NEW ORLEANS — Georgia Southern head football coach Jeff Monken joined 11 other current and future Sun Belt coaches at the 2013 Sun Belt Media Days in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
    Even though the Eagles will not officially join the Sun Belt until the 2014 season and will play the 2013 season in the Southern Conference, the media day allowed for Coach Monken to expose the Sun Belt press to Georgia Southern University.
    “Georgia Southern is a tremendous university; it is a school that has grown significantly over the last 30 years. When Erk Russell helped start football here in 1981, we were a school of 5,000 to 6,000 enrollment. We are now over 20,000 students, and the town has grown as a result of it,” said Monken. “It is a well respected university across the southeast, and we have some unique academic programs that make us really proud.”
    Monken addressed some of the challenges that the Eagles will face as they move to the FBS.
    “There are a lot of things that we are going to have to grow through — the move up in competition, the increase in scholarships. We are moving from a roster where we have some real thin positions and getting those numbers up is important as we move to the FBS level.”
    Monken also shared the excitement that his staff and players as well as university employees, students, fans and alumni have over the move up. “Making this move is really an exciting time for our university and for everyone that is involved. Our kids, student body and fans are excited about it, and I think it is a great opportunity to get Georgia Southern talked about on a more national scene.”