Community leaders and Georgia Southern University officials came together to break bread and celebrate the town-and-gown relationship between Statesboro and the university at the Paint the Town Blue Kickoff luncheon at the Southern Hospitality Conference Center at Springhill Suites.
The luncheon was just one of a full schedule of events being held as part of the second annual spirit week. Businesses around the community began decking out their window displays with Georgia Southern-inspired artwork and all the blue decorations they could muster as part of the True Blue Spirit Competition. Additionally, the week featured a community art contest for Bulloch County’s elementary school students Wednesday evening and several Eagle soccer games, at which fans were encouraged to wear blue to support the teams.
The week continues with Thursday Night Lights, a coffeehouse-style talent showcase at Georgia Southern’s Williams Center Multipurpose Room. Friday, university mascot GUS the Eagle will be wandering the town distributing prizes to fans displaying their Eagle pride. Saturday will see the kickoff of Statesboro-Bulloch Parks and Recreation Department’s youth football season at Mill Creek Regional Park, starting at 9 a.m.
All events lead up to the Eagles’ first home game of the season Saturday afternoon as they face off against Western Michigan at Paulson Stadium.
“This is a year for us to do it ‘one more time,’” GSU interim president Dr. Jean Bartels said at the coaches’ luncheon Tuesday in the Bishop Fieldhouse at Paulson Stadium. “And we’ll do it in style, we’ll do it in great fashion in terms of our character, and it will be our gift back to the community for all the wonderful things that you bring to us every day and to our students every day.”
Wednesday’s luncheon, catered by Millhouse, focused on the relationship between the Georgia Southern and Statesboro communities, revisiting the subjects of the Blue Mile initiative and Statesboro’s placement as a quarterfinalist in the America’s Best Communities competition — the grand prize winner of which will receive up to $3 million for the community to use as it sees fit.
“We want to win,” Darron Burnette, chair of the South Main Revitalization Committee, told the luncheon attendees. “We must win. We’re like Georgia Southern. …Hopefully we’ll be able to do some great things ahead.”
Other speakers at the luncheon included women’s soccer coach Brian Dunleavy, men’s soccer coach Kevin Kennedy and volleyball coach Dustin Wood. Woods’ team has three games this week, at which fans are encouraged to wear blue as a continued leadup to the kickoff Saturday afternoon.
A full schedule of Paint the Town Blue events can be found at Georgia Southern’s official sports website, GSEagles.com.
The remaining events, as they appear on GSEagles.com:
Thursday, Sept. 10 – Thursday Night Lights, hosted by the University Programming Board - This event offers a relaxed, coffeehouse/lounge type environment for students to indulge in tasty treats and beverages while enjoying a variety of entertainment acts, provided by Georgia Southern's most talented; Georgia Southern Athletics will be on hand and faculty/staff/students will be invited to showcase their talent. 6:30-8 p.m. in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room
Friday, Sept. 11 – True Blue Eagle Eye Friday - Keep your eyes open and your True Blue spirit at its best as GUS travels through Statesboro with his Eagle Eye's opened wide looking to give away prizes only to the Truest and Bluest fans!
Friday, Sept. 11 – Volleyball vs. Tennessee State, 12 p.m., Hanner Fieldhouse – WEAR BLUE!
Friday, Sept. 11 – Volleyball vs. Winthrop, 7 p.m., Hanner Fieldhouse – WEAR BLUE!
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Fall Kickoff - First day of youth football with Statesboro-Bulloch Parks and Recreation. Starts at 9 a.m. at Mill Creek Regional Park. Visit bullochrec.com for more information
Saturday, Sept. 12 – Volleyball vs. Chicago State, 10 a.m., Hanner Fieldhouse – WEAR BLUE!
Saturday, Sept. 12 – GAME DAY! - Georgia Southern vs. Western Michigan - Paulson Stadium; 6 p.m. – WEAR BLUE!