthusiasm were contagious and his impact on not only the program, but also on the campus and in the community, was immediate. During his eight-year head coaching tenure with the Eagles, he compiled an 83-22 record, winning three national championships and guiding the 1989 team to a perfect 15-0 record. USA Today named Russell the “Coach of the Decade” for the 1980s after he led the program to unprecedented success.

Category: Football

Published on Sunday, 31 December 1899 19:00