Erk Russell

[Eaglesrus]

Many of you may know as much, or even more, about our legendary coach Erk Russell than I do. I suspect, however, that there are some that don't know much more than the name. With that in mind, I thought I would share an article that appeared in Sports Illustrated 25 years ago, just after we won our first two national championships. Many of us Georgia Southern fans like to re-read this at about this time every year.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066382/1/index.htm

[AppAlum2003]

Good gosh, Eagles fans, get over the past. Seriously, move on.



Signed,
The Appalachian Michigan Beaters.

[The Eagle's Cliff]

Good gosh, Eagles fans, get over the past. Seriously, move on.



Signed,
The Appalachian Michigan Beaters.

We've moved on, but never forget where we came from (subtle difference).

Signed,
The Appalachian Michigan Beaters - Beaters

[Professor Chaos]

Good read.

Signed,
The Appalachian Michigan Beaters - Beaters - Beaters

[superman7515]

Ya just can never tell if some people get the joke or not...

Signed,
The Delaware Hahnemann Medical College Beaters

[Apphole]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yXIaeM5j1MY/TcQ5wHZ48bI/AAAAAAAAEZk/K8yTQ6I2eaY/s1600/erk+russell.jpghttp://pandodaily.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/darth-vader-unmasked.jpg

Signed the Imperial Rebel Alliance Beaters

[Grizalltheway]

'Majestic' Eagle Creek? It's a goddamn irrigation ditch. xlolx

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Eagle_Creek_(Georgia).jpg/220px-Eagle_Creek_(Georgia).jpg

[TheRevSFA]

I thought Erk Russell was the guy from Top Gun

No?

http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsT/17190-19821.gif

[NoDak 4 Ever]

'Majestic' Eagle Creek? It's a goddamn irrigation ditch. xlolx

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Eagle_Creek_(Georgia).jpg/220px-Eagle_Creek_(Georgia).jpg

Well what do you expect when this is a Statesboro skyscraper?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3385736263_73e2b5b27f.jpg

[Eaglesrus]

Well what do you expect when this is a Statesboro skyscraper?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3385736263_73e2b5b27f.jpg

Someone who went to school in Fargo making fun of another town's lack of skyscrapers? Now THAT is funny!

[NoDak 4 Ever]

Someone who went to school in Fargo making fun of another town's lack of skyscrapers? Now THAT is funny!

The tallest building in Fargo is 200ft.

http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles17833.jpg

[Twentysix]

Woah now, Fargo atleast has a geological reason for not having tall buildings. Even with that reason we still have 'some' buildings taller than 2 stories..

http://www.fargomoorhead.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/1.-Fargo-Moorhead-Skyline.jpg

And we ****ing own the TO.

[Twentysix]

The tallest building in Fargo is 200ft.

http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles17833.jpg

Two building are over 200. XD

[AppAlum2003]

Mission Accomplished.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrmBr57KIFBzTyB1-IGkL-rElp0yNG3vNrpBrMPt3JPOznRhH1Y7F5lZDo

[Twentysix]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irk

[Eaglesrus]

Two building are over 200. XD

200 feet? Have the architects in Fargo not heard about 9/11? You guys sure are sensitive about that metropolis you have there.

[Twentysix]

200 feet? Have the architects in Fargo not heard about 9/11? You guys sure are sensitive about that metropolis you have there.

It has to do with glaciers bro.

You should consider learning science.

[TheRevSFA]

Doesn't Fargo flood? Shouldn't your buildings be raised up some to avoid said snowmelt?

[Twentysix]

Doesn't Fargo flood? Shouldn't your buildings be raised up some to avoid said snowmelt?

Nah dude, the river runs the TO. We've got it all figured out.

[NoDak 4 Ever]

200 feet? Have the architects in Fargo not heard about 9/11? You guys sure are sensitive about that metropolis you have there.

It's actually because of the soil. Really soft clay in the Red River Valley. They have to go pretty deep to get to bedrock so they don't build very high.

[TheRevSFA]

Nah dude, the river runs the TO. We've got it all figured out.

I hope SFA plays NDSU at some point..I do want to visit up there.

[NoDak 4 Ever]

Mission Accomplished.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrmBr57KIFBzTyB1-IGkL-rElp0yNG3vNrpBrMPt3JPOznRhH1Y7F5lZDo

Well how many posts can you have about a 25 year old SI article?

[State Line Liquors]

The tallest building in every city should be a Radisson.

[Twentysix]

I hope SFA plays NDSU at some point..I do want to visit up there.

They already did. It was a hoot.

http://www.gobison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=695&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=1210379

[TheRevSFA]

They already did. It was a hoot.

http://www.gobison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=695&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=1210379

I meant again..I didn't get to go to that game...nor do I want to remember that season

[Twentysix]

I meant again..I didn't get to go to that game.

I went, it was a hoot.

[Apphole]

I believe the tallest building in Boone is the new honors dorm. I'd still rather live in Boone than a humid, gnat infested swamp or a land of Canadian culture where people bury fish soaked in human urine only to dig it up months later to eat it. Fargo and Stinkboro suck.

[Twentysix]

I believe the tallest building in Boone is the new honors dorm. I'd still rather live in Boone than a humid, gnat infested swamp or a land of Canadian culture where people bury fish soaked in human urine only to dig it up months later to eat it. Fargo and Stinkboro suck.

Just because your school isn't very good at sports... doesn't give you a free pass to insult my humidity gnats or glacial lake beds.

[Apphole]

Just because your school isn't very good at sports... doesn't give you a free pass to insult my humidity gnats or glacial lake beds.

We are too good at sports

[WeAreNorthDakota]

200 feet? Have the architects in Fargo not heard about 9/11? You guys sure are sensitive about that metropolis you have there.

I believe there is a state law that says a building cannot be built in the state that is taller than the state capital building (241 ft).

[TheRevSFA]

I believe the tallest building in Boone is the new honors dorm. I'd still rather live in Boone than a humid, gnat infested swamp or a land of Canadian culture where people bury fish soaked in human urine only to dig it up months later to eat it. Fargo and Stinkboro suck.

Lutefisk is the Norwegians' attempt at conquering the world. When they discovered that Viking raids didn't give world supremacy, they invented a meal so terrifying, so cruel, that they could scare people to become one's subordinates.

[OL FU]

'Majestic' Eagle Creek? It's a goddamn irrigation ditch. xlolx

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Eagle_Creek_(Georgia).jpg/220px-Eagle_Creek_(Georgia).jpg

Everytime they brought that damned water to Greenville, I should have called the EPA.

Erk - I hated him in the 80s. But I don't think you could find a better coach or, from everything I have heard, man.xnodxxthumbsupx

[Professor Chaos]

We are too good at sports
The App State theme song....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEVdca9U9LM

[Twentysix]

The App State theme song....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEVdca9U9LM

Rep to you sir.

[Twentysix]

I believe there is a state law that says a building cannot be built in the state that is taller than the state capital building (241 ft).

You are thinking of the Washington Monument(Also the third tallest structure in the world resides in ND). Fargo's height limitations have to do with science. Tall buildings in fargo require suspension polls drilled all the way down to the bedrock which is ~200 ft underground. The glaciers that made the RRV so fertile, ****ed it up for stability of tall buildings.

[NoDak 4 Ever]

Lutefisk is the Norwegians' attempt at conquering the world. When they discovered that Viking raids didn't give world supremacy, they invented a meal so terrifying, so cruel, that they could scare people to become one's subordinates.

I am literally 75% Norwegian and despite having it offered on several occasions, have never eaten lutefisk.

[Eaglesrus]

It has to do with glaciers bro.

You should consider learning science.


It's actually because of the soil. Really soft clay in the Red River Valley. They have to go pretty deep to get to bedrock so they don't build very high.

And you guys know about the sandy soil of south Georgia, correct? Thanks for the science lesson! Perhaps we couldget back to something at least remotely connected to football now?

[Twentysix]

And you guys know about the sandy soil of south Georgia, correct? Thanks for the science lesson! Perhaps we couldget back to something at least remotely connected to football now?

You just used Science and Georgia in the same post! xsmileyclapxxsmileyclapxxsmileyclapx

[Grizalltheway]

You are thinking of the Washington Monument(Also the third tallest structure in the world resides in ND). Fargo's height limitations have to do with science. Tall buildings in fargo require suspension polls drilled all the way down to the bedrock which is ~200 ft underground. The glaciers that made the RRV so fertile, ****ed it up for stability of tall buildings.

I believe Dubai holds that honor now.

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

And we ****ing own the TO.

Invite us up to Fargo again when we have an OL made up of guys recruited for the offense, a mobile quarterback, and team speed that is at least somewhat close to what we had from 1997-2005. Then we'll show you how it's done. xthumbsupx

[Grizcountry420]

Woah now, Fargo atleast has a geological reason for not having tall buildings. Even with that reason we still have 'some' buildings taller than 2 stories..

http://www.fargomoorhead.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/1.-Fargo-Moorhead-Skyline.jpg

And we ****ing own the TO.

That looks like a *****hole of a town.. Eff that place!

[superman7515]

The tallest building in Fargo is 200ft.

http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles17833.jpg


Even in the little town I'm from there were dozens of buildings over 300 ft tall. But the soil was too soft and the damn things just fell over...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEwxEs9Fz8s/Ti78EIu2U8I/AAAAAAAAACI/0SKWsP83_G8/s1600/100_2571.JPG

[Professor Chaos]

Invite us up to Fargo again when we have an OL made up of guys recruited for the offense, a mobile quarterback, and team speed that is at least somewhat close to what we had from 1997-2005. Then we'll show you how it's done. xthumbsupx
We'll play you again when you beat Bama with your new and improved OL xsmiley_wix

[Rob Iola]

Even in the little town I'm from there were dozens of buildings over 300 ft tall. But the soil was too soft and the damn things just fell over...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEwxEs9Fz8s/Ti78EIu2U8I/AAAAAAAAACI/0SKWsP83_G8/s1600/100_2571.JPG
Chickens or mushrooms?

And Erk was no Tubby...

[frozennorth]

The tallest building in every city should be a Radisson.

our second tallest building is a home for the elderly and incompetent.

[blueballs]

All kidding aside... what Erk Russell accomplished was a miracle and will never again be duplicated. It is an absolute crime that he is not in the College Football HOF.

When he came to GSC- it wasn't GSU in those days- they didn't even have a football. They had to run out to K-Mart and buy one for the press conference announcing his hiring. They practiced on a tennis court. The equipment was hand me downs from other college programs around the southeast that Erk was able to procure through his connnections. The team was composed entirely of walkons.

3 years later GSC and Erk, in their second year in 1-AA, authored the incredible run through the playoffs, defeating #1 MTSU on the road, defeating #2 UNI on the road, and then overcoming a 3 TD deficit to defeat Furman in the title game in one of the greatest individual performances I've ever seen by Tracy Ham, finishing 13-2.

The next year GSC was an offensive juggarnaut, led by Ham (College Football HOF) as a senior, averaging 50 ppg through the playoffs to win the title again. They went 13-2 with both losses to 1-A teams, ECU (we were hosed and lost by a FG) and at UF.

GSC lost at App on a field of ice on the quarters in 1987 playing a true freshman QB named Raymond Gross before making the title game in 1988, losing to Furman 13-7 when Gross fumbled inside Furman's 10 with about a minute and a half left in the game.

In 1989 GSC ran the table and sent Erk into retirement with a then unprecendented 15-0-0 mark and his third title in 5 years.

It was just an incredible ride and so much fun to watch... and the fact that Erk was just "normal folks" made it that much better.

[GreatAppSt]

All kidding aside....
xnottalkingx


It was just an incredible ride and so much fun to watch... and the fact that Erk was just "normal folks" made it that much better.

http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/forums/images/smilies/jack.gif


:D

[Skjellyfetti]

Why did Erk retire somewhat early?

Surprised that Jerry has 3x the wins.

[Twentysix]

I believe Dubai holds that honor now.

Dubai is 1 at 2722 ft Tokyo is 2 at 2080 Blanchard ND is 3 at 2063.

I would bold third but you can just reread it. ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures_in_the_wo rld

I would like to thank Erk Russel for inspiring this thread. It made my morning worth while.

[Eaglesrus]

Why did Erk retire somewhat early?

Surprised that Jerry has 3x the wins.

Well, he didn't become our coach until he was 55 and retired when he was 63. True, that may be a little young as successful coaches go, but I think he felt like he'd accomplished what he wanted to and decided to go out on top.

[heath]

My building is 3 feet taller than your building...........your building looks like crap ETC...........xlolxLook at this picture, and you only have a two story in your ***** holexlolxGet a life you losers,and wait for the season to make an A$$ out of yourself.

[superman7515]

Chickens or mushrooms?

And Erk was no Tubby...

Chickens

[WataugaDave]

I believe the tallest building in Boone is the new honors dorm.
Correction: The tallest building in Watauga County is the new honors dorm. Just like the largest building by square footage is the library.

I don't know exact numbers, but I wouldn't be surprised if the new dorm was the tallest building between Winston-Salem and Johnson City.

It's okay, being in a beautiful, not too large mountain town is no shame.

[AmsterBison]

our second tallest building is a home for the elderly and incompetent.

So's North Dakota's tallest building... think about it, it'll come to you. :)

BTW, cool article.

[Grizo406]

Suspend reality for a bit, and just imagine what Erk coulda' done with the Griz!

We'd have at least 7 flags, IMO.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yXIaeM5j1MY/TcQ5wHZ48bI/AAAAAAAAEZk/K8yTQ6I2eaY/s1600/erk+russell.jpg

I love the guy...always have, always will!!!

[Grizalltheway]

Dubai is 1 at 2722 ft Tokyo is 2 at 2080 Blanchard ND is 3 at 2063.

I would bold third but you can just reread it. ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures_in_the_wo rld

I would like to thank Erk Russel for inspiring this thread. It made my morning worth while.

Yeah, my bad.

[The Cats]

The tallest building in every city should be a Radisson.

We'd love to have a Radisson in Cullowhee.

[Twentysix]

Half of the posts in this thread are epic.

[I-16Bandit]

Why did Erk retire somewhat early?

I don't know, but you can't argue that Erk retired in the most perfect and deserving way. Coaching your last game at home, winning the National Championship and finishing the season 15-0 (first football team to reach this feat) and having a record crowd in attendance (still today). Amazing.

This is a poster that I want so damn bad. It is of that game and is appropriately entitled "Erk's Last Game."
http://statesboromarketingandpromotions.files.wordpress.c om/2011/02/img_9681.jpg?w=1024

[frozennorth]

Suspend reality for a bit, and just imagine what Erk coulda' done with the Griz!

We'd have at least 7 flags, IMO.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yXIaeM5j1MY/TcQ5wHZ48bI/AAAAAAAAEZk/K8yTQ6I2eaY/s1600/erk+russell.jpg

I love the guy...always have, always will!!!

minus the blood, they look kinda similar. Or maybe all bald people look alike. I dunno.

http://www.wday.com/media/full/jpg/2009/08/06/bohl.jpg

[eaglewraith]

I don't know, but you can't argue that Erk retired in the most perfect and deserving way. Coaching your last game at home, winning the National Championship and finishing the season 15-0 (first football team to reach this feat) and having a record crowd in attendance (still today). Amazing.

This is a poster that I want so damn bad. It is of that game and is appropriately entitled "Erk's Last Game."
http://statesboromarketingandpromotions.files.wordpress.c om/2011/02/img_9681.jpg?w=1024

They had them in the Bookstore. Picked up the last 2 on the day of the Spring Game. Might want to check in there from time to time.

[Catatonic]

Suspend reality for a bit, and just imagine what Erk coulda' done with the Griz!

We'd have at least 7 flags, IMO.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yXIaeM5j1MY/TcQ5wHZ48bI/AAAAAAAAEZk/K8yTQ6I2eaY/s1600/erk+russell.jpg



I love the guy...always have, always will!!!

Dawgs of Georgia play this game, too. Wonder what would have happened if UGA had hired Erk rather than a mediocre Ray Goff.

Erk remains the most revered assistant coach in UGA history.

[BR54Niner]

our second tallest building is a home for the elderly and incompetent.

So it's your Alumni Center?

[TheRevSFA]

I don't know, but you can't argue that Erk retired in the most perfect and deserving way. Coaching your last game at home, winning the National Championship and finishing the season 15-0 (first football team to reach this feat) and having a record crowd in attendance (still today). Amazing.

This is a poster that I want so damn bad. It is of that game and is appropriately entitled "Erk's Last Game."
http://statesboromarketingandpromotions.files.wordpress.c om/2011/02/img_9681.jpg?w=1024

Hell I'd be interested in that poster just because it shows SFA in the NC...

[Grizalltheway]

So it's your Alumni Center?

I lawled.

[Apphole]

I don't know, but you can't argue that Erk retired in the most perfect and deserving way. Coaching your last game at home, winning the National Championship and finishing the season 15-0 (first football team to reach this feat) and having a record crowd in attendance (still today). Amazing.

This is a poster that I want so damn bad. It is of that game and is appropriately entitled "Erk's Last Game."
http://statesboromarketingandpromotions.files.wordpress.c om/2011/02/img_9681.jpg?w=1024

Damn. Y'all haven't changed your stadium since at least 1989?

[superman7515]

Damn. Y'all haven't changed your stadium since at least 1989?

We added handrails.

[blueballs]

Damn. Y'all haven't changed your stadium since at least 1989?

The basic layout hasn't changed.

However, the Bishop building in the west endzone replaced the old Lupton Building, the field was bricked in and wrought rion fencing added, new restrooms and concessions were added on both sides, there is an on-site bookstore on both sides, there is a new box office building behind the Bishop building, the Erk Russell statue in the west endzone, new scoreboard with video, and a new admin building on the east side.

Most of what I just described was done in the last 5 years.

[The Eagle's Cliff]

Damn. Y'all haven't changed your stadium since at least 1989?

Well yours just changed 6 years ago for the first time in a few decades. When ours was built in 1984 it was better than KBS until 2006.

[Apphole]

Well yours just changed 6 years ago for the first time in a few decades. When ours was built in 1984 it was better than KBS until 2006.

I know. I wasn't trying to insult you by bringing attention to that. I was just legitimately surprised to see the 1989 Paulson looking the same as it does today.

[GAD]

Coach Russell was a great man not just because he won but because he taught his players to be good people.
btw I had a friend who once told me Coach Russell once used a bucket of snakes to teach his player to stay away from the wrong people. any truth to this?

[Eaglesrus]

Actually it was to stay away from drugs. Story is he got someone to bring a snake in a bag into a room full of players and throw it on the table. the players scattered but fast, and Erk told them he expected them to react the same way if anyone ever brought drugs into a room they were in

[GAD]

Actually it was to stay away from drugs. Story is he got someone to bring a snake in a bag into a room full of players and throw it on the table. the players scattered but fast, and Erk told them he expected them to react the same way if anyone ever brought drugs into a room they were in
lol great lesson!

[MarkCCU]

Coach Russell was a great man not just because he won but because he taught his players to be good people.
btw I had a friend who once told me Coach Russell once used a bucket of snakes to teach his player to stay away from the wrong people. any truth to this?
That's a key difference between a coach and just some dude on the sidelines.

[eaglesrthe1]

That was soon after the Len Bias tragedy.

[FormerPokeCenter]

That's a key difference between a coach and just some dude on the sidelines.

I know this is off topic, but here's a link to an interview with my HS coach, who's a Legend in Louisiana....he coached a team that beat Terry Bradshaw for the State Championship, but then lost to the same HS team later QB'd by Joe Ferguson (Woodlawn HS out of Shreveport. Same school also produced Boston Celtic Robert Parrish!)...one of his teams beat Colt QB Bert Jones when he was a HS QB at Ruston High...anyway, he was a big fan of teaching lessons like the snake story listed above...

He taught us about life and how to conduct ourselves....He's an ex marine drill instructor...and he's UNCHARACTERISTICALLY humble and polite in this interview...usually, he's in your face and loud....I'm glad I played for a guy like that....you Georgia Southern fans will appreciate that we ran the Triple Option out of the Wishbone and the Veer out of Split backs and that he spent his spring vacation in Tuscaloosa learning how Bear Bryant did things! ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUHvdIIxgTI&feature=share

[blueballs]

Actually it was to stay away from drugs. Story is he got someone to bring a snake in a bag into a room full of players and throw it on the table. the players scattered but fast, and Erk told them he expected them to react the same way if anyone ever brought drugs into a room they were in

It was a rattlesnake and it cleared the room.

[JSUBison]

I believe the tallest building in Boone is the new honors dorm. I'd still rather live in Boone than a humid, gnat infested swamp or a land of Canadian culture where people bury fish soaked in human urine only to dig it up months later to eat it. Fargo and Stinkboro suck.

This coming from a person who resides in the part of the US where the patron saint of cooking is Paula Deen.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/paula-deen-butter.jpg

[NoDak 4 Ever]

It was a rattlesnake and it cleared the room.

I'm surprised it wasn't eaten.

[eaglewraith]

I'm surprised it wasn't eaten.

**** a snake.

That's a big bag of NOPE.

[paward]

Erk was plain and simple a "Class Act." What he did for GSU and FSC is great. What he did for UGA National Championship team was priceless.

[Ivytalk]

Erk should be canonized!xsmileyclapxxbowxxthumbsupx

[Eagle22]

The basic layout hasn't changed.

However, the Bishop building in the west endzone replaced the old Lupton Building, the field was bricked in and wrought rion fencing added, new restrooms and concessions were added on both sides, there is an on-site bookstore on both sides, there is a new box office building behind the Bishop building, the Erk Russell statue in the west endzone, new scoreboard with video, and a new admin building on the east side.

Most of what I just described was done in the last 5 years.


.... and though it isn't readily apparent from the photo, the luxury boxes were extended out to the east and west on the southside (pressbox) stands. That was a significant addition as well, that was done right after Erk retired.

[AppAlum2003]

Erk should be canonized!xsmileyclapxxbowxxthumbsupx

Gross! Why would you want him to be eaten by another person?! That's disgusting!

[NoDak 4 Ever]

Gross! Why would you want him to be eaten by another person?! That's disgusting!

http://www.sundriesshack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/I-See-What-You-Did-There-Fry.jpg

[GAD]

It was a rattlesnake and it cleared the room.
snakes=drugs
same thing

[MarkCCU]

I know this is off topic, but here's a link to an interview with my HS coach, who's a Legend in Louisiana....he coached a team that beat Terry Bradshaw for the State Championship, but then lost to the same HS team later QB'd by Joe Ferguson (Woodlawn HS out of Shreveport. Same school also produced Boston Celtic Robert Parrish!)...one of his teams beat Colt QB Bert Jones when he was a HS QB at Ruston High...anyway, he was a big fan of teaching lessons like the snake story listed above...

He taught us about life and how to conduct ourselves....He's an ex marine drill instructor...and he's UNCHARACTERISTICALLY humble and polite in this interview...usually, he's in your face and loud....I'm glad I played for a guy like that....you Georgia Southern fans will appreciate that we ran the Triple Option out of the Wishbone and the Veer out of Split backs and that he spent his spring vacation in Tuscaloosa learning how Bear Bryant did things! ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUHvdIIxgTI&feature=share

I had a coach in HS who coached my father in the 60's. This guy was the real deal and took coaching beyond the basics of football. He taught us to act like men. He was there for anyone, even if you didn't play a sport.

[GSUhooligan]

What he did for GSU and FSC is great.

I had no idea he was behind starting the Fox Soccer Channel. I love the guy even more now.

[paward]

Sorry meant FCS formerly known as 1AA. My dyslexia kikcing in, lol.

[tractorapp]

Didn't realize that The Citadel tried to hire Erk before he went to GSU. That would have been incredible given The Citadel's resources back then.

[Ivytalk]

http://www.sundriesshack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/I-See-What-You-Did-There-Fry.jpg

I guess I couldn't have expected a pro-Erk comment to pass without an App retort!xsmiley_wix

[blueballs]

Southern Pigskin celebrates Erk's birthday with a nice tribute...

http://southernpigskin.com/SoCon/view/erk-russells-everlasting-legacy

[GeorgiaPowerCompany]

Great article, shows how different GSC was when erk first stepped on campus and how he brought renewed life to an entire campus. Also gets me that much more excited about the opener coming up.

[Blue Eagle]

Well how many posts can you have about a 25 year old SI article?

Well how many posts can NDSU fans have about their school?

The answer is too many already!!!

[FurmanWins!!]

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg705/scaled.php?server=705&filename=1349141892e03c1e0fe3.jpg&res=landing

[Mdh1]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this fellow that I hear you Georgia Southern fans always babbling about. I see why you hold him in such high regards.

Before I can properly reply to you App State folks complaining about Georgia Southern fans not "get[ting] over the past" I have to know whether you fancy yourselves the pot or the kettle.