A new symbol of Eagle spirit stands at the entrance of after ����Vlog unveiled “Freedom to Soar,” a life-size bronze statue honoring Freedom, the University’s beloved bald eagle mascot who passed away in March 2025. 

The sculpture has a wingspan of approximately eight feet and weighs 385 pounds. It sits atop a custom cast and polished concrete pedestal that weighs 6,000 pounds. The inspiration for the final look is one that Eagles football fans will find familiar.

“The plinth is designed to reflect Freedom flying over the stadium,” said Jason McCoy, studio technician in the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art. “It has the terracing of the seating inside the stadium, and Freedom is flying at an angle and soaring down to the field. So, it’s designed to mirror the stadium and Freedom’s Flight over the stadium.”

For more than two decades, Freedom was more than a symbol on game days. He embodied strength, pride and the True Blue spirit of Eagle Nation. His story inspired thousands of alumni, students, faculty, staff and fans, and his presence at community and University events uplifted generations of Eagles. As an ambassador for Georgia Southern, wildlife and as a symbol of our nation, Freedom inspired thousands annually at , the in Savannah, , community events and other appearances across the State of Georgia and the .

“There’s this continuation of Freedom’s legacy that is connected and ingrained into the Georgia Southern community,” said Jeff Garland, associate dean of faculty affairs and research. “That’s the legacy of this sculpture. It’s a great way to show that legacy and show we will have him forever.”

Restoration and preparation of the statue began in April 2025, and were carried out by an eclectic team from all corners of the Georgia Southern community. Students, faculty and staff from the BFSDoArt, Master of Fine Arts student Tanner Maxey, Associate Professor Matt Mogle, in addition to Garland and McCoy, contributed work to the monument. Steve Hein, executive director of the Center for Wildlife Education, served as consultant throughout the project. Additionally, Georgia Southern’s Division of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction, led by Project Manager Sandi Wilkinson, was supported by Dabbs Williams General Contractors to help with the landscaping and installation process.

Designers wanted even the smallest details included in the piece, all the way down to counting the number of feathers along the edges of the wings.

“You want all parties involved to agree on what’s happening so that everybody’s happy with the final outcome,” said McCoy. “It takes a lot of people to get stuff like this done. It’s a memorial piece for the University mascot, so it’s going to mean a lot to a lot of people.”

The statue stands alongside the Erk Russell statue in the plaza at , which will unite two enduring symbols of Eagles football.

Friday’s ceremony featured the unveiling of the statue, as well as speeches and stories from those who worked closely with Freedom and the Wildlife Center. Speakers included Hein, Garland, ����Vlog President Kyle Marrero, Alumnus David Ball, Hein’s longtime mentor Steve Layman, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Jon Burns, Georgia State Senator Billy Hickman and Athletics Director Chris Davis.

“Freedom wasn’t just a mascot,” said Marrero. “He was a symbol of strength, of unity and of that True Blue pride that defines Georgia Southern. In true Eagle fashion, he grew into something bigger than anyone expected. As we unveiled this new statue in Freedom’s honor, we celebrated not only his life but the tradition and spirit he leaves with us.”

����Vlog officials cut a ceremonial ribbon to open the affectionately known as “The Hill,” in a celebration on Dec. 4. At 95,000 square feet, it is the largest event venue space between Savannah and Macon and serves as the signature building on the University’s south campus, fronting Veterans Memorial Parkway (US 301 Bypass).

“It’s more than a building; it’s a place of opportunity,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “Inside ‘The Hill,’ our students will learn, our athletes will compete and our community will come together. From classrooms to research labs, from strength and conditioning spaces to media rooms, every inch of this facility is designed with our future in mind.”

The exterior of the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, which evokes the image of a soaring eagle’s wings, illustrates the University’s commitment to supporting students as they soar beyond.

Inside the center, there is approximately 8,000 square feet of new space for a Waters College of Health Professions sports psychology lab, a satellite research lab, faculty offices, a conference room and classrooms. The community will be afforded space for community activities and access to a new strength and conditioning area for research and other programs.

The arena, which will serve as the new home court for Georgia Southern Eagles NCAA basketball games, provides more than 5,500 in seating capacity, a 50% increase over Hanner Fieldhouse. The arena has chairback seats along both sidelines and behind one baseline, and allows future opportunities to add additional programming to the building, such as more premium seating, suites and club areas.

“It is an honor to officially welcome all of Eagle Nation to the gorgeous Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center with today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony,” Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Chris Davis told the crowd. “We look forward to christening the facility with women’s and men’s basketball games on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. I especially want to thank Gov. Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly, Dr. Kyle Marrero, the University leadership and our generous donors for this unprecedented opportunity to elevate the stature of our basketball programs with this outstanding facility that will provide an exciting venue to watch the Eagles soar on the court. Hail Southern!”

The center also houses the men’s and women’s basketball program and includes spaces for coaches’ offices, locker rooms, laundry/training room, equipment room, strength and conditioning space, fueling station, media room, visiting team locker room and a media green room.

Senior Grace Drawdy, who is a multimedia journalism major, member of the swimming and diving team and president of the Georgia Southern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, is grateful for this contribution.

“If I could describe my time here at Georgia Southern, both individually and as a student-athlete, the one word I would use is transformational,” said Drawdy. “Through the opportunities and resources provided to me by Georgia Southern, I have transformed from a young girl who was unsure of her future to a confident woman who is poised for success wherever she may go. I’ve also had the pleasure of watching the University transform while I’ve been here. And what I’m most excited for is the transformation of our athletic training and physical therapy programs.

“This space will enhance athletic training and sports psychology for students within the major, but also the student-athletes who access these services every single day. I’m so thankful to be a part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony today, but I’m even more thankful to be a part of a University that continually helps me grow and be successful as a student, as an athlete, and most importantly, as a person.”

The new is located in the building’s concourse. 

The seating capacity for the events space is more than 5,900 (including nearly 970 seats on the floor). Event-level space also includes a ticketing office, security command center, a Coca-Cola micro market featuring checkout-free technology, and four dividable classrooms that can convert into additional flexible spaces.

Marrero thanked the partners who helped to make this impressive $64.4 million two-story complex a reality. 

“We express our deepest gratitude to Gov. Brian Kemp, the Georgia General Assembly, with the best legislative delegation in the state of Georgia, led by the Speaker of the House Jon Burns, the Board of Regents, and University System of Georgia leadership under Chancellor Sonny Perdue. Your vision and willingness made this project a reality.”

He also thanked the University Foundation Board, the Athletic Foundation Board and donors for their generous gifts and unwavering support of such a meaningful addition to the institution.

The building is named for Jack Hill (‘66), who was the longest-serving Georgia senator when he died in April 2020. He was a senator for 30 years, serving as chairman of several crucial committees, including Appropriations, which has broad jurisdiction over legislation involving budgeting and spending state and federal funds. With Hill’s support, Georgia Southern reached new heights as an institution serving the southeast region and the state of Georgia. Hill was instrumental in helping the University expand its programs and build several new state-of-the-art facilities, including the Engineering and Research Building, which opened for classes in January 2021.

Hill’s wife of 48 years, Ruth Ann, focused her life on public education and retired as principal of Reidsville Elementary School. She was a Triple Eagle, earning degrees from Georgia Southern in 1973, 1990 and 1991.

“We’re here to celebrate the great legacy of two individuals who made a difference,” Ga. Rep. Jon Burns enthusiastically shared with the audience. “They were both faithful public servants, because they cared more about their neighbors than they did about themselves. That was very clear. This University and this state could not be what it will be and what it is without the contributions and the foresight of people like Jack Hill. What he endowed this University with was an opportunity for a better life, for a better education for all Georgians and all people who wanted to attend this University. His fingerprints are all over this place. We all know that with the buildings, with the opportunities for these students, for these young people, they’re boundless. Because of the foresight and the work of Jack and Ruth in this place, we are privileged to sit here. Today was a dream of Senator Hill.”

Marrero also reflected on the outstanding legacy of Jack and Ruth Ann Hill.

“As Senator Hill once said, ‘The power of education is the ability to produce knowledge, character and skill in a way that is beneficial to society,’” Marrero shared.” His legacy embodies that ideal. Today is a celebration of what we’ve achieved together, but it’s also a look to the future. “The Hill” stands as a symbol of our University’s growth and commitment to providing exceptional opportunities for our students and community.

“So, today, let us cut this ribbon and open the doors to a new era at Georgia Southern,” he concluded. “Together, we will continue to honor the legacy of Jack and Ruth Ann Hill while building a brighter future for Eagle Nation.”

Construction for the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center began in early 2023 and finished late 2024. The program manager for the project is BDR Partners; the architect/engineer is LS3P-AECOM; the site/civil engineer is Hussey, Gay, Bell; the mechanical engineer is Dulohery Weeks; the general contractor is Whiting-Turner. Additional partners are GSFIC and Board of Regents USG.

For the third straight year, Georgia Southern supporters have propelled the University to a record-breaking year of private fundraising.

Total cash, pledges and in-kind gifts to ����Vlog amounted to $23,831,604 during Fiscal Year 2023, which ended on June 30, 2023. That surpasses the total from the previous year, which was also a record at $22.3 million.

The record total was buoyed by another record-breaking fundraising year for the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation, Inc., which raised a record $11.06 million in new pledges and outright gifts.

“As we soar into a very bright future for this University, record-breaking fundraising is a sign that Georgia Southern is not only strong now, but poised for even greater heights,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “We are endlessly thankful for the supporters, friends, alumni and donors who endorse our path forward and are stepping up to ensure our success.”

Donors helped with various projects and programs this past year, including:

• $1 million from Betty Foy Sanders for the Betty Foy Sanders School of Art with scholarships, travel and programmatic needs
• $750,000 deferred gift for the Department of Biology to be used for student scholarships
• 23 newly created endowments
• Anthony P. Tippins Family Training Facility for athletics

“Through unwavering dedication and the overwhelming generosity of our community, we have demonstrated the boundless potential of Eagle Nation in support of our students’ dreams and the University’s future,” said Georgia Southern Foundation Chair Mike Sanders. 

Last year’s Athletic Foundation Chair Leonard Bevill added, “The impact of this achievement will ripple through generations, leaving an indelible mark on the trajectory of higher education and Georgia Southern. I am humbled and inspired by the collective spirit that has made this three-year milestone possible.”

The Erk Russell Fund, the Athletic Foundation’s annual fund, continues to grow and saw donations of $3.2 million this fiscal year. Additionally, the Athletic Foundation received 58 major gift commitments this year, which are gift commitments of $25,000 or greater to support Eagle Athletics.

Over the past three fiscal years, the Athletic Foundation has raised more than $27 million in support of Georgia Southern Athletics. This total is the largest three-year fundraising window in department history.

“It’s clear that ����Vlog’s power to transform lives and communities is making a positive impression with our private supporters,” said Trip Addison, Vice President of Advancement, noting that more than 3,600 alumni were among the supporters this past year. “I am grateful for the welcome reception we are receiving when we ask people to join in our effort to help support our students and the work they and our faculty are doing.”

For the first time in the club’s history, the Georgia Southern lacrosse team will be competing in the playoffs. The squad will compete for the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division II Championship. The team finished their season with a record of 4-4, but players believe their record doesn’t do them justice.

Junior member and newly-elected president of the club Carson Patel said the team is excited to take the field.

“It really means a lot,” Patel said. “We’ve been putting all this time and effort since my freshman year. It’s been great seeing how much we’ve grown as a team and everyone playing together.”

The team has ballooned in size and talent since over the past few seasons. The team has nearly doubled its roster and added a couple of coaches to organize the team.

“We really got some great alumni coaches here,” Patel said. “Coach Hendricks and Coach Weathers are great guys, and really I think that’s what’s bringing guys. We have mentors to look up to and I think that’s the biggest thing.”

While this is the first time the team will be competing in the tournament, it’s not the first time they’ve qualified for the tournament. The players were set to compete for the trophy in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic dashed those hopes by canceling play. Some members of the team said this year is about redemption.

Georgia Southern is in a four-team bracket for the Southeastern Lacrosse Conference Championship. If they are victorious, they will move on to the national bracket.

The first game is in Jacksonville on Saturday, April 23, against Florida Gulf Coast University.

The Georgia Southern Clay Target Team won the 2022 Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Collegiate Clay Target National Championship.

The team of 10 shooters competed in San Antonio, Texas, March 24-26, to reclaim the crown they won last year. The team won four of the six categories in which it participated. Georgia Southern conquered the American Skeet competition after a perfect display from Ross Wilson who hit 100 out of 100 targets, as well as the other four in the category hitting no less than 97. 

Fischer has seen the team explode with success in its short history. The team was formed in 2020 and is considered a club sport for the University. In their field of play, they compete among SEC and ACC schools. But even their scores don’t compare to the homegrown talent Georgia Southern recruits for their squad.

The team is made up of Douglas Williams (senior), Chet Thompson (junior), Andrew Cohen (sophomore), Neal Sellers (sophomore), Tate Skipper (sophomore), Andrew Weiche (sophomore), Landon DeLoach (freshman), Callen Walker (freshman), Ross Wilson (freshman) and Taylor Wray (freshman).

The ACUI has been governing this competition and other clay target competitions for more than 50 years and have seen the tournament grow to more than 100 universities participating every year.

A comprehensive mix of student-athletes, supporters and university employees has been tasked with finding Georgia Southern’s next athletic director.

Until the process is complete, ����Vlog President Kyle Marrero has named Lisa Sweany as interim athletic director.

“Lisa is an experienced leader and is well-suited for this role as she has served as Deputy Athletic Director at Georgia Southern since 2017 and has played an integral role in the success of day-to-day operations within the department,” Marrero said. “We will not lose a step in our momentum, or with our ongoing projects to propel Eagle athletics to even greater heights.”

To find a new permanent athletic director, the university has hired executive search firm DHR International and tapped a 22-member search committee to guide the search. The next director will succeed Tom Kleinlein, who resigned earlier this month to pursue an opportunity at the University of Mississippi.

Led by Athletic Foundation Board co-chairs Anthony Tippins and Leonard Bevill, the search committee includes:

• Trip Addison, Vice President for University Advancement
• Rob Whitaker, Vice President for Business and Finance
• Chris Geyerman, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Faculty Athletic Representative
• Mike Sanders, chair of the Georgia Southern Foundation
• Shai Werts, student-athlete
• Ashley Kubel, student-athlete and chair of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
• Carter Collins, men’s golf head coach
• Darryl Hopkins, Eagle Football Alumni Association
• Reggie Simpkins, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services
• Trey Sheppard, former student-athlete and former member of Athletic Foundation Board
• Phil Moore, Athletic Foundation Board
• Brandy Clouse, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration and Senior Women’s Administrator
• Samantha Grovenstein-Deal, chair of Alumni Association Board
• Doug Lambert, Athletic Foundation Board
• Cliff McCurry, Athletic Foundation Board
• Regina Days-Bryan, former student-athlete
• Ted Smith, Athletic Foundation Board
• Mike Cummings, Athletic Foundation Board
• Walt Huggins, Athletic Foundation Board
• Sarah McCarroll, Assistant Professor of Theatre and chair of University Athletic Committee

“I want to thank these supporters and volunteers for agreeing to help with this very important search,” Marrero said. “Eagle Nation is primed for a bright future and our student-athletes deserve the best leader we can find.”

Marrero said he hopes to have a new athletic director named sometime this spring.

Georgia Southern sponsors 17 NCAA Division I varsity athletics programs, 15 of which compete in the Sun Belt Conference. Rifle competes in the Southern Conference while women’s swimming and diving competes in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA). Nearly 400 student-athletes representing 11 women’s sports and six men’s sports compete for the university. The department employs more than 100 coaches and staff members who help accomplish the mission of “Rings, Diplomas & Leaders.”

����Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .

Georgia Southern Athletics is accepting individual or team applications for competitors in the second annual Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off set for April 18 at Allen E. Paulson Stadium prior to the annual Blue-White spring football game. The winning tailgate and grill masters will claim the title of 2015 Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off Champion, and will win a one-of-a-kind trophy, a one-night stay at a hotel plus two tickets to the Georgia Southern vs. Georgia game in Athens, Georgia, Nov. 21, 2015, and of course, bragging rights. “True Blue Barbecue,” Adam Pace and Jared Brown, won the inaugural Tailgate Cook-Off last year. To enter the contest, a team or individual must by April 14 and pay a $20 cash fee per entry on site April 18. All teams or individuals are responsible for providing their own food and equipment for grilling/cooking and will be allowed only one vehicle inside the cook-off zone. Participants are encouraged to grill, cook, steam, etc. their best food for fans to enjoy. Eagle fans are invited to serve as tasting judges for $3 to enter the tailgate zone, sample the food and complete a ballot to determine the top four. Scores from the tasting judges will be calculated and winners will be announced during the Blue-White spring football game. Tasting will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m. The second-place winner will receive four tickets and two sideline passes to the home football game against Texas State Oct. 29, 2015, on ESPNU. Third place will claim two tickets and two meal vouchers to the home football game against South Alabama Nov. 28, 2015. ��Fourth place will walk away with an autographed football and Georgia Southern prize pack. Registration is open now and Eagle Fans can . For more information or questions, contact Athletic Marketing at 478-1500 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email at dadams@georgiasouthern.edu.

STATESBORO, Ga. – Kip Drown, a 27-year head coaching veteran, became the seventh head coach of the Georgia Southern Lady Eagles basketball team on Tuesday, March 31. During a press conference held at the Gene M. Bishop Field House, Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein announced Drown’s hiring, noting that he brings needed experience to the program. “After an extensive national search we felt Kip Drown has qualities we look for in a head coach, a proven record of success and a significant number of post-season appearances,” said Kleinlein. “We welcome the Drown family to Eagle Nation.” In his 27 years of coaching, Drown boasts a career record of 463-336 (.579), leading teams at Southwest Baptist University, Georgia Southwestern University, Grand Canyon University and most recently at Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo). In 10 seasons at CSU-Pueblo, Drown led the ThunderWolves to a winning season every year and reached the NCAA Division II tournament seven times. In addition, he led the squad to four Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships, where they won three straight titles from 2008-2010. Before his stent with CSU-Pueblo, Drown coached four seasons at Grand Canyon University, where he transformed a team with only four wins the year before he arrived into a 16-12 team the year after. From 1994-2001, Drown served as the head coach of the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes, leading them to five NAIA Tournament appearances and five 20-win seasons in only seven years as head coach. ����Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125-degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education..

The Georgia Southern football team added 22 student-athletes in the 2015 signing day class as announced by Head Coach Willie Fritz. The Eagles added 20 student-athletes from the high school ranks along with two previously announced transfers in Max Magana and Roscoe Byrd to bolster the 2015 football roster. “I am very excited about this class. I feel good about these guys. Not only are they going to be very good football players, they are going to be good students and good people off the field,” Fritz said. Georgia Southern signed 15 players from the state of Georgia, six from Florida, one from South Carolina and one from Nevada. The Eagles added five offensive linemen, four safeties, three wide receivers, three cornerbacks, two tight ends, two running backs, two defensive ends and a quarterback. “I appreciate my coaches. They have done a sensational job recruiting these guys,” Fritz said. “I think our television exposure really helped our brand and our facilities helped us.” The 2015 football season will open on Sept. 5 at West Virginia and will host Western Michigan and The Citadel along with a four-game Sun Belt Conference schedule. Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels and , and its “Eagles GATA” mobile app. Eagle Football fans can follow Coach Willie Fritz on twitter @CoachWEFritz. For bios on each of the new players, visit .

����Vlog is no stranger to national accolades and recently the University garnered one more when it was named to Golf Digest’s �������پ������dzܲ�����list. “This represents a number of things that speak loudly and boldly about what Georgia Southern is and where we are going,” said University President Brooks A. Keel, Ph.D. “We are a university on the move and are always looking for ways to better serve our students and community. This is one more way in which we can tell the world that we are different, and we are special.” Since 1983, Golf Digest has been the leader in golf course rankings.�� In the November issue, the Georgia Southern Golf Course ranks among major championship courses such as Trump National Golf Club in Doral, Florida, and Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona. Ron Whitten, editor of Golf Digest, said, “The Georgia Southern Golf Course is beautiful, playable and affordable. Using the old pine-lined corridors, the new course has instant maturity, with holes six through eight wrapping around a large glistening lake that is a particular highlight.” “We are excited to offer Georgia Southern and the surrounding community a course recognized so prominently by Golf Digest,” said Marten Olsson, director of golf.�� “The course will only improve with time thanks in large part to the efforts of course superintendent, Patrick Reinhart.” “This is an opportunity for us to provide an experience to our students and community members and expose them to the game of golf,” said Gene Sherry, executive director of Campus Recreation & Intramurals. ��“The course is a testament to the design of Bob Walker. It is both challenging and playable for all skill levels.” The facility also has a driving range, practice putting and chipping greens, along with a renovated 8,000 square foot clubhouse, which includes a pro shop, snack bar and meeting space. “This is what a student-centered university is all about,” said Teresa Thompson, Ph.D., vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “We have very bright students who have high expectations inside and outside the classroom.” Find out about greens fees, schedule tee times and learn more about the course by visiting��or by calling 912-GSU-GOLF.