For decades Georgia Southern (GS) Eagle Football fans have lobbied the National College Football Hall of Fame, located in Atlanta, Georgia to induct legendary GS football coach Erk Russell.
Apparently ERK exceeds all the requirements except for one - the requirement that you have to be a head coach for 10 years. He served as GS head coach for 8 years. Unquestionably, the most remarkable, incredible, unmatched 8 years in college football history. But nevertheless, this had kept him out.
However, this dream picked up steam this week when Savannah's WJCL TV Frank Sulkowski produced a story about a letter written by GS President Kyle Marrero and GS Director of Athletics Jared Benko. The letter was addressed to the National College Football Hall of Fame President Steve Hatchell and requested a waiver for Erk Russell to be eligible for induction.
Fighting for Erk!
— Frank Sulkowski WJCL (@TheBigGuyWJCL) August 18, 2022
Dr. Kyle Marrero, @JaredBenko and even @GovKemp making their voices heard as they push to have legendary coach Erk Russell inducted into the @cfbhall @georgiasouthern @GSAthletics @GeorgiaFootball @NFFNetwork @WJCLNews pic.twitter.com/f7FgjZAu8m
Sulkowski also shared the letter on social media and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp re-shared the story, along with a letter of his own to President Hatchell putting his support behind the waiver for Erk as well.
I’m proud to support this effort and I hope a waiver will receive fair consideration. pic.twitter.com/t4a8nDw8i7
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) August 17, 2022
Momentum Thrills Locals
GS Eagle Super Fan and local entrepreneur William Martin, who owns the "unofficially - official" GS welcome center, Southern Exchange Company has been a local champion of this effort. Martin's love for GS and all things Eagle's is evident when you walk into his Chandler Road store directly across from the GS campus.
Martin is thrilled with this momentum and hopes this will finally push them over the goalpost in seeing Erk Russell rightfully placed in the National College Hall of Fame.
"There is not another example in the history of college football of a coach that did what Erk did at Georgia Southern. His grit, spirit, ingenuity, and perseverance embody everything that’s great about this university. His accomplishments are too numerous to mention but in creating fully formed traditions and building a tradition of excellence in “the gnat capital of America” you can draw a direct line of influence and growth at this institution and region like none other. Frankly we get to do what we do because of the groundwork laid by Coach Russell 40 years ago and continuing to push for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame seems like the least we can do," said William Martin, owner of Southern Exchange Company and Official Partner of Georgia Southern Athletics.
It's not rocket science @cfbhall.
— Southern Exchange Co (@SXCStatesboro) August 18, 2022
Put. Erk. In. #DoRight pic.twitter.com/niG5YACHIL
We can hope and pray that finally the man who put GS and Statesboro on the map will finally get the credit which is long overdue.
