2026 Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced | Savannah Herald

STATESBORO – The Georgia Southern Department of Athletics announced Friday its Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026, a group of eight that left a lasting mark on Eagle Athletics and will be bestowed the highest honor later this fall.

The 2026 class of inductees includes:

• Matt Breida, a record-setting football player who went on to success in the NFL; and
• The Dirty Dozen, a group of 15 instrumental in bringing football back to Georgia Southern; and
• Scott Henley, an All-American who still stands as one of the best-hitting baseball players in program history; and
• Frank Hook, a valuable member of the athletic department who has served Georgia Southern for over 40 years; and
• Roger Inman, a do-it-all who has been one of the most visible and indispensable members of the Georgia Southern athletics staff for nearly 50 years; and
• Marlo Mincey-Vinson, a speedster on the track who won six SoCon titles; and
• Sarah Purvis Bryant, the most decorated pitcher in Eagle softball history; and
• Brent Russell, a terror on the defensive line who was named to 14 different All-America teams.

We are proud to celebrate and honor our Georgia Southern Athletics 2026 Hall of Fame class, a group that represents the very best of Eagle Nation, said Director of Athletics Chris Davis. This class includes record-setting student-athletes, champions, trailblazers and individuals whose impact helped shape the history, tradition and future of Georgia Southern Athletics. From excellence as student-athletes to the lasting contributions made behind the scenes and throughout our community, each member of this class has left an enduring legacy. We are excited to welcome them into the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame and celebrate the incredible mark they have made on our university.

The 2026 class will be inducted at a Hall of Fame banquet during the Houston football weekend, Sept. 25 and 26. The eight additions bring the total number of former coaches, student-athletes, supporters and administrators in the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame to 184.

Tickets are on sale now for the public to attend Friday night’s induction ceremony (6:30 p.m; Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center). Those interested in attending may purchase them at https://gseagles.evenue.net/events/HOF.

2026 Hall of Fame Class Bios (in alphabetical order)

MATT BREIDA – Football, 2013-2016
One of the fastest players ever to suit up for the Eagles, he helped lead the Eagles into the FBS era … A two-time, first-team All-Sun Belt selection … As a sophomore in 2014, he rushed for a Sun Belt Conference-leading 1,485 yards and 17 touchdowns … Led the nation with 8.68 yards per carry that season … A Doak Walker Award semifinalist, which goes to the nation’s top running back … As a junior in 2015, he improved to 1,609 yards and a conference-leading 17 touchdowns … Averaged a nation-leading 7.9 yards per carry that year as the Eagles led the nation in rushing that season … Finished his career with 3,754 rushing yards, the sixth most in program history … He went onto a successful NFL career with stops in San Francisco, Miami, Buffalo and with the New York Giants.
  

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THE DIRTY DOZEN – Football Supporters
The Dirty Dozen organized as a group of 15 men in the early 1980s and were the leadership group that helped organize and establish Southern Boosters Inc. … The group is now known as the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation … The group was instrumental in bringing football back to Georgia Southern, the building of Paulson Stadium and the bringing of Erk Russell to the program … These men gave an enormous amount of their personal time to make this dream a reality, but all of them made personal financial donations to help jump start the program.

The Dirty Dozen include:
Roy Akins
Al Burke
Hugh Colson
Jimmie DeLoach
Sam Johnson
Robert Lamb (deceased)
Morris Lupton (deceased)
Donald Nesmith
Bobby Oliff (deceased)
Frank Pearson (deceased)
Ronnie Pope
Bobby Underwood (deceased)
Si Waters
Bucky Wagner
Bruce  Yawn (deceased)
  

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SCOTT HENLEY – Baseball, 1998-2001
Four-year letterman … Led the SoCon in hits (99) and RBIs (84) in 2001 … Ranks sixth all-time in at-bats (904), 11th in games played (226), tied for 10th all-time in highest batting average (.361), tied for fourth in most doubles (61), tied for fourth in most HRs (50), second in total bases (539) and is second all-time in RBIs (236)… Is second on the all-time hits list (326) … Baseball Coaches Association All-American in 2001 and All-Region Team in both 2000 and 2001 … All-SoCon in 2001 … Earned SoCon Player of the Week four times … Ninth overall in the nation in RBIs in 2001.
  

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FRANK HOOK – Athletic Foundation, 1985-Present
Nicknamed Mr. Georgia Southern … Joined the Athletic Foundation in January 2011 as the Director of Donor Relations and as the director of special projects … Has also worked as a special assistant to the AD … Has served Georgia Southern University for over 40 years after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation in 1971 … Started at GSU in 1985 and served as the President of Southern Boosters for 10 years before taking over the role of Senior Director of Alumni Relations in 1995 … Served in that role for 16 years … Helped establish the Eagle Club program beginning in 1995 as 45 clubs around the region were formed … In 2008, he was named the College of Health and Human Science’s Alumnus of the Year … Organized and raised funds for the Transition 20 as the Eagles made the move to FBS football … Served as President of the Statesboro Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter multiple times … Also served as a temporary instructor in the recreation department during his time as an Eagle … Has helped raise millions of dollars for Georgia Southern Athletics and different organizations around Statesboro.
  

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ROGER INMAN – Do-It-All, 1980-Present
Has been a fixture around Georgia Southern athletics for more than 45 years … His distinguished career dates to his first work with Georgia Southern men’s basketball as a manager and athletic trainer while an undergraduate pursuing his bachelor’s degree in education in the late 1970s … After graduation in 1979, he pursued his master’s degree in education while working in equipment, the athletic training office, the business office and the ticket office as well as many other areas. Inman graduated with his master’s degree in 1981 … A valuable and multi-talented asset to all Georgia Southern athletics programs, he worked 33 full-time years as a member of the athletics staff and now serves as a facilities consultant for athletics in a part-time role … From 1992 through 2011, Inman directly spearheaded the maintenance and daily operations of Allen E. Paulson Stadium, the home of Georgia Southern football … He also directed the upkeep and manicuring of the Eagle Football Practice Complex, oversaw the maintenance of J.I. Clements Stadium baseball facility and Eagle Field softball facility … One of the most visible and indispensable members of the Georgia Southern athletics staff, during his time in Statesboro he has served as: equipment manager, business manager, ticket manager, camp coordinator, assistant to the athletics director, game management coordinator, physical education instructor, student trainer, vehicle maintenance director and bus driver.
  

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MARLO MINCEY-VINSON – Track & Field, 2000-2004
A member of the second recruiting class in program history who helped lay the foundation for Georgia Southern track & field … A six-time SoCon champion, winning two 400m outdoor hurdle championships, two outdoor 4x400m relay championships, one indoor 4x400m relay championship and one indoor 400m title … Represented the Eagles in the NCAA Outdoor Regional from 2001-04 and held five combined school records, with three outdoor and two indoor marks at the time of her graduation … A 12-time All-SoCon honoree … Went on to be the head coach of the Eagle track program where her athletes earned Most Outstanding Track Performer at the SoCon outdoor championships and Freshman of the Year at the SoCon indoor championships … A double Eagle, ghe graduated with a degree in exercise science from Georgia Southern in 2005 and earned her Master’s degree in sport management from Georgia Southern in 2007.
  

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SARAH PURVIS BRYANT – Softball, 2011-14
The most decorated pitcher in program history … A three-time SoCon Pitcher of the Year … A three-time first-team All-SoCon selection … A three-time NFCA All-Region selection … Guided the Eagles to two SoCon regular season titles in 2013 and 2014 … Led the Eagles to two SoCon tournament championships in 2012 and 2013 … The all-time career leader in wins (61), strikeouts (770), and shutouts (25) … Named the 2012 SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player … Three-time SoCon All-Tournament team member … Holds the single-season pitching records for complete games (28), shutouts (10), wins (23), strikeouts (288), consecutive scoreless innings (37.0) and consecutive victories (7) … Tossed the program’s three perfect games, including one during the NCAA Tournament against Hampton on May 18, 2013 … Pitched three no-hitters, the most in program history … Held a 1.85 ERA, the second best in program history, over 676.1 innings pitched.
  

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BRENT RUSSELL – Football, 2009-2012
Named to 14 different All-America squads, including 12 first-team nods, during a record-breaking career as a defensive tackle … Helped lead the Eagles to three straight NCAA FCS semifinal appearances … Finished his career tied as the all-time leader in career sacks with 24 … Is still second in program history with 54.5 tackles for loss … The three-time All-American finished the 2012 season with 44 tackles, including 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss … Also had five blocked kicks, one interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … Won the 2012 Elite Defensive Tackle Award from the College Football Performance Awards … Four-time All-Southern Conference honoree.

Tickets are on sale now for the public to attend Friday night’s induction ceremony (6:30 p.m; Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center). Those interested in attending may purchase them at https://gseagles.evenue.net/events/HOF.