STATESBORO, Ga. - The third annual Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) Reverse Raffle and Auction held last month raised $76,000 to fund projects for Georgia Southern Athletics, Eagle Football and to augment the Erk Russell Memorial Scholarship. The event, attended by 350 people, featured heavy hors d' oeuvres, a live band, and both a silent and live auction. Tickets purchased for the event generated much of the excitement that night as the winning ticket for the $10,000 Reverse Raffle was an open ticket that was placed up for auction. The couple with the winning bid was Ted and Joni Smith of Milledgeville, Ga. 

Bids for the live auction items raised nearly half the evening's fundraising total with a trip to Costa Rica, donated by the Smiths, garnering the highest bid at $10,000. Special items, including the recently retired national championship flags from Paulson Stadium and a pre-game ride on the yellow school buses were among the 16 live auction items. The silent auction raised  more than $7,500 with a week-long stay at Lake Oconee, courtesy of Tim and Lori Durden, gaining the most interest and raising the highest total in that category. Numerous professional and collegiate football teams, in addition to generous individuals, donated items for the silent auction.

"Each year this event has helped us raise funds and awareness for the EFAA so we can support the program and other projects that benefit Georgia Southern Athletics," said EFAA President and former Eagle football letterwinner Mel McBride. "We had a great response for the event, everyone had a good time and we'll continue to build on this success next year."