Eagle Nation welcomed their new Athletics Director, Chris Davis and his family in celebrity fashion at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center on November 4, 2024. Davis and his family showed up with a police escort and were serenaded by Georgia Southern's Southern Pride marching band as they walked into the center.
Friends and family filled the bypass to help usher Chris Davis inside.
Once inside, the introduction ceremony began with several speakers talking about Chris Davis and what he is going to mean to Georgia Southern. The speakers included Brian Burke, Leonard Bevill, Naj Watson, Clay Helton, and Kyle Marrero.
Each speaker talked about their relationship with Davis and how excited they are to have him at the new Athletic Director. Burke and Bevill spoke on his leadership even when he was working under Jared Benko. Watson, track athlete, and Helton spoke on how involved Davis is with the student-athletes.
President Marrero detailed the work that Davis has yet to do in his new position. "Chris, we are so confident and enthusiastic about the future of Georgia Southern Athletics with you at the helm," Marrero said. "I look forward to everything that we are going to accomplish together."
After his speech, President Marrero welcomed Davis to the stage. Davis was presented with a GS football jersey with his last name on it before he spoke to the attendees. Davis shouted out his wife, Randi, and his three children, Colt, Harper, and Tatum.
He said that Randi was his rock and number 1 cheerleader. He told the crowd about Colt telling him that he was proud of him. He called Harper the girl version of him and Tatum a "Boro blessing."
Davis has been in Statesboro working with Georgia Southern athletics since 2020 when he was brought in by Jared Benko from Auburn. "My family and I will be forever grateful for that," Davis said. "Statesboro is our home and we love it here."
Davis had a hand in a lot of what the athletic department was getting done behind the scenes. The transition from Benko to Davis should be seamless. "Because I have been at Georgia Southern for the last 4-5 years, I want to continue the momentum," Davis said.
It was symbolic that Davis was introduced in the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center. It not only symbolized the future of Georgia Southern, but Davis also held a lead role in the creation of the new facility.
In the closing of his speech, Chris Davis quoted the late great Erk Russell. "You can't beat Georgia Southern, and you ain't seen nothing yet."
