Georgia State Panthers football
Encyclopedia
The Georgia State Panthers football team represents Georgia State University
in the NCAA Division I FCS, competing as an independent, but slated to join the Colonial Athletic Association
(CAA) beginning in 2012. Georgia State plays its home games at the Georgia Dome
, which is located off-campus in Atlanta, Georgia
. Presently the Panthers are led by head coach Bill Curry
and began play as part of the 2010 college football season
.
team. The feasibility study included a survey in which the majority of the students, faculty, staff and alumni expressed their support for this addition. The study included various the financial cost ranging from the renovation of a local stadium in Atlanta to the complete transformation of the current sports arena to a football and basketball arena. In April 2007, Georgia State announced that former NFL coach and native Georgian Dan Reeves
was to assist with the study of football, and to help with fundraising for the sport.
On October 19, 2007 the Georgia State University Mandatory Student Fee Committee unanimously approved a proposal from the Athletics Department for an $85 per semester increase to support football, additional women’s sports and a marching band program. The committee also unanimously approved a $35 increase request from the Student Activity Fee Committee that would increase funding for student organizations, fine arts programming and a lecture and concert series. Georgia State University was approved by the Board of Regents the total amount of $85 per semester for support of football, and approved for $21 out of $35 for the Student Activity Fee increase. By November, Georgia State held a pair of town-hall meetings on the subject of football, in which students, alumni, and faculty were able to comment on the addition of football. At this time, it was stated that if football were to proceed at Georgia State they could play at the Georgia Dome
.
On April 17, 2008, Georgia State officially announced that Panthers would play Division I-AA college football starting in 2010. Additionally it was announced the Panthers would compete as part of the CAA with home games being played at the 71,228 seat Georgia Dome. On June 11, 2009, Georgia State announced it would officially begin play in the CAA in the 2012 season.The school also stated its intentions to construct both a new practice field and training facility a few blocks away from campus. On June 12, 2008, Georgia State announced that Bill Curry
would become the University's first head football coach.
The first scholarship player, Mark Hogan
, enrolled in January 2009 and the first recruiting class signed National Letters of Intent on February 4, 2009. A second recruiting class was signed on February 3, 2010. In preparation for the football season, Georgia State's first-ever marching band formed and a new school fight song composed; new athletic logos were created and unveiled with the new helmet by President Mark P. Becker and Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick in a special one-year Countdown to Touchdown event on September 2, 2009.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
in the NCAA Division I FCS, competing as an independent, but slated to join the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
(CAA) beginning in 2012. Georgia State plays its home games at the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
, which is located off-campus in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Presently the Panthers are led by head coach Bill Curry
Bill Curry
William Alexander "Bill" Curry is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head coach at Georgia State University, which began competing in college football in 2010...
and began play as part of the 2010 college football season
2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season
The 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of the college football season, began in September 2010 and concluded with the national championship game on January 7, 2011 won by Eastern Washington...
.
History
Georgia State's athletic program completed a feasibility study that examined the interest and potential cost to add a Division I FCS college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team. The feasibility study included a survey in which the majority of the students, faculty, staff and alumni expressed their support for this addition. The study included various the financial cost ranging from the renovation of a local stadium in Atlanta to the complete transformation of the current sports arena to a football and basketball arena. In April 2007, Georgia State announced that former NFL coach and native Georgian Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else...
was to assist with the study of football, and to help with fundraising for the sport.
On October 19, 2007 the Georgia State University Mandatory Student Fee Committee unanimously approved a proposal from the Athletics Department for an $85 per semester increase to support football, additional women’s sports and a marching band program. The committee also unanimously approved a $35 increase request from the Student Activity Fee Committee that would increase funding for student organizations, fine arts programming and a lecture and concert series. Georgia State University was approved by the Board of Regents the total amount of $85 per semester for support of football, and approved for $21 out of $35 for the Student Activity Fee increase. By November, Georgia State held a pair of town-hall meetings on the subject of football, in which students, alumni, and faculty were able to comment on the addition of football. At this time, it was stated that if football were to proceed at Georgia State they could play at the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
.
On April 17, 2008, Georgia State officially announced that Panthers would play Division I-AA college football starting in 2010. Additionally it was announced the Panthers would compete as part of the CAA with home games being played at the 71,228 seat Georgia Dome. On June 11, 2009, Georgia State announced it would officially begin play in the CAA in the 2012 season.The school also stated its intentions to construct both a new practice field and training facility a few blocks away from campus. On June 12, 2008, Georgia State announced that Bill Curry
Bill Curry
William Alexander "Bill" Curry is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head coach at Georgia State University, which began competing in college football in 2010...
would become the University's first head football coach.
The first scholarship player, Mark Hogan
Mark Hogan
Mark John Hogan Jr. is a Linebacker for the Georgia State University Panthers football team. In January 2009, he became the first scholarship player to enroll at the University.-High School Career:...
, enrolled in January 2009 and the first recruiting class signed National Letters of Intent on February 4, 2009. A second recruiting class was signed on February 3, 2010. In preparation for the football season, Georgia State's first-ever marching band formed and a new school fight song composed; new athletic logos were created and unveiled with the new helmet by President Mark P. Becker and Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick in a special one-year Countdown to Touchdown event on September 2, 2009.