Eagles Aid Operation Move-In as the Masses Descend On Campus
8/16/2013 4:28:00 PM | Football, General
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STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern student-athletes and athletics staff were in full force on campus for Operation Move-In Friday, helping students move in to their dorms while educating them about Georgia Southern athletics and the Eagle Nation.
After an early-afternoon practice, the football team dispersed among Eagle Village, Kennedy, Southern Pines Southern Courtyard and Watson residence halls as both student-athletes and coaches welcomed students and parents and lent a helping hand.
"Coach Monken always talks about being a leader in the community and being service-minded, and helping the freshmen move in and get situated is a good way to do that," said senior quarterback Jerick McKinnon. "Any time we can serve the community, it's a good opportunity. It's always nice to meet new people too."
Operation Move-In registration began at 8 a.m. in the Recreation Activity Center, where Director of Athletics Marketing Gordon Hunter made sure new students and parents were donning the proper apparel.
"We're trading the wrong logos for the right ones," he said as he stopped a new student wearing a Georgia soccer t-shirt and gave her a free Georgia Southern t-shirt with the Eagle logo and True Blue written on it, advising her to don the new garment over the old. "We don't want to see any apparel with another school on it. Starting today, we only want to see Georgia Southern logos."
The Student Eagle Club had an information booth set up in the RAC Gym as parents and students gathered literature about their new home for the next four years. The Southern Pride Marching Band and Georgia Southern Cheerleaders also marched around campus, belting out school songs and cheers.
The fun continues Saturday as fans will have the opportunity to Meet the Eagles and receive a 2013 #TrueBlue schedule poster at Eagle Soccer field. Gates are set to open at 9:45 a.m., and members of the Georgia Southern football, volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer teams will sign autographs for approximately an hour before the football squad heads over to Paulson Stadium for the 2013 team picture.
The football team's scrimmage will start after the team picture inside Paulson Stadium. In the event of inclement weather, Meet the Eagles will be moved to Hanner Fieldhouse at 9:45 a.m.
Georgia Southern caps the first day of classes Monday by teaching traditions to the newest members of Eagle Nation during the third annual DAY ONE celebration at Paulson Stadium at 9 p.m. DAY ONE is designed as a pep rally to kick off the new academic year.
President Keel will be joined by first lady Tammie Schalue, Student Government Association President Garrett Green, Eagles Head Football Coach Jeff Monken and Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein. The Southern Pride Marching Band will be there along with Freedom, Gus and the Georgia Southern cheerleaders.
Tailgating begins at 7 p.m. in the Paulson Stadium parking lot, and that will include a performance by country singer/songwriter and alumnus Eric Lee Beddingfield. He graduated in 2002 with a B.B.A. in Management.
Everyone is encouraged to wear blue and white and be ready to learn cheers and the Georgia Southern fight song. Alumni and members of the community are also invited to join students, faculty and staff for the celebration.
The first 1,500 fans at DAY ONE will receive a free meal from Eagle Dining Services, and the next 2,000 fans will receive a free True Blue towel. 91.9 The Buzz will broadcast live from Paulson Stadium. If there is rain on Monday night, DAY ONE will be rescheduled for Aug. 26 at 9 p.m. at Paulson Stadium.
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 and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its new "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
