Eagles Fly Around on First Day in Full Pads
3/25/2011 1:22:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Football team hit the practice fields for its first day in full pads on Thursday and then had a chance to deliver some hits on the field. The Eagles were later than usual getting down to the banks of "Beautiful Eagle Creek" as Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz spent some time with the Georgia Southern Football coaching staff and then spoke to the team prior to practice.
"We were fortunate to have him here because of his relationship with Orlando (Mitjans), who played for him at Arkansas," said Eagles Head Coach Jeff Monken. "It was a great opportunity for us to get a veteran coach like him here and we took advantage of his time as our staff was able to ask him questions about his philosophy in terms of discipline, fundamentals, some Xs and Os, team building, and building a championship program. Of course he has the expertise in that."
Holtz, a master motivational speaker and exceptional storyteller, had his audience captivated. He reminded the players that their first responsibility was to make sure they earned their degrees. He shared stories from his own coaching experiences and about his teams' achievements on and off the field.
"I thought it would be great for our kids to have a chance to listen to him," Monken said. "It's not often you get an opportunity to get someone like that in front of your team. He is such a great motivator and a very endearing personality. He talks with passion about college football and what it means to him. He talked to our kids about the things he believes in, about teamwork and commitment and the sacrifice it takes to be champions. He stressed how important it is to seek a degree and not put that second to anything."
Extended interaction between the offense and defense on Thursday will provide the coaching staff film to review before the Eagles' next practice on Saturday, but Monken saw both good and bad on the field. Even though the squad is "light years" ahead of where they were on day three a year ago, there is still plenty more to learn and improvements to be made.
"We are adding things and we are demanding more," Monken said. "There is still more things to learn and there are more schemes we want to implement, so we can be a little more versatile. We still have a long way to go. We are still a work in progress."
Georgia Southern will have another session at the practice fields Saturday morning beginning around 9 a.m.
BBQ PLATE DINNER TO SUPPORT AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION
To support the Statesboro/Bulloch County team of local businessman Bubba Hunt and Georgia Southern Head Coach Jeff Monken in the quest to raise the most money in the American Diabetes Association's "Kiss the Pig" contest, tickets for BBQ plates are now on sale. Plates are $10 each and can be picked up from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hanner Fieldhouse on Saturday, March 26th. Items on the plate include pulled pork, macaroni & cheese, baked beans, bread and peach cobbler. The Eagles Football coaching staff and players will be at Hanner Fieldhouse Saturday to sign autographs and meet fans when they pick up their plates. BBQ plate tickets are only available through pre-sale. To purchase tickets, call Bubba Hunt at 912-682-0050 or stop by any Car City or Pawn City location.
COACHES CLINIC DATE SET
Georgia Southern will hold a spring Coaches Clinic Friday-Saturday, April 1-2, with coaching sessions and chalk talks with the Eagles' staff. For additional information, contact Vic Cabral at (912) 478-5522 or by fax at (912) 478-5059. The Coaches' Clinic brochure and the full schedule of events is available on the GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com website. Coaches who pre-register pay $30 while those who register on the day of the clinic will be charged $40.
EFFA REVERSE RAFFLE & AUCTION
The fourth annual Eagle Football Assistance Association (EFAA) Reverse Raffle and Auction is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th, the night after the Blue-White Spring Game. The evening of great live entertainment, food and opportunity to spend time with the Georgia Southern Football coaching staff and former Eagle players also features the opportunity to win $10,000. The social hour and ticket check-in begins at 6 p.m. at the Gene Bishop Field House.
Reverse Raffle tickets can be purchased from the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation for $100 each and each ticket covers food, beverages for the ticket purchaser and a guest. Reverse Raffle ticket purchasers need not be present at the event to win the grand prize.
Created to assist former Eagles in need of financial help, the EFAA invites all former football players, coaches and athletics staff to support the association through annual membership and fundraising efforts. Proceeds from the Reverse Raffle event benefit perennial EFAA projects including the Erk Russell Memorial Scholarship, the Eagle Fund, the GSU Athletic Foundation and Georgia Southern Football.
For more information about the event or to purchase tickets for the Reverse Raffle, contact the Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation at (912) 478-5520.
Spring Football Practice Schedule
Schedule and location are subject to change. Practices are open to the public, but any filming, recording or photography is limited to members of the media only.
2011 SPRING PRACTICE DATES
Saturday, March 26
Monday, March 28
Tuesday, March 29
Friday, April 1
Saturday, April 2
Monday, April 4
Tuesday, April 5
Thursday, April 7
Saturday, April 9
Tuesday, April 12
Thursday, April 14
Friday, April 15 (Spring Game)
-GS-
