The Benko Briefing
1/14/2022 11:30:00 AM | Baseball, Track & Field/XC, Football, General, Men's Golf, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Volleyball, Women's Rifle, Athletic Foundation, Ticketing, Women's Golf
AD addresses Eagle Nation in letter form
Eagle Nation,
I pray this note finds you and your family safe and healthy as we enter 2022.
A lot has taken place within our football program since my last briefing. Coach Helton and his staff assembled an outstanding 20-person recruiting class that was announced on Dec. 15. Our initial early signing class addressed several of our roster needs while providing a great opportunity for the football coaches to establish relationships with prospective student-athletes, their families, and coaches around the state and southeast region. We will continue to add to this class over the next several weeks and into February's signing period.
We also announced our 10 on-the-field assistant football coaches during the month of December. This collective group of coaches brings a wealth of experience from some of the top programs in the country, and I know I speak for Eagle Nation when I say that we are already looking forward to spring football!
Over the past several weeks, our men's and women's basketball teams have had their collective schedules detrimentally impacted by COVID. Our men's team is currently 8-6 overall and is scheduled to return to action tomorrow at South Alabama. Our women's team is currently 10-5 and takes on UT-Arlington tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Hanner. While the next few weeks may be touch-and-go from a scheduling standpoint, I am optimistic that we will hopefully see more consistency in scheduled games being played on the back half of the conference schedule.
2021 proved to be a record fundraising year for Athletics, highlighted by Anthony Tippins' lead gift for the Indoor Practice Facility (IPF). Tippins' donation was not only the largest philanthropic gift in the history of Georgia Southern Athletics, but it also positions us to begin the process for construction upon finalization of design and budget, with a goal of beginning construction prior to the 2022 season. This exciting facility will provide enhanced operational benefits to all 17 of our sports and enhance our football game day experience. As a result of the planned construction, the water tower side of the parking lot at Paulson Stadium will be offline for the 2022 season, but we continue to explore options for additional parking spaces. Current schematic plans for the facility outline additional parking that will be brought back online for the 2023 season.
This month marks the start of our eighth year as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Our five-year strategic plan released this past July highlighted our new vision statement: "To be recognized as the premier athletic department in the Sun Belt Conference and elite within the Group of Five." As our performance standards – both in-and-out of the classroom – continue to increase, now is the time to modernize our current seating and parking models for Paulson Stadium.
Currently, we rank seventh (7th) in the Sun Belt Conference (12 member schools) with an operating budget of $29 million. Once the new conference members enter the league, we will be ranked tenth (10th) out of 14 schools, $29 million behind the school with the largest operating budget. Ticket sales and associated contributions are among the most significant revenue drivers in our budget. These areas also present one of the best opportunities for strengthening and enhancing our financial position. Our minimum donations required for football tickets and parking have not increased since 2014. And while our major gift fundraising continues to set records in the Athletic Foundation, those dollars are restricted to facility projects or other specific areas of need.
We are modernizing the Erk Russell Fund to fully reach our potential of being an elite program starting this upcoming athletic year (2022-23). These changes will be detailed in the weeks to come, but below are a few highlights regarding football season tickets and parking:
Our committed fans are what make Georgia Southern so special, and I know many of you have been making consistent donations at the same amount over the last eight years. While all options and ideas were explored to help mitigate these changes, please understand that this is the best direction for our program. We all have one common goal – and that is to help Georgia Southern Athletics reach its full potential. These important changes move us closer to achieving this objective. WE NEED YOU!
Our goal is to launch 2022 football season ticket and parking renewals in early February. Six-month payment plan options will be available for those who renew in February. The renewal deadline will be March 31.
In closing, for Georgia Southern to reach its desired goals, I will continue to strategically highlight three (3) things that individuals and companies can do to help us:
Our Athletic Ticket Office is ready to assist you in purchasing tickets and can be reached at 1-800-GSU-WINS or via email at tickets@georgiasouthern.edu. For those wishing to donate, please go to: www.Give.GSEagles.com.
Our best days are ahead – thank you for your continued support!
Hail Southern! GATA!
Georgia Southern Director of Athletics
I pray this note finds you and your family safe and healthy as we enter 2022.
A lot has taken place within our football program since my last briefing. Coach Helton and his staff assembled an outstanding 20-person recruiting class that was announced on Dec. 15. Our initial early signing class addressed several of our roster needs while providing a great opportunity for the football coaches to establish relationships with prospective student-athletes, their families, and coaches around the state and southeast region. We will continue to add to this class over the next several weeks and into February's signing period.
We also announced our 10 on-the-field assistant football coaches during the month of December. This collective group of coaches brings a wealth of experience from some of the top programs in the country, and I know I speak for Eagle Nation when I say that we are already looking forward to spring football!
Over the past several weeks, our men's and women's basketball teams have had their collective schedules detrimentally impacted by COVID. Our men's team is currently 8-6 overall and is scheduled to return to action tomorrow at South Alabama. Our women's team is currently 10-5 and takes on UT-Arlington tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Hanner. While the next few weeks may be touch-and-go from a scheduling standpoint, I am optimistic that we will hopefully see more consistency in scheduled games being played on the back half of the conference schedule.
2021 proved to be a record fundraising year for Athletics, highlighted by Anthony Tippins' lead gift for the Indoor Practice Facility (IPF). Tippins' donation was not only the largest philanthropic gift in the history of Georgia Southern Athletics, but it also positions us to begin the process for construction upon finalization of design and budget, with a goal of beginning construction prior to the 2022 season. This exciting facility will provide enhanced operational benefits to all 17 of our sports and enhance our football game day experience. As a result of the planned construction, the water tower side of the parking lot at Paulson Stadium will be offline for the 2022 season, but we continue to explore options for additional parking spaces. Current schematic plans for the facility outline additional parking that will be brought back online for the 2023 season.
This month marks the start of our eighth year as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Our five-year strategic plan released this past July highlighted our new vision statement: "To be recognized as the premier athletic department in the Sun Belt Conference and elite within the Group of Five." As our performance standards – both in-and-out of the classroom – continue to increase, now is the time to modernize our current seating and parking models for Paulson Stadium.
Currently, we rank seventh (7th) in the Sun Belt Conference (12 member schools) with an operating budget of $29 million. Once the new conference members enter the league, we will be ranked tenth (10th) out of 14 schools, $29 million behind the school with the largest operating budget. Ticket sales and associated contributions are among the most significant revenue drivers in our budget. These areas also present one of the best opportunities for strengthening and enhancing our financial position. Our minimum donations required for football tickets and parking have not increased since 2014. And while our major gift fundraising continues to set records in the Athletic Foundation, those dollars are restricted to facility projects or other specific areas of need.
We are modernizing the Erk Russell Fund to fully reach our potential of being an elite program starting this upcoming athletic year (2022-23). These changes will be detailed in the weeks to come, but below are a few highlights regarding football season tickets and parking:
- Over 75% of the season ticket prices (not including donations) will remain the same as 2021;
- There will be several new and upgraded premium areas for the 2022 football season, and when combined with our existing inventory, we now will provide at least nine different premium seating opportunities at various price points with others on the horizon;
- We are transitioning to a per-seat donation model, and there will be variable increases in minimum donation amounts for select seating sections within Paulson Stadium;
- Parking lot season passes and minimum donations will increase for all donor lots;
- Parking lot passes will be allocated by priority points and giving society status, which is awarded through lifetime giving, season ticket purchases and Erk Russell Fund contribution levels.
Our committed fans are what make Georgia Southern so special, and I know many of you have been making consistent donations at the same amount over the last eight years. While all options and ideas were explored to help mitigate these changes, please understand that this is the best direction for our program. We all have one common goal – and that is to help Georgia Southern Athletics reach its full potential. These important changes move us closer to achieving this objective. WE NEED YOU!
Our goal is to launch 2022 football season ticket and parking renewals in early February. Six-month payment plan options will be available for those who renew in February. The renewal deadline will be March 31.
In closing, for Georgia Southern to reach its desired goals, I will continue to strategically highlight three (3) things that individuals and companies can do to help us:
- Financially support the Athletic Foundation and the Erk Russell Fund
- Buy season tickets and create a home-field advantage
- Get others to do the same!
Our Athletic Ticket Office is ready to assist you in purchasing tickets and can be reached at 1-800-GSU-WINS or via email at tickets@georgiasouthern.edu. For those wishing to donate, please go to: www.Give.GSEagles.com.
Our best days are ahead – thank you for your continued support!
Hail Southern! GATA!
Georgia Southern Director of Athletics
Georgia Southern Football Media Availability (12/15/25)
Monday, December 15
The GATA Zone - Episode 9 (Swimming and Diving)
Thursday, December 11
Clay Helton Media Availability: National Signing Day (12/3/25)
Thursday, December 04
Georgia Southern vs. Marshall Highlights (11/29/25)
Sunday, November 30
