Eagle Support

There is a reason why so many people return to the Eagle Football Alumni Association’s (EFAA) main fundraiser every year. “The Reverse Raffle and Auction is the biggest Eagle party of the year,” said Justin Callaway, a special assistant for the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation. “Our guests have a great time. Once you attend, you will be hooked and will want to come back every year.”

A fan who has attended the event more than once is America Minc, director of Campus Recreation and Intramurals. “Our entire tailgating group goes,” she said. “There are about 30 of us who plan to go to this event every year. We are all alumni, season ticket holders and donors. We sit together at all the games and travel to support the Eagles on the road, so this is another event for us, after the season is over to get back together, to not only contribute to Eagle Athletics, but to have a good time, keep us connected to Georgia Southern, and get us geared up for the next season.”

This spring’s fundraiser attracted more than 600 people including former players, coaches, University administrators, Eagle Nation fans and faculty and staff members. Created in 2006, the EFAA is an organization of former football players, managers, trainers, coaches and anyone else who “gave it up” for the Eagles. Former players on the 2013 EFAA board include Darryl Hopkins, Raja Andrews, Tracy Ham, Terry Harvin, Dusty Reddick and Matt Wise.

The organization provides support to the current football team, assists former players and their families in times of need and supports several athletics scholarships. The EFAA’s two major fundraisers are the Reverse Raffle and Auction, and the Legends of Georgia Southern Football Golf Tournament.

“Our guests really enjoy the social aspect of the evening,” Callaway noted. “Many Eagle alumni football players attend and guests can talk to them about the old days.” As in years past, the highlight of the evening was the reverse raffle, which boasted a grand prize of $10,000. This year, the final two ticket holders decided to share the prize, and both walked away with $5,000 each. Winning bidders also took home many other impressive items from the silent and live auctions which included a dinner with Eagles Head Coach Jeff Monken, a featured part in the new Erk Russell movie, two sideline passes for the entire football season, a 2012 SoCon ring and a SoCon women’s pendant. The first in a series of nine Erk Russell commemorative shotguns also went to the highest bidder.

Leading up to the Reverse Raffle and Auction, the EFAA launched what it called the “Lost Lettermen Countdown Campaign,” which ran for 99 days beginning on January 11, 2013. The major goal of the campaign was to locate lost Eagles while updating and expanding the EFFA’s membership. “It was a huge success in reaching out and reconnecting with more than 120 of our Eagle football alumni,” Callaway said. “We had former players, managers and trainers submit their current contact information so we can keep them informed about what is going on with the program.”

The Reverse Raffle and Auction was also a huge success netting $70,155 for the EFAA. — Sandra Bennett