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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAccording to the retired accounting professor, students packed the gym during games, yet they rarely stayed seated. He attributed their excitement to those unforgettable and successful seasons under legendary Georgia Southern coaches J. B. Scearce and Frank Radovitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diane Harrell (\u201975, \u201998) grew up in Brunswick, Georgia, and earned both a bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degree from Georgia Southern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat I liked about the days of the coaches Horace mentioned is that they were real people we knew and not just coaches on the court,\u201d Diane said. \u201cCoach Scearce was a member of the church we attended, and Frank Radovich\u2019s daughter was a student at Sallie Zetterower Elementary School when I was teaching there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Eagle sweethearts have been married for 51 years and have fond memories of one out of town game in particular. A group of students \u201cconveniently\u201d arranged a caravan to a Georgia Southern vs. Mercer basketball game in Macon, Georgia. When they arrived at the meet-up location, Horace and Diane were the only ones to show up. Diane admitted she was hesitant about riding with him but added, \u201cAt the game, I saw what a good person he was and began to relax.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their shared love for basketball solidified their connection. The game has been a constant in their lives, even while raising two daughters. The season ticket holders have cheered on their teams from the old days at Hanner Fieldhouse to the new Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center. Both agree the arena seems less intimate, but they appreciate other improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI really like the elevator,\u201d Diane said. \u201cI sometimes have trouble with my knee that doesn\u2019t always like to bend, so stairs are not easy for me. It is so nice to be able to walk from the parking lot right into the building and into the elevator.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the decades, their loyalty to Georgia Southern basketball has never wavered. They recalled old traditions, like throwing toilet paper on the court to celebrate the first basket of every game, and singing the alma mater after the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had some bad seasons,\u201d Horace admitted, \u201cwhere we\u2019ve only won a couple of games and it was kind of painful to go, but we were still there every game. And even in the leanest times, I can always keep in my heart the Brooklyn Dodgers mantra \u2013 \u2018Wait until next year.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In reflecting on his alma mater Horace said, \u201cYour first school is always special. Georgia Southern earned a permanent spot in my heart from the very first game I attended.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diane added, \u201cBeing True Blue isn\u2019t just about loyalty \u2013 it\u2019s about being appreciative. Georgia Southern gave me more than a degree; it gave me a sense of belonging to something greater than myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Sandra Bennett<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For Professor Emeritus Horace Harrell (\u201969) and his wife, Diane, Georgia Southern University basketball is more than just a sport. The Eagles team has been at the heart of their love story for more than 50 years. Professor Harrell first started attending games as a student in 1965. The atmosphere was electric, he said. \u201cBack […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":12261,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[91,92],"class_list":["post-12260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-fall-2025","tag-spring-2026"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t