Larger Than Life

Drive To Construct Erk Statue Nearing Goal

At the start, the task before Derek Sills seemed as imposing as the seven and- a-half foot statue of coach Erk Russell he wanted to erect. But less than a year later, Sills has raised $60,000 of the estimated $80,000 needed to construct the monument at Paulson Stadium.

A Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation board member, Sills sees the job as a personal duty to his alma mater.

“It not only honors a legend, which is what we should do, it gives our stadium the presence and pageantry of the game; and you can’t beat the pageantry of the game of college football,” Sills said.

Sills has managed to get some big names in football to reach into their pockets to show their appreciation for Russell. Former colleague of Russell and University of Georgia head football coach Vince Dooley; ESPN Game Day contributor, Tony Barnhart; former Auburn defensive coordinator and Eagle coach Hugh Nall; and former Eagle head coach Paul Johnson are among the contributors to Russell’s monument.

Sills has been discussing with fellow University alumnus Brandon Boyd the idea of Boyd’s business donating the base of the statue.

“They would polish the granite and etch in the ‘We’re Georgia Southern’ quote from Erk,” Sills said. There are several options for the statue’s design, but Sills says one strong consideration is Russell wearing his iconic “One More Time” t-shirt, which the coach sported during Georgia Southern’s win in the 1989 FCS National Championship game.

In January, Sills gave sculptor Stan Mullins a guided tour of campus to introduce him to Georgia Southern’s history and traditions. The experience included a visit to Russell’s bust at Paulson Stadium and the coach’s artifacts in the football office. Mullins created the likeness of Georgia coach Vince Dooley in Athens.

Sills has plans to hold additional fundraisers to complete the project. One possibility includes selling “One More Time” t-shirts and hosting another “Eagles for Erk” barbecue and pig patty party. Last year’s creative benefit raised almost $20,000 toward the project.

Sills is hoping that the statue can be finished in time for the 2012 season.

One thing is certain – he will remain steadfast in his mission to honor a football legend, and won’t quit until the job is done.

For more information, call the Athletic Foundation at 912-478-5520.

—Matthew D’La Rotta