Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern The George-Anne Student Media 9-11-2006 The George-Anne Georgia Southern University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/george-anne Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Georgia Southern University, "The George-Anne" (2006). The George-Anne. 1935. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/george-anne/1935 This newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Media at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in The George-Anne by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Soccer scores: men beat Centenary i SPORTS, P.e Shane and Shane rock worship I NEWS, p. 2 Homecoming '06 Students reflect — Where High: 85 I Low: 68 Shiver me timbers! It's time to place Partly cloudy were you on September 11? Volume 79 your King and Queen nominations 3 Number 27 |NEWS,p.2 BRIEFS, p. DAILY THEGE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11,2006 •HSKiNEwI -2006 One day drive Thousands for funds steps attend Erk off tomorrow memorial By Bert Noble The 33rd annual Day for South- Managing editor for operations ern raises money for the university Two days after his sudden death, legendary coach Erk Russell's funeral was held Sunday at Paulson Stadium GSU News Service 'A Day For Southern' with a crowd of over 2,000 people. Those in attendance included Tomorrow is a big day for grosses around Vince Dooley and Georgia Governor Statesboro and Bulloch County, $1 million annually Sonny Purdue. Only Russell's three because more than 200 volunteers The GSU foundation takes in a national title banners flew during the will hit the streets for the 33rd an- little more than $1 million each ceremony and the flag was at half-mast nual. Day for Southern campaign. year with its one-day fundraising in his honor. They will ask community members drive.The money is used for "Our grief, our tears, our hurt and and businesses to donate to Georgia expenditures on campus that tax our shock is because he was taken from Southern. dollars do not cover.The drive us so suddenly, without warning," said This year's theme for the cam- was started in 1973. the Rev. Claude McBride, chaplain for paign is "Together We're Better," and the Georgia Bulldogs during Russell's it focuses on the mutually beneficial tenure. "We thought he was invincible. relationship shared by two steadily No one is." growing entities, the college and the McBride spoke, along with Bruce community. Yawn and Giff Smith. Each had his '-a ' a a D ' a ' n—i The donations go to projects the 2000 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 own interesting stories and memories state does not pay for. Organizers about the man who brought Georgia say those extras make the difference 2000 $1,143,550 Southern football to glory. '01 1,203,748 between a good university and a Russell coined the "Junkyard '02 1,148,066 greaS-one. The money goes toward Dawgs" nickname for the UGA de- '03 1,177,207 funding for the campus museum, '04 1,101,056 fense. At GSU, he created "Beautiful marching band and academic and '05 1,220,334 Eagle Creek." Speakers humored athletic scholarships. those in attendance about how Russell "The scholarships raised through out through Statesboro and Bulloch convinced everyone that what was a a Day for Southern brings exception- County, calling on more than 1100 drainage ditch was really a creek with ally bright and talented students to businesses to ask them to support magic powers. Georgia Southern and those young GSU programs. This year ADFS vol- Yawn, who played for Russell at people challenge professors," said unteers from Candler County have Georgia and now owns Snooky's, last year's chairman Charles Brown. organized and will visit businesses talked about how Russell loved to "They leave Georgia Southern edu- in nearby Metter. File photo laugh, whether it was with him or at cated and in turn become quality "Our goal is to make this the ninth him. One instance was when he and leaders of southeast Georgia." year in a row to top $ 1 million," said Russell called a friend to convince Hundreds of community vol- Beth Mathews, director of annual him to come pick them up from the unteers, led by the 2006 A Day for giving event. Columbus airport as a prank call. Southern Chairman, Bill Perry, will The generous support of the Russell first received notoriety gather on campus for breakfast and community has allowed us to grow coaching at Georgia, where he was a rousing sendoff, and then spread see SOUTHERN, page 2 Remembering the defensive coordinator for 17years. He became known for headbutting players until he bled. Russell took the GSU coachingjob in 1982 and started a program with no equipment, stadium or offices. Russell's Reflecting on 9/11 first office was a singlewide trailer. a GSU legend "I don't know if heaven has a foot- By Ron Hutcheson ball team. But if it does, they just got McClachy Newspapers the coach they need," said Yawn. Compiled by staff took the fire department only two Bob Bigley said. Bigley said Russell's Students in attendance came to NEW YORK - Five years after minutes to get to the scene, but be- death was not from injuries related pay respects to a man who they never terrorists slammed hijacked planes Legendary Georgia Southern cause the power lines had fallen onto to the wreck. knew, but whose legacy they have come into the World Trade Center and Football Coach Erskine "Erk" Rus- the road, officers first told Russell The GSU community was to respect. the Pentagon, Americans will pause sell died at age 80 after a car accident to stay in the car. Fisher said once shocked and saddened by the loss "Evert though I never knew him Monday to remember the day ter- Friday morning. officers were able to get Russell out of Erk Russell. personally, I wanted to pay respect rorism changed their lives. Russell's car struck a telephone of the car, they tried CPR and then "Erk's positive impact on Georgia to the man who made GSU football Observances in New York, pole on Cypress Lake road, across left in an ambulance. Southern University, as well as the what it is," said Ross Davis, a junior Washington, Shanksville, Pa. and the street from the Country Store "When the ambulance drove away players he coached and the people sport management major. "His legacy scores of other places across the na- where he visited every morning for there were no sirens, just lights," said he met in everyday life, cannot be will remain here for a long time. I just tion will recall the horrific day that, coffee. Revell. "They were not speeding off; overstated," said GSU President wanted to come because of the man according to new surveys, continues "Nobody noticed anything going they were just driving away." Bruce Grube. "His motto of'Just do that he was." to have a profound impact on the on and then I looked outside and Russell was brought to the right' was his rule book on how to People in attendance sat on the lives of ordinary Americans. there it was," said James Revell. "It's Statesboro hospital and pronounced live one's life." home side of the stadium, while Bayonne, N.J., will dedicate a such a shame." dead on arrival, East Georgia Re- Russell's death came the day be- family, friends and speakers were 175-ton bronze monument built GSU student Chris Fisher said it gional Medical Center chief executive see LEGEND, page 2 on the field, with the podium on the around a 40-foot steel teardrop 50-yard line. — a gift from Russia. Residents of Russell died Friday morning, at Joplin, Mo., will place red, white the age of 80. He is survived by his and blue carnations at the foot of an 'A Word on Peace honors September 11 victims wife, Jean, and his two sons, Rusty American flag. The town green in and Jay. Windsor, Conn., will glow with the Compiled by staff host an open-mike reading tonight remembrance, attendees are welcome light from 2,973 luminary bags, one at 7 p.m. to come with original work or with for each of the Sept. 11 victims. With the present state of our The reading will be held at the work of a favorite author. INSIDE To a great degree, most people world and the constant threat of downtown at the Averitt Center in After the reading, there will be have adjusted to Sept. ll's legacy terrorism, now more than ever the Emma Kelly Theater. wine and soft drinks in the main floor A piece of his legacy — long lines at the airport, color- is the chance for people to come "A Word on Peace" is a forum to gallery of the Averitt Center. GSU legend Erk Russell died coded threat levels, metal detec- together and remember all we lost remember and honor the victims of All are invited to attend and bring at age 80 Friday, but many will tors, identity checks and security five years ago. the September 11 terrorist attacks. a friend or family member along. never forget him. Put up this see page 3 The open-mike reading will also If any faculty member is inter- SEPT. 11, To commemorate the anniversary poster in his honor. | FEATURE, p.4 of the terrorist attacks on the United be used to honor peace, freedom, ested in reading or for more informa- Left: Father and son honorthe lives States, Georgia Southerns Depart- religious tolerance and democracy tion about the event, please contact Campus 2 Classifieds 5 lost on 9/11 in this George-Anne ment of Writing and Linguistics and for the people of the community.