It's Benson's first visit to campus since the "The Announcement."
Photo by: Frank Fortune - Georgia Southern Athletics
Sun Belt Commissioner Benson to Visit Georgia Southern this Weekend
4/9/2014 12:34:00 PM | Baseball, Football, General
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Spring Game Info
STATESBORO, Ga. – Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson will visit the Georgia Southern University campus this weekend and will be on the sidelines for the Eagles' Blue-White Spring Football Game Saturday at noon in Paulson Stadium.
The Spring Game is one of a myriad of activities on tap for Benson, who will spend Friday and Saturday on campus. He will throw out the first pitch at the Eagles' baseball game against UNCG Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in J.I. Clements Stadium and is slated to meet with the Georgia Southern athletic department staff and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Friday.
"These are very exciting times for Georgia Southern and the Sun Belt Conference," said Benson. "The university plan for transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision is on target, and I look forward to seeing the progress that has been made around campus and with the renovations and expansion of Paulson Stadium. I know that the entire campus community is eager to make the move, and I look forward to visiting and spending time with university leaders and members of the Eagle fan base."
Benson is also scheduled to tour various athletics facilities, including Paulson Stadium and the Bennett-Ramsey Golf Center, and will spend time on the Georgia Southern Learfield Sports Radio Network during the Spring Football Game and the baseball game. It's Benson's first visit to Georgia Southern since helping make the announcement that the school was joining the Sun Belt last March.
"We are extremely excited about having Commissioner Benson visit not only our campus but the city of Statesboro as well," said Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein. "This visit will provide a unique opportunity for our student-athletes, university and political officials, as well as our fans to interact with the commissioner during his time here."
Gate 4 at Paulson Stadium opens at 11 a.m. for the Spring Game, and while admission is free, Eagle fans are asked to bring canned food items to donate to the Statesboro Food Bank. The trailer will be located at the Gate 4 entrance beginning at 10:30 a.m. Boxed macaroni and cheese is a high-demand, non-canned, non-perishable item that is also welcome.
Benson's visit is just one of the numerous festivities surrounding Saturday's Spring Football Game. Others include: a Tailgate Cook-off with the winner announced at halftime, bounce houses and inflatables for children ages 3-12, courtesy of Crazy Nick's Inflatables, at Gate 7, a postgame autograph session with Coach Willie Fritz and the Georgia Southern players on Glenn Bryant Field, the seventh annual Eagle Football Alumni Association Reverse Raffle and Auction at the Bishop Field House at 6 p.m. (each ticket, which is also a chance to win $10,000, provides heavy hors de' oeuvres and drinks for two guests), and fans who bring a voucher from the Spring Game receive admission to Saturday's baseball game for just $5.
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 "EaglesGATA" mobile app for Android and iOS. Tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events can be purchased by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com and clicking on tickets in the top menu.
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