January 14th, 2021 by Georgia Southern University

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021

GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

VOLUME

ISSUE

What Happened at

Capital Hill?

STATESBORO EDITION

Chaos at the Capital

A timeline of events that happened January 6 and 7 regarding the United States Capitol building and chaos that ensued. Page 7

Open Letter From Political Scientists

A signed letter from hundreds demands that the vice president and cabinet relieve Donald Trump from his duties effective immediately. Page 6

Doug Ruse Eagle football head coach Chad Lunsford announced the hiring of Doug Ruse as the programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offensive coordinator Saturday. Page 10

PHOTO CREDIT: wikimedia.org

Campus Life

Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 59°/37°

61°/34°

48°/28°

52°/34°

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SEEN AT SOUTHERN

#PETSBORO

TAMARA TANKSLEY/staff

On January 11, at the Interdisciplinary Academic Building, Sandra Ann Sanders is going through all of her syllabuses and ordering books.

Ruby Ruby’s owner: Alexandria Finger, sophomore mechanical engineering major

ALLISON SCHMID/staff

On January 12th, Hailey King, a masters english student is buying her books for the semester at the university bookstore.

EVELYN SPEAR/staff

Amber Griffiss is preparing for a zoom meeting in the IT Building on January 13, 2021.

Page designed by Aminatta Mbow

Front page designed by Kayla Hill

The latest numbers from the Georgia DPH’s COVID-19 Daily Status Report for counties with a Georgia Southern University Campus:

Bullouch County: 4,150 cases, 39 deaths

Liberty County: 1,968 cases, 32 deaths

Chattam County: 14,320 cases, 257 deaths

Statewide: 654,356 cases, 45,533 hospitalizations, 10,580 deaths

@TheGeorgeAnne 1-14-21

Letter From The Executive Board Dear Georgia Southern Community, Whether we like it or not, COVID-19 has affected our world as we know it. The way we learn has changed, the way we interact with others has changed, the way we live our lives has changed. It’s difficult to remember our pre-COVID society. The George-Anne Media Group has also been affected by COVID-19; positively and, unfortunately, negatively. On the positive side, we’re happy to report that just during last semester we had nearly 300,000 page views from over 150,000 users. More and more people are consuming our content

than ever before. We’re so thankful for your continued readership. On the negative side, the COVID-19 pandemic has depressed the print advertisement market. Ad sales are critical to maintain our printing costs. That’s why we’re writing to you today. Our Student Media Executive Board, made up of the five student division leaders in our organization, made the decision in the fall to transition from printing weekly to printing biweekly in an effort to save money. This is not to say our content will change at all. In fact, this is the only major change we had to make— our team is still being paid,

the lights are still on and we’re still working. We’re still working. We’re committed to keeping our audience informed, holding the powerful accountable and helping our audience understand the world around them. When this pandemic ends, our goal is to resume print production back weekly. That’s our promise to you. As an Executive Board, we are so thrilled for the upcoming semester. We appreciate your continued support, engagement and, of course, readership. We’re still working. Sincerely,

STAFF LIST THE GEORGE-ANNE DIVISION Editor-in-Chief Andy Cole Managing Editor Eden Hodges Print Managing Editor Mitch Smith Managing Editor Celeste Chapman

Andy Cole, Editor-in-Chief, The George-Anne

Jenna Wiley, Editor-in-Chief, The Reflector Magazine

Aminatta Mbow, Editor-in-Chief, Creative

Jasmine Coye, PR and Marketing Manager

Ben Barks, Editor-in-Chief, Studio Aminatta Mbow, The Editor-in-Chief, Creative

Page designed by Lauryn Terry

THE CREATIVE DIVISION Creative Editor-in-Chief Aminatta Mbow Creative Managing Editor Morgan Carr Project Design Editor Kayla Hill Magazine Design Editor Jaelynn Gillis Photo Editor Tamara Tanksley G-A Designers Madison Terry, Lauryn Terry Project Designers Dalis Worrell, Cierra Horton, Niaya Smith, Adrienne Prophet Photographers Kyle Jenkins, Allison Schmid, Evelyn Spear PR/Marketing Manager Jasmine Coye The George-Anne Studio Editor-in-Chief Ben Barks The George-Anne Reflector Editorin-Chief Jenna Wiley The George-Anne welcomes letters to the editor and appropriate guest columns. All copy submitted should be 350 words or fewer, typed, and sent via email in Microsoft Word (.doc/. docx) format to letters@georgiasouthern.edu. All submissions must be signed and include phone number for verification. GSU students should include their academic major, year and hometown. The editors reserve the right to reject any submission and edit submissions for length. Opinions expressed herein are those of the Board of Opinions, or columnists themselves and DO NOT necessarily reflect those of the faculty, staff, or administration of GSU, the Student Media Advisory, Student Media or the University System of Georgia.

To contact the editor, email gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu

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Accessibility on Campus The Georgia Southern community responds to physical accessibility on the Statesboro campus

Do you believe that Georgia Southern has physical accessibility as a priority when planning a new building?

Do you believe that each building on the Statesboro campus has the same level and quality of physical accessibility as others?

40%

30% 30%

Which building is the most physically accessible? Why?

Russell Union has handicapped parking near the ramps to enter the building and the elevators are clearly marked.”

Which building is the least physically accessible? Why? The Marvin Pittman Building 2nd floor is not accessible. There is a ramp to the 1st floor entrance, but there are no elevators in the building.”

Education Building large elevator, wide door openings”

Hanner, there are too many disjointed mini levels.”

IAB - newest building, although the elevators are difficulty to manage and for a person with sight issues finding rooms is a challenge”

Deal Hall, offices I occasionally need to visit are located on the 3rd floor and there are no elevators.”

Page designed by Morgan Carr

Is there room for improvement? Where? Most definitely! v is a nightmare with tons of mini levels. You have to enter at a different side of the building for each level if in a wheelchair. Cone Hall also isn’t the best which is super disappointing because the Accessibility Resource Center is on the second floor. I’ve seen people in wheelchairs, scooters, and crutches struggle with the automatic doors (the doors openings need to be wider).”

Fix the elevators. Add elevators shafts to the historical buildings. Once a building is built, have a budget for redesign as needed or to update the elevators so they aren’t constantly down.”

I’d like to suggest two simple improvements. 1) There should be a list of all campus buildings that includes accessibility information such as where to locate handicap parking spaces, which building entrance(s) is equipped with ramps or handicap opening buttons and where elevators are located in the building. (...) This list should be posted somewhere on the website or on MyGeorgiaSouthern so that people with mobility issues can reference it when needed. 2) It should be standard procedure to offer an alternate location when sending out meeting invitations or scheduling classes if someone has a mobility disability. For example “This location may not be accessible to those reliant on mobility assistance devices. If you require an accessible location, please notify the sender so we can find an alternate location.’ ”

To contact the editor, email gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu

1-14-21

BY ALEXIS HAMPTON

What Mask Is

Best?

Managing Editor. Reflector Magazine

As crazy as this year has been, there’s one thing we did get out of this….a new fashion opportunity. and So, lets get into the latest fashion accessory, face masks. If we’re smart (and lucky), this won’t last forever, but we have to take advantage of it while we’re here. Before we can do that, we have to figure out which masks are the best for our safety. Let’s consider what’s stylish after we determine what’s safe.

According to Jessica Schwind, an assistant professor of Epidemiology at Georgia Southern, masks are crucial to stopping the spread of this infection. “Masks serve two purposes. First, it may reduce the likelihood of breathing in infectious droplets from someone else’s cough or sneeze. However, most importantly, your mask keeps you from spreading the infection to others,” said Schwind.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM

Disposable Surgical Masks There have been many different mask types to hit the market, and the disposable surgical masks are probably the most popular. They are also some of the most effective. According to Schwind, they do the job of preventing large particle droplets from spreading, but they must be worn properly (to cover your nose and mouth). They are also only meant to be worn once, so they’re not great for long-term or multiple uses. Cotton Masks Cotton masks with filters are the ideal mask, recommended by the CDC. They should fit snuggly without gaps, and luckily, with the multiple variations of cotton masks, these are the most fashionable. N95 Masks N95 masks are high quality medicalgrade masks. They work really well, but they are short in supply and should only be worn by medical professionals.

Page designed by Jaelynn Gillis

Cone-Style Masks Cone style masks are similar to N95 masks, but they aren’t as effective. Studies show that they are more effective than a t-shirt or a make shift handkerchief mask, but less effective than a cotton mask. T-shirt Masks T-shirt masks can be effective, but it depends on the quality of the fibers. They must be finely woven. Otherwise, they won’t do what they’re supposed to do. The best thing to do for t-shirt masks is to use one with multiple layers. Bandanas Bandanas aren’t even masks, but since it’s an option that some people use, you should know that they’re not the best option, nor are they the worst. They’re less effective than cotton masks, but they’re more effective than no mask at all. To increase effectiveness, try double or triple folding it. The more layers, the better.

Neck Gaiters Neck gaiters aren’t the best option for the job that a mask is supposed to do. Most of them are made of a polyester spandex material, which could actually increase the rate of droplet transmission compared to not wearing a mask at all. Instead of stopping the transmission of large respiratory droplets, neck gaiters tend to disperse them into smaller particles. So maybe just….stay away from these. Masks with Exhalation Valves Masks with exhalation valves are the worst option for a mask and should not be worn. These types of masks allow unfiltered air to escape, which completely defeats the purpose of wearing a mask. Stay away from these, too. Keep these in mind for the winter. Apparently, we’re in for a crazy holiday season. Maybe take this time to restock on masks, so you can at least slay the holiday. You can get masks at virtually any store now, but Amazon and Etsy are undefeated if you’re looking for something stylish.

To contact the editor, email gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu

1-14-21

Chaos at the Capitol: A timeline of what happened BY CELESTE CHAPMAN

Correspondent Celeste.Chapman@thegeorgeanne.com

Here are the events that occured January 6 and 7 regarding the United States Capitol building and chaos that ensued.

The House and Senate began the electoral process of affirming President-elect Joe Biden as winner of the presidential election. Trump finishes his speech and his followers head toward the Capitol building. The pro-Trump extremists pull down barricades facing the west front of the Capitol.

January 6, 2021 Rev. Raphael Warnock gets elected as the first Black Senator from Georgia

2am

10am

1pm

Donald Trump held the “Save America March” in Washington, D.C.

President Trump’s second impeachment

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6 p.m. curfew instated across Washington, D.C. Trump tweets for his supporters to, “be peaceful”. Vice President Mike Pence orders the deployment of the National Guard to D.C. An explosive device found at the R.N.C.

2pm

3pm

The pro-Trump extremists breach the Capitol and storm inside. The politicians within the building are evacuated. A woman is shot inside the Capitol.

BY MITCH SMITH

Print Managing Editor Mitch.Smith@thegeorgeanne.com

President Donald Trump was impeached Wednesday by the U.S. House following the riots that took place at Capitol Hill. Mr. Trump is the now the only president to be impeached twice, while most House Republicans voted not to impeach the number of votes was still too overwhelming with a 232-197 vote. A four-page impeachment resolution points out Mr. Trump’s

4pm Twitter deletes several tweets from Donald Trump’s twitter and locks his account for 12 hours. Facebook and Instagram follow suit and locks Donald Trump’s accounts. Democratic lawmakers call for Pence to invoke the 25th amendment, which would result in Donald Trump being removed from office.

rhetoric and claims of fraud that could point to inciting the riot along with a rally that took place on January 6 before the Capitol was sieged. The earliest an impeachment trial could take place would be the day before Mr. Trump leaves his position in office, next Tuesday. The Conviction and removal of the sitting president would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate. If convicted, Mr. Trump will be prevented from running for president a second term.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK FISCHER

Jon Ossoff was elected as the youngest senator, resulting in Democrats being in control of the House and Senate.

5pm

January 7 2021

President-elect Joe Biden calls for an “end on this assault to democracy”.

6pm

7pm

The Capitol regains control. The woman shot earlier died.

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook and owner of Instagram, bans Trump indefinitely from the platforms.

Pence affirms Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election.

8pm

3am

Congress resumes electoral proceedings.

9am

11am

Four civilians dead, fourteen police officers are injured and two hospitalized.

“Open Letter From Political Scientists” and what it means BY FERNANDA CAMACHO HAUSER,

Correspondent Fernanda.CamachoHauser@thegeorgeanne.com

In the wake of Wednesday’s Capitol Hill siege, the public and authorities have been left in shock as we all process and react to the photographs and information that have been slowly emerging. One of the reactions to note has been the “Open Letter From Political Scientists,” started by Brendan Nyhan, a professor of government at Dartmouth. The letter, signed by hundreds (including dozens of University System of Georgia faculty members), calls for the Vice President and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment relieving President Donald Trump of his duties effective immediately. None of the faculty members who signed were from Georgia

Southern but The George-Anne reached out to our political science faculty members to ask them about the letter, if they’d sign it or why they haven’t. None of the faculty we spoke to were familiar with the letter or its content beyond what we had told them. Dr. Christopher Brown, assistant professor from the department of political science and international studies, told us he’ll keep his ear to the ground as events continue to unfold. A similar letter inspired by Nyhan’s titled “Open Letter From Political Science Students,” is also circulating but, at last check, no one claiming to be from Georgia Southern has signed that letter. In regards to the possibility of an impeachment being seen through or the invocation of the 25th Amendment, “I imagine [they are] low. The

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President would contest it, it would wind up in Congress, and it might make a political martyr of Trump with very little time left in his administration. Nevertheless, it may be pursued regardless if he begins making illegal orders, or orders that are likely to cause significant political destabilization even if they are technically legal.” wrote Dr. Joshua Kennedy. There were those outside of the Political Science realm who gave their input in the 25th Amendment in through the google form sent out from The George-Anne with many voicing concerns about the timing, the support it would need, as well as the phrasing and intent of the 25th Amendment. Such as Jamison Leahy, student, who wrote: “I’m not entirely sure the 25th amendment would apply

here. I’ve read its fourth article and it refers to an inability to lead which I don’t think applies here. The intent seemed to be more about illness or injury. […] They may be able to get around this though, but Vice President Pence needs to be a key supporter of this and I’m not sure he would. If they are able to invoke the 25th amendment and Mike Pence does become the 46th president, he will surpass William Henry Harrison’s 180 year record of shortest presidential term would finally be surpassed.” “I would agree that the 25th amendment should be invoked if there was more time left of this presidency. The thing is, by the time that congress passed the amendment into action, Inauguration Day will already be here.” wrote Andrew Manning, also a student.

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Basketball Week in Review Eagle men and women’s (December 27-January 5) basketball week in review Eagles have an up and down week on the court

(Dec 6-13, 2020)

Recapping a roller coaster week for Eagles on the court

BY DJ CADDEN

Correspondent DJ.Cadden@thegeorgeanne.com

The men kicked off the on-court action on Thursday as they traveled to North Carolina to take on Davidson. Unfortunately, the men would be completely overwhelmed by the Wildcats in a 32-point defeat. As the men put up just 45 points, Zack Bryant was the only Eagle to reach double digits with 16 points in his debut. The Eagles shot just 39.5% from the floor compared to the Wildcats’ 52.7%. The women’s lone game of the week was a home contest against Coastal Georgia. The Eagle women were dominant as they breezed to a 70-point victory. The 118 points was the second-most in program history. The women were dominant on defense, as they accumulated 20 steals for the first time since 2016. Six ladies eclipsed the double-digit mark, led by freshman Simone James’ 15-point performance.

PHOTO: GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS

Gedi Juozapaitis shoots from the three.

BY DJ CADDEN

Correspondent DJ.Cadden@thegeorgeanne.com

Both the Eagle men and women were in action as soon as 2021 began, with both finishing the weekend with a 1-1 record. The women started their conference season on New Year’s Day with a 71-65 loss at South Alabama. Shondell Vickers was the star as she put together a 12 point and 15 rebound performance, both of which led the team. The remainder of the Eagles combined to shoot less than 33% from the field, which stifled any offensive momentum. The men were also in action on Friday as they suffered a brutal 88-59 loss at the hands of the Jaguars. South Alabama was led by a 26-point performance from Michael Flowers, who was one of four Jaguars to eclipse double digits. For the Eagles, Elijah McCadden and Zack Bryant were the only players to accumulate double digits. Rebounding was the glaring weakness on Friday as Brian Burg’s team was out-rebounded by 19.

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On Saturday, both Eagle basketball teams bounced back with victories over the Jaguars. The women took down South Alabama by a score of 78-71. A’Tyanna Gaulden led the Eagles with 15 points. Shondell Vickers, en route to a Sun Belt Player of the Week award, accumulated 12 points and 9 rebounds in another strong performance. On the men’s side, the Eagles also took down South Alabama, 62-49. Elijah McCadden recorded his second double-double of the season as he accumulated 12 points and 10 rebounds. Andrei Savrasov had his best game of the season with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Both the men and women will be back in action this weekend. The women will host Appalachian State in Statesboro at 6p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday. The men will travel to Boone to take on the Mountaineers at 6 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday as well.

To close out the week, the Eagle men hosted Mercer in the Battle of I-16. In a hard fought game, the Eagles would ultimately fall to Mercer on a buzzerbeating layup by Neftali Alvarez. Zack Bryant once again impressed as he accumulated 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Toyambi Prince put together an impressive 13 point, 9 rebound performance as well. The Eagle men have two games scheduled for the upcoming week. The men are set to take on Carver College at Hanner Fieldhouse on Tuesday at 6 p.m. They will close out the week with a road game at Florida International on Saturday at 7 p.m. The lone women’s game of the week, a Tuesday matchup against LaGrange, has been cancelled due to lingering COVID-19 issues within the Panther program. The women’s next schedule game is set to take place on Dec. 20.

Eagle basketball week in review — December 15-21, 2020

Another successful week for the Eagles BY DJ CADDEN

Correspondent DJ.Cadden@thegeorgeanne.com

On Tuesday, the men once again kicked off the week’s action with a dominant 92-27 victory over Carver College. David Viti led the Eagles with 12 points. The Eagles out-rebounded the Cougars 48-24 in a runaway victory against the winless Carver program. On Friday, the Eagle women took down Georgia Southwestern State, 90-69. Georgia Southern was led by A’Tyanna Goulden’s 12 points. Three other women eclipsed the double-digit mark as well. The men’s team was back in action Saturday and Sunday as a part of a twogame series at Florida International. On Saturday, the Eagles took down Florida International 103-99 in a double overtime shootout. Eric Boone and Zack Bryant led the way as they scored 29 and 28 points respectively. Boone also led the defensive effort with four steals. On Sunday, the Eagles took on Carver College for the second time this

season. This time it resulted in another dominant Eagle victory, 119-43. Cam Bryant scored a career high 29 points and brought in 9 rebounds, another career high. Rauleke Orizu also looked strong as he put together a double-double. The women were also in action on Sunday, as they fell to Chattanooga, 96-87. Sophomore Jaiden Hamilton led the way with 16 points as she was one of four Eagles in double digits. Defensive struggles haunted the Eagle women as Chattanooga shot over 55% from the field and over 50% from three. To close out the week, the Eagle women took down Western Carolina 89-61 in Atlanta. The Eagles were led by a combined 35 points from A’Tyanna Gaulden and Daeja Holmes. The Eagle women will not play again in 2020, but once they return the women will jump straight into Sun Belt conference play. This week, the Eagle men are set to take on Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday at 7 p.m. This is the school’s lone basketball game of the upcoming week.

1/14/21

LIVE: Early Signing Day Tracker

•

Tracking and analyzing every new Eagle from early signing day •

BY DJ CADDEN

Correspondent DJ.Cadden@thegeorgeanne.com

LAST UPDATED: December 16, 2020 at 11:45 a.m. On a day where tens of thousands of high school football players will fulfill their lifelong dreams, a select few will continue that dream right here in Statesboro, Ga. Here at The George-Anne, we will update and preview each and every new Eagle who chooses Georgia Southern as their home for the next few years. • Isaac Walker is a two-star inside linebacker from Cornelius, N.C. At 6’1”, 214 pounds, Walker is exactly what coaches look for in a linebacker. According to MaxPreps, Walker accumulated 38 total tackles, 5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in 13 games this season. • Nick Mercer is a three-star defensive end from Cordele, Ga. Mercer plays for the powerhouse Crisp County High School football team. Through 12 games this season, Mercer has accumulated a whopping 100 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. • Justin Myers is a two-star athlete from Washington, Ga. Myers plays multiple positions for the Tigers, as he has logged a rushing touchdown, 3 receiving touchdowns, 68 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, and a fumble recovery. • Chas Collins is a three-star offensive tackle from Statesboro, Ga. At 6’7”, Collins is a massive human being, but at 275 pounds he maintains a high level of athleticism. • Josh Trice is an unranked defensive back from Hamilton, Ga. Despite being unranked, Trice is an elite speedster as he has logged an unofficial 4.38 40-yard dash time. In 10 games this season, Trice has 50 total tackles and a pass deflection. • Myles Winslow is a three-star defensive end from Kissimmee, Fl. Standing 6’4”, 225 pounds, Winslow is a slim defensive end who feeds on his speed to get to the backfield. Winslow’s 2020 stats are unavailable, but in his junior season he logged 46 total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. • Britton Williams is a five-star kicker from Richmond Hill, Ga. Williams is a top-15 kicker in the nation and has drilled multiple field goals over 50-60 yards. • Davion Rhodes is an unranked defensive end from Pelham, Ga.

•

Rhodes has good size at 6’3, 220 pounds and has become a force for the Pelham program. His athleticism should be noted as well as he has played some wide receiver for the Hornets. Derwin Burgess Jr. is a three-star wide receiver from Riverdale, Ga. Burgess is currently the highest rated recruit in the Eagle class and committed to the Eagles over an SEC program in South Carolina. While his 2020 stats are unavailable, in his sophomore and junior season Burgess accumulated a total of 1,009 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Caleb Cook is a three-star offensive guard from Brunswick, Ga. At 6’1”, 278 pounds, Cook is a tad bit undersized, but fits the Georgia Southern offensive line mold perfectly. Andrew Johnson Jr. is a former three-star outside linebacker who has transferred to the Eagles from the Oregon Ducks. Johnson could never find the field with the Ducks, but is more than talented enough to become an instant contributor for the Eagles. LJ McCloud is an unranked defensive linemen from Pike Road, Al. At 6’1”, 260 pounds, McCloud is another undersized yet athletic defensive lineman for the Eagles. Seaburn Hines is a two-star offensive tackle from Helena, Al. Despite being a tad bit lighter than most offensive tackles, Hines should fit the athletic offensive lineman mold at Georgia Southern. Jjay Mcafee is an unranked wide receiver from Summerville, S.C. While Mcafee’s stats are unavailable, but his 6’3”, 211 stature should put him in prime position to be an immediate contributor at the receiver position for the Eagles. Montae Maxwell is a three-star athlete from Hartwell, Ga that will play as a defensive back for the Eagles. Maxwell has shown explosiveness with his 4.6 40-yard dash time and his nearly 40-inch vertical jump. Michael Edwards III is a three-star linebacker from Trussville, Al. At 6’2”, 210 pounds, Edwards is a solid linebacker who will be a contributor for the Eagles at some point. Tyrell Davis is a three-star safety from Harrisburg, N.C. Davis was a highly coveted recruit with a total of 27 offers. While his 2020 stats are unavailable, Davis logged 75 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 5 interceptions as a junior. James Graham is a former four-star quarterback who has transferred to Georgia Southern from Georgia Tech. Graham started eight games at quarterback for the Yellow Jackets in 2019, throwing for over 1,100 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions in addition to his nearly 300 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. Graham could legitimately find himself as the starter for the Eagles in 2021. Cam Ransom is a three-star dual-threat quarterback from Lakeland, Fl. Ransom is the second quarterback commit of the class for the Eagles. In just six games his senior season, Ransom accumulated over 1,100 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions in addition to four more touchdowns on the ground.

Georgia Southern closes 2020 with bowl win After a tumultuous season, Georgia Southern goes out on top BY DJ CADDEN

Correspondent DJ.Cadden@thegeorgeanne.com

Cancellations, postponements, and crucial injuries are just a few of the things that the Georgia Southern football team fought through in the 2020 season. However, on Wednesday, the eventful 2020 season would come to an end. Georgia Southern played a near-perfect game to take down Louisiana Tech in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, 38-3. Shai Werts, listed as a game-time decision, had no clue if he would even take the field today. 30 minutes before kickoff, Werts would lead the Eagles out yelling words of encouragement. That is when Eagle Nation knew QB1 was back. “He never really said it to me. I hear him talking to our guys about ‘Hey, we’re about to go do this!’ And right then I was like, he’s gonna play,” head coach Chad Lunsford said about when he knew Werts was going to play. Werts exceeded any expectations Eagle fans could have had before Wednesday.

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With a shoulder injury he had been nursing all season, Werts threw for 126 yards and a touchdown. QB1 was also effective on the ground as he rushed for 71 yards and 3 more touchdowns. Scot Sloan’s defense played their best game of the season on Wednesday. Not only did they hold Louisiana Tech to just 232 total yards, but they snagged four interceptions in the process. After Wednesday’s dominant defensive performance, the Eagle defense currently leads the nation in forced turnovers with 26. Despite offensive struggles this season, the defense has continued to play at an elite level. Despite finishing with a record of just 8-5, the Georgia Southern football program has shown more heart than anyone else in America. As the only program to play 13 games, an 8-win season is rather special. While the record may not be acceptable to some Eagle fans, this win should set up the program for unmatched success in 2020. So cheers to an eventful 2020 football season.

PHOTO: GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS

Eagles football celebrates their bowl victory.

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Georgia Southern Women look to improve in second year under Anita Howard PHOTO: GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS

BY DJ CADDEN

Sports Correspondent dj.cadden@thegeorgeanne.com

After taking over a program that had last seen double-digit wins in 2016, Anita Howard led the Eagle women to this mark in her first season as head coach in Statesboro. Despite only having three seniors, Eagle fans should have an optimistic mindset headed into the rest of the 2020 season. 10 underclassmen highlight a program marked by youth. While active on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal, coach Howard found a hidden gem in senior guard and Arkansas transfer

Eagles look to build on a good 2019 season A’Tyanna Gaulden. While with the Razorbacks in 2019, Gaulden averaged 6.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 rebounds. Sophomore forward Shondell Vickers, a junior college transfer, has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the paint. Through four games, Vickers is averaging 7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1 block per game in 2020. Tatum Barber, one of just three Eagle seniors, has emerged as a defensive leader in 2020. Barber is averaging 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 steal through four games this season. The Eagle women will play in the Georgia State

classic in Atlanta on Dec. 20-21. As a part of the even, the Eagles are set to take on Chattanooga and Western Carolina. After the Georgia State Classic, the Eagle women will then move on to conference play. Coach Howard’s team should fare well within the conference if their improvement continues to show. The NCAA Tournament could potentially be in the minds of the Eagle women if a few things go their way. A tournament appearance would be a welcome site for Eagle basketball fans as the women have not made the NCAA Tournament since the 1990s.

Doug Ruse named offensive coordinator Chad Lunsford officially finds his new offensive play caller PHOTO: GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS

BY DJ CADDEN

Sports Correspondent dj.cadden@thegeorgeanne.com

Eagle football head coach Chad Lunsford announced the hiring of Doug Ruse as the program’s offensive coordinator Saturday. Ruse finished the 2020 season as the interim coordinator. “Doug was given a hard task during the season to take over as offensive coordinator and help us finish out the season and I think he did an awesome job in a short amount of

time,” said Lunsford in a statement. While Ruse was the interim play-caller, the Eagles went 2-1. The offense averages 385.3 yards per game, 271.7 rushing yards per game, and 28.0 points per game. “I’m very excited, as well as very grateful, for the opportunity to once again serve as offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern,” said Ruse. Ruse was the Georgia Southern offensive coordinator for the

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2014 and 2015 seasons. During those two seasons, the Eagles averaged 37.7 points per game and led the FBS in rushing. In his first season, the Eagles won the Sun Belt championship and their first bowl game. Ruse should have a much easier transition to the offensive coordinator position in 2021 as the Eagle are projected to return at least 16 players on offense who have started at least one game.

Next Man Up Miller Mosley is making the most of his role at Georgia Southern

PHOTO: GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS

BY DJ CADDEN

Sports Correspondent dj.cadden@thegeorgeanne.com

Just around six months ago, Miller Mosley had given up football and was just weeks away from entering the workforce. However, when the COVID-19 virus took over the world as we know it in March, Mosley’s plans were completely derailed. After talking with his parents and close friends, Mosley decided one more season of football and the opportunity to enroll in a graduate program was worth considering. Shortly thereafter, the former Wofford quarterback found himself in contact with Georgia Southern recruiting coordinator Victor Cabral. Mosley, a former co-starter for the Terriers, knew from the beginning that he was not poised for a major role with the Eagles. “It’s Shai’s show. JT had a suspension early on in the year. I would be here for depth purposes and in return I would be getting my master’s,” Mosley said about Coach Cabral’s pitch for him to come to Statesboro. For the first 11 weeks of the season, Mosley would see almost no action. In fact, he only completed one pass for nine yards, which came in the season opener against Campbell. However, Mosley would see a much increased role after the Eagles’ Nov. 28 game at Georgia State. Starting quarterback Shai Werts was

lost for the remainder of the regular season after suffering a shoulder injury. Despite Werts’ injury, Mosley was still slated as a backup to Justin Tomlin, who would lead the Eagles to a convincing victory over Florida Atlantic. Headed into the season finale against bitter rival Appalachian State, many Eagle fans had high hopes for Justin Tomlin and what the future may hold. Those dreams were quickly put on hold after Tomlin suffered a leg injury that would require season-ending surgery. The next man up was none other than Mosley. Mosley was thrown into the Deeper Than Hate rivalry with a ten-point lead and a crowd of rowdy Georgia Southern fans behind him. Mosley performed well under the circumstances and he finished the game 5-for-14 passing for 122 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. “I hate the way the game turned out. I obviously would like to win the game, but it is what it is. Hopefully, we finish on a good note and win the next one,” Mosley said when talking about his performance. Despite still battling an injury, Werts may still get the nod for the Eagles on Saturday. However, Mosley is preparing as if he is the starter for Wednesday’s matchup against Louisiana Tech. Mosley confirmed just one thing when The GeorgeAnne spoke to him: The 2020 season would be the end of his football career.

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S D T B U G S A O T Y C A U S E S G

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To contact the creatitve editor-in-chief, email prodmgr@georgiasouthern.edu

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Interested in writing, photography, design, videography, marketing, or sales? Submit an application with The George-Anne Media Group today! No experience needed. Apply online at thegeorgeanne.com Sudoku Solution S D T B U G S A O T Y C A U S E S G 1

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Sudoku Level: Medium

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Sudoku Solution

Sudoku Level: Difficult

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