Georgia Southern making push for icon Erk Russell to be in College Football Hall of Fame

Erk Russell has been immortalized at Georgia Southern University. His name is prevalent at athletics facilities on the Statesboro campus. A large statue stands like a sentinel in front of the Football Operations Center.

He is the namesake and face of the main fundraising arm of the Athletic Foundation, providing scholarship money for student-athletes in 17 varsity sports.

Such tributes have come to an icon who created the modern era of college football for a small college and surrounding community and brought home the first three of six national championships. 

His legacy secure, there still is something missing in the hearts and minds of Eagle Nation and others knowledgeable of the late coach's achievements on and off the field.

Russell is not a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

And it's certainly because of a technicality, according to supporters of a new initiative to have Russell considered for induction.

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Russell was a head coach for a total of eight years at Georgia Southern. The National Football Foundation's criteria requires a minimum of 10 years in a head coach's career, regardless of total years coaching as an assistant or other responsibilities, to be eligible for the hall.

"I don't think two years short is indicative of his impact, and he should be given full consideration," Georgia Southern director of athletics Jared Benko said in a press conference Thursday.

"This is something obviously we're passionate about, our fan base is passionate about, we're all passionate about it. We feel this is something he's earned and deserves."

Benko and Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero authored a letter dated Aug. 5 that formally requested a waiver on the 10-year requirement. The letter was sent to Steve Hatchell, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, Inc.

Benko and Marrero held a press conference Thursday afternoon to discuss the new push, which has the support of Gov. Brian Kemp, who authored an open letter to the Atlanta-based Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

"Georgia is proud that the College Football Hall of Fame calls the Peach State home, and we ask you in the spirit of Coach Russell's motto — "Just one more time" — you honor him with this distinction," Kemp wrote.

The university had not heard back as of Thursday.

As football grows, so does Georgia Southern

"I  think you have to reflect back and understand the impact on a community, on an institution, on a region," Marrero said of Russell's contributions at Georgia Southern, including building a national football power at the I-AA level (now FCS) before the program moved to top-level FBS.

"The major growth of Georgia Southern really happened under the brand and the ideas and vision of Erk Russell of what this institution is, could be and will be," Marrero said. "At 26,000-plus students now and its regional impact, that vision has been fulfilled. As we look back on this 40-year anniversary of the restart of the football program and his legacy, it just made sense. Let's give this a run."

Well, running was the calling card of Russell teams, with a triple-option offense and hard-nosed, physical players throughout a roster befitting their tough leader.

It all worked, and very quickly. Russell's record was 83-22-1 from the first season in 1982 until his retirement in 1989. He went out on top with his third NCAA I-AA national championship in a 15-0 season in 1989. His Eagles also won it all in 1985 and 1986, and were runners-up in 1988.

All the more remarkable because Russell restarted the Georgia Southern program from scratch — down to the footballs — in 1981 after serving as defensive coordinator for 17 years at Georgia, including the 1980 national championship team.

Russell did not coach again after 1989, and he died in 2006. His biography has not changed. But with the celebration this season of the 40th anniversary of the modern football era, GS wants to recognize those contributors at the founding. Filling this missing piece for Russell is perfect timing.

"We both wish we could wave a wand and make it happen," Benko said of himself and Marrero. "This is a rallying cry in a lot of ways: Coach Russell, what he stood for, his identity. It's what we still strive to be today."

One-sided debate

Benko said Russell's omission from the hall is a popular topic when Georgia Southern fans get together like at football tailgates. Marrero noted that when GS was searching for a new head football coach during last season, he would be on the telephone with candidates and they mentioned within seconds the legacy of Erk Russell and what he means to the athletic program, the university and college football.

"That resonated in my head that this is a story beyond our region," Marrero said. "We're in the top 150 programs in history, as ESPN said, and he was our football coach that started it. It's time. He should be in the College Football Hall of Fame."

Georgia Southern's new head coach, Clay Helton, thanked Benko and Marrero as well as Gov. Kemp for their letters to the National Football Foundation.

"I think it should be a national discussion," Helton said on Saturday, who supports honoring Russell as a worthy selection who "set a tradition of excellence from ground zero to championships, and not only built a football program but really built a community and a university."

Benko was asked about next steps, and he hopes there is a groundswell of support for the waiver request from those who played for or knew Russell and for others to join in.

He said he grew up in Georgia hearing about Russell, and in his two-plus years in Statesboro, his appreciation for him has grown.

"It's not very hard to run into somebody that coach Russell directly impacted," Benko said. "That's his lasting legacy."

Georgia Southern will be celebrating its football history over four decades and would like to include Russell's family and some long-awaited good news on this front.

Marrero noted the construction of the Indoor Practice Facility next to Paulson Stadium and the ceremony upon its celebration. Perhaps the statue of Russell can be moved as a centerpiece of the plaza, Marrero said, with a sign recognizing the coach for his induction into the hall of fame.

Nathan Dominitz is the Sports Content Editor of the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. Email him at ndominitz@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @NathanDominitz

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: College Football Hall of Fame for Erk Russell? Georgia Southern hopes so