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Football Camp: Eagles End Tuesday Practice with a Swim
8/11/2015 5:14:00 PM | Football
The season opener at West Virginia is less than a month away.
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STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern football team capped practice with a dip in Beautiful Eagle Creek Tuesday, continuing a tradition started by head coach Willie Fritz last season.
Last year, first-year coach Fritz and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein waded into the "magical" waters of the creek along with the senior class, and Fritz declared it a tradition that those new to the program will join the seniors in an annual dip in the stream.
The tradition was continued Tuesday when Georgia Southern Interim President Dr. Jean Bartels, on the job for just over a month, joined the seniors in the tributary. With the rest of the team gathered around the banks near the sign marking Beautiful Eagle Creek, seniors Matt Dobson and Antwione Williams, removed their shoes and escorted Bartels into the water, where they were joined by the rest of the senior class and newcomers to the program under the direction of Fritz.
"Dr. Bartels was a trooper; she went right in there and it got pretty deep in there, up to her waist, but she had fun with it," said Dobson. "It was fun to go in there. That's a pretty cool tradition Coach Fritz started last year for seniors and people who are new to the program."
"It was a great experience, and as the first woman to jump in the creek with the team – Hail Southern!" said Bartels. "This was a great moment."
"It feels great to be in there, but immediately upon exiting, you want to make sure you have access to a shower," said Kleinlein, recalling his journey into the waters last year. "It definitely has magical powers, and everyone who goes through the program needs to experience it."
Wednesday's practice is slated for 8:15 a.m. on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Dates, times and locations of football practices are subject to change and may be impacted by weather conditions. Practices are open to the public, but any filming, recording or photography is limited to members of the media only.
Georgia Southern won the 2014 Sun Belt title in its first season in the league, finishing 8-0 in the conference and 9-3 overall. The Eagles return 58 lettermen and 13 starters to the 2015 squad, were picked to win the Sun Belt in the league's preseason coaches' poll and are receiving votes in the USA Today Amway Top-25 Coaches Poll.
Fans can purchase 2015 season tickets and select their seats online, by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting the ticket office in the Cowart Building adjacent to Paulson Stadium (203 Lanier Drive). Ticket office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Season tickets prices start as low as $75 for all six games. Season ticket sales have exceeded last year's total and are expected to reach an all-time high.
Preseason Football Practice Schedule
8/12 - 8:15 a.m.
8/13 - 8:15 a.m.
8/14 - 8:15 a.m.
8/15 – 9 a.m. (Paulson, Scrimmage, Meet the Eagles)
Hop on the Bus
Join the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation for its football bus trip Sept. 4-5, and watch the Eagles take on the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Click here for more info and to register online.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 13 – Women's Football Clinic – Ted Smith Family Football Center – 6 p.m. – Ladies will learn Football 101, tour the Ted Smith Family Football Center and participate in field activities. There will also be door prizes, food and beverages.
Aug. 15 - Meet the Eagles Fan Fest – Paulson Stadium - 9 a.m. - Fans can watch the final football scrimmage of preseason camp at Paulson Stadium. Concessions, the Adidas Store and inflatables for kids will be available. After the scrimmage, at approximately 11 a.m., student-athletes from the football, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball and cheer team will sign autographs on the North Concourse.
Aug. 17 – Day 1 – Paulson Stadium – 9 p.m. - Students will fill up the entire student section in Paulson Stadium for Day One to learn our traditions, chants, fight song and alma mater. Coach Fritz and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein will speak at the event.
Aug. 22 - Erk Russell Classic – Paulson Stadium - 5 p.m. – The fourth annual Erk Russell Classic has North Oconee High School taking on Coffee County at 5 p.m. and Statesboro facing Burke County at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.
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, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern football team capped practice with a dip in Beautiful Eagle Creek Tuesday, continuing a tradition started by head coach Willie Fritz last season.
Last year, first-year coach Fritz and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein waded into the "magical" waters of the creek along with the senior class, and Fritz declared it a tradition that those new to the program will join the seniors in an annual dip in the stream.
The tradition was continued Tuesday when Georgia Southern Interim President Dr. Jean Bartels, on the job for just over a month, joined the seniors in the tributary. With the rest of the team gathered around the banks near the sign marking Beautiful Eagle Creek, seniors Matt Dobson and Antwione Williams, removed their shoes and escorted Bartels into the water, where they were joined by the rest of the senior class and newcomers to the program under the direction of Fritz.
"Dr. Bartels was a trooper; she went right in there and it got pretty deep in there, up to her waist, but she had fun with it," said Dobson. "It was fun to go in there. That's a pretty cool tradition Coach Fritz started last year for seniors and people who are new to the program."
"It was a great experience, and as the first woman to jump in the creek with the team – Hail Southern!" said Bartels. "This was a great moment."
"It feels great to be in there, but immediately upon exiting, you want to make sure you have access to a shower," said Kleinlein, recalling his journey into the waters last year. "It definitely has magical powers, and everyone who goes through the program needs to experience it."
Wednesday's practice is slated for 8:15 a.m. on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Dates, times and locations of football practices are subject to change and may be impacted by weather conditions. Practices are open to the public, but any filming, recording or photography is limited to members of the media only.
Georgia Southern won the 2014 Sun Belt title in its first season in the league, finishing 8-0 in the conference and 9-3 overall. The Eagles return 58 lettermen and 13 starters to the 2015 squad, were picked to win the Sun Belt in the league's preseason coaches' poll and are receiving votes in the USA Today Amway Top-25 Coaches Poll.
Fans can purchase 2015 season tickets and select their seats online, by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting the ticket office in the Cowart Building adjacent to Paulson Stadium (203 Lanier Drive). Ticket office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Season tickets prices start as low as $75 for all six games. Season ticket sales have exceeded last year's total and are expected to reach an all-time high.
Preseason Football Practice Schedule
8/12 - 8:15 a.m.
8/13 - 8:15 a.m.
8/14 - 8:15 a.m.
8/15 – 9 a.m. (Paulson, Scrimmage, Meet the Eagles)
Hop on the Bus
Join the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation for its football bus trip Sept. 4-5, and watch the Eagles take on the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Click here for more info and to register online.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 13 – Women's Football Clinic – Ted Smith Family Football Center – 6 p.m. – Ladies will learn Football 101, tour the Ted Smith Family Football Center and participate in field activities. There will also be door prizes, food and beverages.
Aug. 15 - Meet the Eagles Fan Fest – Paulson Stadium - 9 a.m. - Fans can watch the final football scrimmage of preseason camp at Paulson Stadium. Concessions, the Adidas Store and inflatables for kids will be available. After the scrimmage, at approximately 11 a.m., student-athletes from the football, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball and cheer team will sign autographs on the North Concourse.
Aug. 17 – Day 1 – Paulson Stadium – 9 p.m. - Students will fill up the entire student section in Paulson Stadium for Day One to learn our traditions, chants, fight song and alma mater. Coach Fritz and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein will speak at the event.
Aug. 22 - Erk Russell Classic – Paulson Stadium - 5 p.m. – The fourth annual Erk Russell Classic has North Oconee High School taking on Coffee County at 5 p.m. and Statesboro facing Burke County at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.
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, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
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