A memorial ceremony to honor Georgia Southern golfer Thomas Sharkey has been set for Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium. The event will celebrate his life after he was tragically killed in a fire last month in Scotland.
    “Thomas was a good teammate, but a better friend to those who knew him,” said Georgia Southern coach Larry Mays. “This is our chance to celebrate Thomas’ life and share our memories of him.”
    A reception will follow the memorial service.

Lady Jackets sweep Day 1 at Tattnall
    GLENVILLE — The Southeast Bulloch Lady Yellow Jackets won twice Friday in the opening round of the Tattnall County Warrior Blast Tournament.
    In the first game, the Jackets (3-0) defeated Bradwell Institute, 4-0.
    Nira Byrd (2-for-4) scored twice, Effie Manahan(2-for-3) tripled and drove in a run and Leah McCarthy went 2-for-3 with  a run.
    Freshman pitcher Sierra Peebles got a complete-game shutout for the second time in as many starts and struck out 15, while driving in a run with a triple at the plate.
    In the second game, Pierce County held an early advantage before SEB came back for an 8-4 win.
    Peebles and Taylor Wilkes combined for the win in the circle.
    Manahan went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, Byrd scored two more runs and Peebles went 2-for-2.
    McCarthy and Casey Hadden each went 2-for-3 with a run, and McCarthy finished with two RBIs.
    The TCHS tournament concludes today.

Lady Eagles drop opener, 3-1
    ROCK HILL, S.C. — Georgia Southern logged numerous chances in the 2011 season opener, but two Winthrop goals in the closing minutes of the first half ultimately lifted the Big South Conference foe to a 3-1 win over the Eagles on Friday night.
    Georgia Southern (0-1) cut a two-goal Winthrop (1-0) lead in half just before halftime, but a late goal by the hosts dealt Eagle Head Coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel her first loss in charge of the Eagles.
    Winthrop’s Kelly Clark, however, put the hosts on top in the 43rd minute with a header off an Ashley Herndon cross into the box. The Eagles doubled their lead just 59 seconds later with a goal on a header by Tori Davis to put Winthrop up, 2-0.
    Georgia Southern responded straight-away with a goal in the final minute of the first half by Murphy.
    Sophomore Georgia Southern goalkeeper Katie Merson finished the first half with three saves and was called upon to make her fourth in spectacular fashion just two minutes into the second half. She finished the night with five saves.
    Winthrop took a two goal lead in the 82nd minute when Courtney Durbin scored by getting behind the Eagle defense off a through ball by Rachel Webster.
Georgia Southern took 10 shots with five on target.
    The Lady Eagles return home Thursday for the home opener against Mercer at Eagle Field.

GSU football walk-on tryouts Monday
    The Georgia Southern Football team has scheduled walk-on tryouts for Monday at 4 p.m. The tryouts will be held at the football practice fields and are open to all students interested in playing football that currently attend Georgia Southern.
    All attendees of the walk-on tryouts need to bring cleats, shorts, proof of insurance and proof of a physical exam within the last six months. For more information on tryouts please contact Lisa Kingery in the Parrish Football Center at (912) 478-5522.

Curry Cup takes place today
 Michael Curry, Georgia Southern Basketball Hall of Famer and current associate head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, will host a benefit for the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County.
    The Curry Cup, to be held Saturday at The Clubhouse in Statesboro, will feature a 10 a.m. bowling tournament.
    Registration for each four-man team is $200.
    The event will feature professional athletes, coaches and former GSU greats. Trophies will be awarded for first- and second-place individuals and a Curry Cup trophy for the winning team.
    There will also be a "Meet the Players" reception at 7 p.m. on Friday open to the public at Holiday Inn.
    For more information, contact Mike Backus at (912) 515-4051 or visit www.bgcbulloch.org.

    If you have a score to report, please call the Statesboro Herald sports desk at (912) 489-9408.

GSUAF hosting kickoff dinner
    Georgia Southern invites fans to attend the annual Football Countdown to Kickoff Dinner.
    Guest speakers include President Brooks Keel and football coach Jeff Monken.
    The buffet style dinner will be held Thursday, Sept. 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Nessmith-Lane Ballroom at the Center for Continuing Education on the Georgia Southern University campus.
    Also in attendance will be the Center for Wildlife Education, The University Store, the Georgia Southern Cheerleaders and Georgia Southern's mascot, GUS.
    Tickets for the dinner are $15 each and may be purchased by calling the Office of Alumni Relations at (912) 478-2586.

Pryor considers suspension appeal
    (AP) — Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor could appeal the five-game suspension levied against him by the NFL should he be chosen in next week's supplemental draft, a decision that would add another layer of complexity to an already unprecedented situation.
    Pryor was part of a list distributed by the league of players who are eligible for the draft, but the NFL decided that he won't be allowed to practice for the team that selects him until Week 6.
    Pryor gave up his final season with the Buckeyes following an investigation into the team's memorabilia-for-cash scandal, which ultimately landed the school on probation and cost coach Jim Tressel his job. Pryor would've had to sit out five games had he chosen to return to Ohio State.
    Pryor's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told The Associated Press on Thursday that "we accept that voluntarily." But the player's attorney, David Cornwell, told ESPN Radio on Friday that it's "likely" the five-game punishment will be appealed once Pryor signs an NFL contract.
    "We have the right to appeal within three days after Terrelle signs an NFL contract," Cornwell said. "And given some of the developments — both in reaching the decision and comments out of the (NFL Players' Association) regarding the decision — I think it's likely that we will file an appeal, and give the Players' Association an opportunity to make its objections to this on the record."

Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith worked together to craft the decision. The league is trying to dissuade future college players who run afoul of the NCAA from using the NFL as a means of escaping punishment. But the move has been staunchly opposed by current players who believe the NFL is overstepping its authority.

Some of those players have Tweeted their support for Pryor, while others asked whether the NFL is setting a dangerous precedent. For instance, could players linked to the University of Miami booster scandal be punished even though they've long since left college?