2011 Football Kickoff Luncheon
(Disclaimer: I tried my best to accurately record notes and quotes, however everyone was excited, and had so much to say, that I had to resort to abbreviations. I used every available scrap of paper, including my grocery receipt, to document the day! If I misinterpreted my notes, or misquoted anyone, I apologize. Let me know, and I will fix it! I've attempted to boil down the content, and capture the spirit of the event!)
The elegant ballroom of the Capital City Club's downtown location was the setting for the Panther Athletic Club's First Annual Kickoff Luncheon Thursday. This sold out event set the stage for an exciting Second Season for the GSU Panthers. Plans are already underway for a larger venue for next year's Kickoff Luncheon!
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| Screenshot as everyone entered the banquet room |
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| Sam Crenshaw |
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| Table centerpiece: Helmets on pom poms, surrounded by commemorative mugs |
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| Favors: Commemorative Mug (front) |
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| Back of mug |
Prior to entering the dining room, fans signed in, then gathered in an adjacent room to visit, meet players and staff, enjoy tea, water, or lemonade, and bid on silent auction items.
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| Salad: Young Boston Bibb Lettuce with carrots, bleu cheese, walnuts and pears |
Main Course: Grilled Petit Filet Mignon, Smoked Cheddar and Bacon Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus and Carrots
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| "Dessert Symphony" Creme Brulee with glazed fresh berries, chocolate cake with chocolate embellishment, and miniature lemon tart |
Tea, coffee and water were served with lunch.
Ms. Levick announced that the student athletes at the luncheon were among the largest group of athletes ever. "They represent over 350 student athletes and their 18 sports, who are building a lasting sports legacy for Georgia State." She said that everyone can be proud of how our athletes combine athletics and academics, epitomizing GSU's Athletic Mission Statement: 'To shape champions for today and leaders for tomorrow.'
"The Panther Athletic Club is new. It is our core." Ms. Levick continued. "I was asked to introduce the President of the University, who is well on the way to developing our University into a leading research University. President Becker believes in the value athletics brings to a campus, and he allows athletics to be an ambassador for the community."
President Mark Becker came to the podium accompanied by the applause of the audience. He began with an enthusiastic, "WOW!" He continued, "One of the things you learn when spending time with football coaches is that they remember everything." He said that Coach Curry had told him that people had no idea what was going to happen when football came to the University, and that Coach Curry was right. "Cheryl Levick and Coach Curry know what it takes to build a successful program," President Becker asserted.
He continued, "Last week, we welcomed back the student athletes. They are the best group ever to have competed for the university, and to be ambassadors for the University in all they do. We enrolled 32,000 students this year. We are making our plans to grow. We welcomed 87 new faculty members. Football is a nice representation of what is happening at the University."
Having previously acknowledged that people come to kickoff events to hear from the coach about the football team, President Becker finished his remarks and turned the microphone back over to Sam Crenshaw to introduce Panther Athletic Club President Joe Reinkemeyer, the first PAC Board President.
Mr. Reinkemeyer spoke about the tradition the Panther Athletic Club is building, in bringing alumni, and people from different parts of the city, together to support Georgia State football. Mr. Reinkemeyer said he has been involved in football, behind the scenes, since the beginning, and remarked about the difference football has made on the campus, since he was a student.
The PAC President remarked that the majority in the room were season ticket holders. Those who aren't yet season ticket holders were invited to become PAC members.
To purchase individual and season tickets to GSU Football games, click HERE.
An opportunity was presented to participate in GSU's Charitable Ticket Program. For a $72 charitable donation, you can provide Military Families, Veterans, or Youth and Senior Citizen Organizations with tickets to Panther Football Games. The link on the photo below does not work, but you may use the promo code "GIVE" and purchase tickets by clicking HERE.
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| Link in photo disabled. Use the link above this photo to donate. |
Sam Crenshaw introduced Coach Bill Curry by saying, "There are only two men who, when I am with them, I am a better person. One is former Ambassador Andrew Young, the other is Coach Curry."
Sam's revelation was very moving for Coach Curry, and it caught him off guard. Coach Curry paused for a second, then started off with, "Sam, you got me all shook up," then proceeded to give a history of his coming to Georgia State.
Coach Curry reminisced about his surprise when he got the call about becoming Georgia State's first football coach. He said he thought he was called to be consulted about recommending possible candidates, and he was prepared to offer a list of qualified, younger coaches. When he got the coaching offer, Coach Curry responded that he'd have to call his "leader," wife Carolyn, to whom he's been married 48 1/2 years. During that time, they have moved 34 times.
Coach Curry said that Carolyn thought the GSU coaching position would be in essence a "win-win" situation, because he could do what he knows how to do, and she wouldn't have to move! (Previously, when Coach Curry was offered a chance to interview in California, Carolyn had told him she was happy for him, and to feel free to go for it, but "she'd miss him!")
Coach Curry said that as he and Dr. Becker took a walk around campus before the Shorter game, he asked Dr. Becker, "If we don't win this game, will you be mad at me?" Dr. Becker replied, "No, I won't be mad at you, but I'll miss you!"
Coach Curry continued, "I had no idea of the quality of the individuals I'd be allowed to work with. I'm going to borrow from a Zig Ziglar story."
"There was a little fellow, 5'6", 165 pounds, who shows up at a logging camp. He challenges the biggest guy there that he'll fell a tree in half the time that the big guy can do it. The big fellow chops the tree and lays it down perfectly in a half hour. The little fellow starts chopping His axe becomes a blur and he dropped the tree in 15 minutes."
The foreman, duly impressed, asks the little fellow where he's from. 'Sahara' he responds. "That's a desert," says the foreman. "It is now," the little guy says!
"We've got football now," Coach Curry continues. We had to create a lot of deserts; chop down trees. Coach Pugh and I had to find a field. We looked at a lot of fields. When we found one, Ms. Levick got the right people, and fixed the building. She only went in one time. It was pretty bad! She doesn't mind going in to the new locker rooms at our practice facility now, though."
"Our guys knocked themselves out--coaches and young men." At this point, Coach Curry introduced all the assistant coaches and the half a dozen or so football players who were at the luncheon. He said he wished he had time to tell stories about everyone. Coach Curry said these guys are wonderful students and wonderful players, and it is a privilege to coach them.
Coach reminded everyone that all the players chose to be at Georgia State; that they could have gone anywhere, some even to the Ivy League. He laughingly let everyone know that "only players who didn't have any classes during the luncheon time are here."
"We have a very demanding schedule this year.
We don't want to go into the CAA without having played some tough teams."
"Football teaches you to deal with life. We will have our hands full every single game. We have to win the turnover battle. We have to be able to create big plays on both sides of the game. No losses on offensive side. We need to block and tackle. Run and stop runs."
"We have exciting offensive and defensive packages. On special teams, we have a few gimmicks. Expect us to be an exciting team and win with these fundamentals."
"Heads up is our rule. We are careful with our players. We don't let them return to action concussed." Coach Curry talked about other safety measures, including what trainer Bob Murphy does do help keep players safe and from overheating.
Coach Curry talked about how an encounter in Attalla, Alabama after 9/11 made him re-examine the importance of football. He was on his way to broadcast a game for ESPN and was concerned that 75,000 people would be vulnerable if they didn't call off the game. He got the call that they wouldn't be playing the game while he was at a convenience store, and told the man he'd just met. In response, the man told him, "Let me tell you: we're going to play football Friday night, because it means a lot to us!"
Coach Curry observed that the huddle in Attalla, Alabama, and other huddles, represents who we are as Americans. "It's black, white, liberal, conservative, east and west coast. Children can be brought into the huddle and put into jerseys, who have been taught to hate each other. They sweat, bleed, run, dive, have tutoring, study hall, back to tutoring. They realize sweat smells the same and we all bleed the same color."
"We love to play football. We are aggressive and getting after it, we stick together, and the team becomes brothers. And it lasts the rest of your life. I've been going to a few teammates' funerals in the last few weeks. It's the hardest thing I've done in my life. Some of the players I hadn't seen in thirty years. We hug, and it's the same as it always was."
"In practice and games, we get discouraged. We look at minutes on the clock; 1 time out; 100 degree weather. We don't care about publicity or a good article. We just want to quit."
"Greatness of spirit, or in Latin, magnanimitas, lives in every human being. A little voice says 'don't quit.' " You don't have to leave the field to quit. You can just turn your shoulder a little bit, and avoid a hit, and you're quitting on yourself and your team. But, you look at the person next to you, and know you cant let him down, and you find what you need to go on. At the end of the drive, we can look each other in the eye and respect each other."
"We want players to be the best they can be all the time; best in the classroom and on the football field. It is my privilege to introduce the opening video."
After watching the debut of the new opening video, in my opinion, the quality is such that it could go head to head with any Division One spirit film I've seen. It inspires pride, emotion, and excitement. The PAC gathering seemed to love it! I'm not going to reveal any content, and spoil the surprise, you'll have to come to the first game for the "official" premiere!
Spread the word! Georgia State Football is building a great new Atlanta tradition. Encourage your family and friends to become part of the Panther Nation--Atlanta's New Home Team!
Georgia State Football: Panthers are On The Prowl for Season Two!
GO PANTHERS!
