STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Head Football Coach Jeff Monken received the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) 2011 Bulloch County Tourism Partner of the Year award last Thursday, May 5th. Monken was presented with the award at the annual meeting held by the SCVB staff and Board of Directors at the SpringHill Suites Conference Center.

Monken received the award for his support of the tourism and hospitality industry in Statesboro/Bulloch County. According to a study by the Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development, each home football game, with the economic multiplier effect, generates an estimated average of $1.5 million in new economic impact for local hotels and businesses. During the regular season in 2010, the Eagles averaged more than 19,000 fans per game. 

Georgia Southern plays six regular-season home games in 2011 with its first game at Allen E. Paulson Stadium on Saturday, September 10th, against the Tusculum Pioneers.

For more information on Statesboro events, meeting planning services and more, contact the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau at 912-489-1869 or visit the "Visit Statesboro" website at www.visitstatesboroga.com. Information on Georgia Southern Athletics teams may be found at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com and on social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics.