GEORGIA STATE FOOTBALL @Georgiastatefb | @Coachselliot | @Gsupanthers | @Gsustadium TENNESSEE STATE (0-0) at GEORGIA STATE (0-0) Thursday, Aug
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2017 GEORGIA STATE FOOTBALL @GeorgiaStateFB | @CoachSElliot | @GSUPanthers | @GSUStadium TENNESSEE STATE (0-0) at GEORGIA STATE (0-0) Thursday, Aug. 31 | 7 p.m. Parker H. Petit Field at Georgia State Stadium THE KICKOFF: Georgia State opens the BACK FOR MORE: Safety Bryan Williams 2017 season with a brand new head coach makes history this season as the first Georgia walking the sidelines in a brand new facility State Panther to play a sixth season. The as the Panthers host Tennessee State in the Miami, Fla., native began his GSU career in inaugural game at Parker H. Petit Field at 2012 under head coach Bill Curry. He was GAME 1 Georgia State Stadium and the debut of granted a sixth season of eligibility after Shawn Elliott. missing almost two full seasons (2013 and TENNESSEE STATE TIGERS at Formerly the co-offensive coordinator 2014) with a back injury. GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS and offensive line coach at South Carolina, Elliott is a coaching veteran with 20 years of SEASON OPENERS: For the eighth time TV: ESPN3. Announcers are Matt Stewart experience in winning programs. He spent in eight seasons of football, Georgia State is and Wayne Gandy. the last seven seasons with the Gamecocks opening the season at home on a weekday. after 13 years at Appalachian State, his alma This will be the Panthers’ third Thursday RADIO: Georgia State Radio Network, mater. opener, along with four Friday openers including Atlanta flagship 1340 AM/103.7 Elliott takes over a Georgia State and one Wednesday. Georgia State is 3-4 in FM. Dave Cohen is in his 35th season as program that has been playing football for season openers and 4-6 in all non-Saturday the play-by-play voice of Panther athletics. just seven seasons but is poised for growth games. Brandon Leak and Harper LeBel join him with the move into Georgia State Stadium, from the booth with Sam Crenshaw on the coupled with the university’s continued rise ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE: Georgia State and Tennessee State are meeting for sideline. Free audio stream on Georgia- in size and stature. the first time. The Tigers, an FCS program StateSports.com and GSU mobile app. ABOUT GEORGIA STATE: The Panthers that plays in the Ohio Valley Conference, are welcome back 16 starters, including eight on coming off a 7-4 record in 2016 under head RECORDS: offense, seven on defense and one specialist. coach Rod Reed. Georgia State: 0-0 Overall, 0-0 Sun Belt Offensively, Georgia State returns The Tigers’ starting quarterback is Tennessee State: 0-0, 0-0 OVC quarterback Conner Manning, who led the former Florida signal caller Treon Harris, Sun Belt Conference in passing yards per who enrolled at TSU last spring. Georgia SERIES: game, and talented pass catchers Penny State head coach Shawn Elliott is certainly First meeting Hart, the Sun Belt’s leading receiver in 2015, familiar with Harris, who started for the and Todd Boyd return from injuries to boost Gators against Elliott’s South Carolina teams COACHES: the receiving corps. The Panthers will look in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, South Carolina Georgia State: Shawn Elliott to establish a more productive running downed the Gators 23-20 as Harris rushed for Alma Mater: Appalachian State, 1996 game behind an offensive line that returns 111 yards but was just 5-for-11 for 60 yards Record at GSU: 0-0 (1st year) three starters. Seniors Kyler Neal is the top through the air. In 2015, Florida won 24-14 as Career Record: 1-5 (2nd year) returning ball-carrier, while Taz Bateman Harris passed for 256 yards. returns from injury to add versatile running Tennessee State: Rod Reed threat. WELCOME BACK PENNY: Penny Hart, Alma Mater: Tennessee State, 1988 Defensively, the Panthers’ strength is the 2015 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and Record at TSU: 43-37 (8th year) a Freshman All-American, played sparingly in Career Record: 43-37 (8th year) a secondary that features one of the best cornerback tandems in the Sun Belt in just two games before his 2016 season was senior Chandon Sullivan and junior Jerome ended by a broken foot. As a rookie in 2015, 2017 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS Smith. The top play-makers among the front Hart LED IN THE SUN BELT with 5.5 recep- A. 31 TENNESSEE STATE (ESPN3) ............7 p.m. seven are junior outside linebacker Michael tions and 84.5 receiving yards per game, Shaw and senior defensive end Mackendy and he set the Sun Belt freshman record for S. 16 at Penn State (BTN) ...............................7 p.m. Cheridor. That quartet helped the Panthers receiving yards (1,099). S. 23 at Charlotte ..............................................6 p.m. lead the Sun Belt in 2016 with 4.9 yards per S. 30 MEMPHIS .............................................. TBA play allowed. O. 7 at Coastal Carolina ....................................TBA O. 14 at ULM ...........................................................TBA O. 21 TROY (Homecoming) ......................... TBA GEORGIA STATE’S RETURNING STATISTICAL LEADERS O. 26 SOUTH ALABAMA (ESPNU) ......7:30 p.m. Passing: Conner Manning (QB, R-Sr.) ...................................... 207-373, 2,684 yds, 16 TD, 13 Int N. 4 at Georgia Southern .................................TBA Rushing: Kyler Neal (RB, R-Jr.) .............................................................................. 75 att, 314 yds, 2 TD N. 11 at Texas State ...............................................TBA Aaron Winchester (QB, R-So.) ........................................................... 49 att, 204 yds, 1 TD N. 25 APPALACHIAN STATE ......................... TBA Glenn Smith (WR, Sr.) .......................................................................... 41 att, 150 yds, 2 TD D. 2 IDAHO ................................................... TBA Receiving: Penny Hart (WR, R-So.) ......................................................... 2015: 71 rec, 1099 yds, 8 TD Glenn Smith (WR, Sr.) ..........................................................................40 rec, 547 yds, 3 TD All times Eastern. Todd Boyd (WR, Sr.) ..............................................................................33 rec, 352 yds, 1 TD Defense: Michael Shaw (OLB, R-Jr.) ............................................. 76 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 int Trey Payne (LB, R-Sr.) ..................................................................................... 65 tackles, 1 int Bryan Williams (S, R-Sr.) ................................................................................61 tackles, 6 PB Chandon Sullivan (CB, Sr.) ........................................................................... 43 tackles, 3 int Mackendy Cheridor (DE, R-Sr.) ............................................. 32 tackles, 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks 2017 GEORGIA STATE FOOTBALL NOTES, PAGE 2 GAME 1: GEORGIA STATE vs. TENNESSEE STATE GENERAL INFORMATION Full Name Georgia State University Location Atlanta, GA Founded 1913 Enrollment 50,000 Nickname Panthers Colors Blue & White Affiliation NCAA Division I FBS Conference Sun Belt Conference President Mark P. Becker Director of Athletics Charlie Cobb COACHING STAFF Head Coach Shawn Elliott Offensive Coordinator/QBs Travis Trickett Defensive Coordinator/OLBs Nate Fuqua Safeties Chris Collins Defensive Line Skylor Magee Receivers Trent McKnight Cornerbacks Sam Shade PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Three THE 2017 SEASON marks the inaugural year of Parker H. Petit Field at Running Backs/Tight Ends Josh Stepp Panthers were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team, selected by Georgia State Stadium, the former Turner Offensive Line Cedric Williams the league head coaches and media panel: Field and venue for the Atlanta Braves that ILBs/Special Teams/RC Rusty Wright has been converted into the new home of Chandon Sullivan, CB (1st) Panther football. Strength & Conditioning Scott Holsopple Penny Hart, WR (1st) Athletic Trainer Bob Murphy Mackendy Cheridor, DE (2nd) Georgia State Stadium features 25,000 Equipment Manager Tim Davis seats, a FieldTurf playing surface, the Panthers on preseason watch lists Panthers’ 7,500-square foot locker room, Asst AD-FB Operations Steve Wojcikowski include: and a 5,600-square foot video board that Director of Player Personnel Daniel Wilcox Chandon Sullivan: Senior Bowl Watch List is the eighth-largest in college football. Dir. of High School Relations Ginny Thompson Mackendy Cheridor: Senior Bowl Watch List The conversion process incorporated Graduate Assts Tyler Nemec, Gabe Mobley: Rimington Trophy (center) the existing seating areas on the north, Travian Robertson, John Russ, Hayden Wilks Ari Werts: John Mackey Award (tight end) west and south sides of the stadium with a new grandstand constructed on the east FACILITY INFORMATION LAST ONE STANDING: In 2016, Georgia side, formerly the baseball outfield. State was the ONLY FBS TEAM that did not Georgia State Stadium was originally Home Field Parker H. Petit Field at allow an offensive play (rushing or passing) constructed as the 85,000-seat Centennial Georgia State Stadium of 50 yards or longer all season. The longest Olympic Stadium and used for the 1996 Capacity 25,000 pass play allowed by the Panthers covered Centennial Olympic Games. Following the 37 yards, while the longest run was 46 yards. Surface FieldTurf Olympic Games, much of the north end Opened as Georgia State Stadium 2017 of the stadium was removed in order to CAPTAIN’S CHOICE: The Georgia State convert it to the 49,000-seat baseball park Originally Built 1996 team elected permanent captains for the that served as the home of the Atlanta 2017 season: Braves from 1997 through 2016. PROGRAM INFORMATION S Bryan