Sidelines – Fall 2010
Iduate named First Team Academic All-American
Georgia Southern softball standout Nina Iduate became the third Eagle in school history to earn First Team Academic All-American honors, being named to the ESPN The Magazine First Team.
The team is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Iduate led the Eagles with a Southern Conference single-season record .450 batting average, finishing her stellar career as the all-time leader at Georgia Southern with a .371 average. A Norcross, Ga., native and mathematics major, the 2010 Southern Conference Player of the Year posted a 3.65 Grade Point Average and made the Dean’s List (3.5 GPA or higher) five times and the President’s List (4.0 GPA) once during her academic career.
Georgia Southern to host 2011 SoCon softball tourney
Georgia Southern learned it will host the 2011 Southern Conference softball championship as the conference announced the sites for future tournament play. The 2011 Southern Conference softball championship will include all nine league teams.
The complete list of future tournament sites includes, Softball: Statesboro 2011; Boone, N.C. 2012 and Greensboro, N.C. 2013; Basketball: Chattanooga, Tenn. 2011 and Asheville, N.C. 2012, 2013, 2014; Women’s Soccer: Cullowhee, N.C. 2010, Greensboro, N.C. 2011 and Birmingham, Ala. 2012; Men’s Soccer: Charleston, S.C. 2010, Boone, N.C. 2011 and Greenville, S.C. 2012; Men’s and Women’s Tennis: Chattanooga, Tenn. 2011, Charleston, S.C. 2012 and Elon, N.C. 2013; Volleyball: Charleston, S.C. 2010, Birmingham, Ala. 2011 and Davidson, N.C. 2012.
Golf finishes 2010 campaign in nation’s Top 30
The Georgia Southern golf team capped its 2009-2010 season with its 19th overall NCAA Championship appearance and a Top 30 finish in the nation.
The 113th NCAA Men’s Golf Championships were contested on the par 72, 7,395-yard The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn. “Competing at the National Championship was a great experience for the team,” said head coach Larry Mays. “We didn’t play our best golf, but I also think it was compounded with the tee times we were handed. But it was good to see the team compete on a championship-style course in a well-run tournament.”
Eagles seniors Spence Fulford and Ryan Zabroske concluded their collegiate careers at the championship.
Golfers receive academic accolades
Seniors Spence Fulford, Matt Deal and junior Logan Blondell were named to the Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholars list by the Golf Coaches Association of America. The Eagles trio joins 116 other Division I collegiate golfers in receiving the honor.
Fulford, Blondell and Deal helped propel Georgia Southern to a tie with six other schools for the most players represented by a Division I collegiate golf program on the list.
Four Eagles picked in Major League Baseball draft
Senior pitcher Jake Brown was selected on the second day of the Major League Baseball draft, chosen by the Oakland Athletics in round 26 as the 785th overall pick.
Outfielder Shawn Payne and pitcher Andy Moye became the second and third Georgia Southern Eagles selected in the draft when the Kansas City Royals picked Payne in the 44th round (1,319th overall), while the St. Louis Cardinals called Moye in the 50th round (1,519th overall).
Also receiving the call on day two was fall signee, Tyler Christman of Sumter, S.C. Christman was a 13th round pick (No. 408) by the San Francisco Giants. Meanwhile, Eagles senior reliever Dexter Bobo signed a free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Student-athletes named to Academic All-Conference Team
Georgia Southern had 25 student-athletes named to the 2010 Southern Conference Spring Academic All-Conference Team.
The Eagles softball team led the way, earning seven selections, more than any other softball team in the conference. The baseball team was second with six selections. Men’s golf and women’s tennis each had four honorees, while men’s tennis and women’s outdoor track and field added two honorees each.
Former basketball Eagle Julius Jenkins named BBL MVP
Former Georgia Southern point guard Julius Jenkins was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the BBL, the top professional basketball league in Germany. The award is the second for Jenkins in his fourth season with the ALBA Berlin Albatrosses.
For the third straight season, Jenkins earned Best Offensive Player distinction and added All-First Team Shooting Guard accolades for 2010 after averaging a team-high 15.5 points per game. The former Eagles star is shooting 48.8 percent from the field this year, including 43.4 percent from 3-point range.
Jenkins was a standout for the Eagles during the 2001-2003 seasons.
Record number earn SoCon academic honors
The Southern Conference announced the 2009-10 SoCon Academic Honor Roll, and 152 Georgia Southern student-athletes earned the honor, achieving at least a 3.0 grade point average.
The football team led the way for Georgia Southern, with 25 student-athletes earning the honor. Baseball and women’s swimming and diving each had 17 student-athletes selected, while women’s track and field had 14 student-athletes named to the honor roll.
Three former athletes eligible for Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame narrowed its list for individuals eligible for induction in 2011 from 70 to 36 nominees, which includes former Eagles Tracy Ham, Chester Webb and Marvin Vanover.
Eagle sports action on the airways
Along with full coverage on 16 statewide radio affiliates, pre-game, post-game and every minute of Eagle football action can be heard online and worldwide on the official Web site of Georgia Southern Athletics, www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com.
For more information on Eagles broadcasts visit www.GeorgiaSouthern Eagles.com/radionetwork.