Wives Trip: GSU vs. NAVY

2 weeks ago Georgia Southern invited all of the coach's wives to travel with them to the Navy game. I was really excited! 9/11 at Navy.... a very patriotic and awe inspiring trip. We had a ton of fun and I would say it was the best away game I have been to! I had a great time getting to know some of the wives better and we had a lot of fun sightseeing and touring the Naval Academy. I also got meet up with my childhood friend Christina who had graduated from the academy and she gave us some inside scoop on the town and the campus! Enjoy the pics!

A beautiful view up one of the main streets in Annapolis, MD.... Where the fun really started!

The ladies and I all got a pic at "Ego Alley" which is a small turn around large boats use all the time right in the middle of down town!

After dinner we noticed the restaurant had a big eagle in the lobby.... we had to take a pic with it! Go Eagles! 

 Taking the trolley downtown on gameday!

We had a lot of time before the game so we toured the campus!

The Navy Goat... and me and Jen Davis! 

 They decorate this monument for every game.... we posed with our logo... even if it says stomp Georgia Southern!

Erin Cabral and I were the picture girls! We got one together in front of the Dorms... yes this is their DORM! 

This was also inside the dorm. A monunment to fallen graduates. I loved the phrase "Don't give up the ship" So cool to be able to see all of it! 

My friend Christina and I posed for a pic! 

 

Coach Gilliland getting after those players!

He'll never admit it but he stood this way long enough for me to get a good pic! 

Snapping a pic with Christina with all the cadets marching in! 

The Cadets filled the field and tipped their hats to us saying "Go Eagles"  

Brett and Coach Niamatalolo, such a nice guy! 

Happy couple after a fun weekend! 

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Blue and White Game Day!

"We are Georgia Southern. Our Colors are Blue and White."
-Legendary Georgia Southern Coach Erk Russell

The Eagles' Blue and White inner squad game was a couple of weekends ago and I am the bad coach's wife that has failed to blog about it! Brett's mom and dad drove up for the game and we had a great weekend... busy... but great!

Family Pic outside the front door

Before the game, the Coaches and some players came out and helped with a kids camp. Here is Brett in serious coaching mode with a couple of his "players" right before they run a drill... so cute!
I love this picture... It is Brett's Dad Ronnie watching from the stands as Brett coaches from the sidelines.

A fun view of the stadium and the action on the field... we had about 5,000 fans at the game!

Brett talking to his players after the big Win! White won 24-0 I love this pic... this is Grace, Coach Quinns girl. She was sitting in the grass and I thought it would be neat to get the logo behind her.

Ronnie and Kathy standing on Georgia Southern Tradition

Brett and his B-Backs

The Fam... looking to put a 7th national championship flag on the pole behind us as soon as possible!

After the Game.... we hit the baseball game then went to the big fundraiser for football, the EFAA reverse raffle and auction. Kathy snapped this pic (which happened to be our view from the dinner) and I think it looks amazing! very professional looking!

The 'rents and the coach and me!

We had a great time with Ronnie and Kathy... We love it when our parents get to come visit us... whether it is busy or not both sets of parents are always so supportive and helpful and want to see us get settled in! My parents came in January and helped me lay vinyl flooring and get curtains up on my door! Brett's Parents showed up and we ended up with a grill and a lawnmower by the end of the visit! Parents always know what you need, and no matter how much you fight it... they push you to get things accomplished or purchased, or put away... and you always feel so great after you do it! Although we have 3 more hours between us than before, we hope they will make a habit of visiting because it is always so great to see them!
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Full Contact....Eagles in Action!

I'm still waiting for my sweet sister Lindsey to send me my camera.... so no spring break updates. However, I thought I would drop in on Spring Practice today and update you on that! Today was the first day of full contact and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed myself even though it wasn't a full game! Brett says I am really tough on the players and really expect perfection beyond what most people would on day 3.... what can I say? I expect his guys to play tough, go full speed, and HIT SOMEBODY! I found this video showing some drills from today's practice. Brett is live in action! I am so excited about the season and I really am looking forward to seeing his players grow in this new offense and win some games this fall! Enjoy the Guys and "Coach G" in action! GOOOO EAGLES!

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About Time!

First of all, I know it has been almost a month..... I have a lot of fun things to share and, well, I left my camera with my pictures on it in Gulf Shores last week and I am waiting for it to be mailed so I can upload the fun for you to see! We just got back from Spring Break and I personally came back with a bundle of new fabric and projects in mind. So the next blog will be a Spring Break flashback, but this one today is a flash forward!

This is my first Georgia Southern Football Update.... Get ready Statesboro!

Spring Practices kicked off today in the Boro! "Coach G" has officially been working with the B-backs and since he coached the same position last year it has been a little easier transition for us and he is able to pick up teaching the new offense without having to adjust to coaching a different position.

I left work and headed to the grocery store and happened to drive by the practice field and saw the blue and white on the turf! It was exciting! I feel like we are so close to the new season and I am pumped!

We are finally getting a little more settled in and our weekends will be way less hectic with no trips planned! I am so glad to have some down time on the weekends so I can finish unpacking the house and get things in order.

Sorry the update is short and sweet.... but there will be more later!

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best of the BEST!

I just got settled back into Atlanta for the next 2 days before I say goodbye to it and everyone I love here for good! Yesterday was a looooong day! We were so blessed to get movers paid for by Georgia Southern.... I don't know what I would do if we had to physically move ourselves! We boxed up for a week straight and I was still boxing for about 2 hours on the day of the move! If you ever need a great mover and are moving from Atlanta or from place to place in the city check out Best of the Best movers!
Anyway... we finally paid and tipped them at 1:30 am and I couldn't get to sleep! Today we slept in and were starving since we barely ate anything the whole day before! we got up and realized that no one had breakfast anymore... so we hit RJ's a local steak and seafood place in the 'boro and had the Sunday lunch buffet.... and what I would call the best black eyed peas I have EVER had! I stuffed myself on home cooked veggies before I even tried the AMAZING dressing and turkey, fried chicken, and roast beef! SOOOO GOOD! My favorite part, the waitress put a full pitcher of Diet Coke on the table for us to get our own refills! It was the best!
We then hit walmart and lowes picking up some things and food for the new house and most importantly.... fire wood for our amazing fireplace! we then worked to unpack boxes and had a surprise visit from a neighbor down the street. He filled us in on some of the neighborhood 411 including who our neighbors are, what they do for a living, pets that will stop by for a treat, and open invites to join them for oysters in the winter and seafood dinners in the summer!
God has been so giving to us in the moving process. He has provided us with open doors, signs, and confirmations that Statesboro is the place He wants us! I am so thankful for the peace He has given me through this process! I can't wait to get back there for good and start to get settled! I will get internet on Thursday and will begin to update you on our adventures in the Boro!

Letting the cat out of the bag!

I got a call on the way to work today from another coaches wife saying, "uh, we have been following this Georgia Southern message board and noticed Brett's name on it... you might want to consider switching it to private because as of 9:00 am it has been viewed over 250 times!" I was panicking! I called Brett, I said, "was I not supposed to say anything?" He said, "well, since I am already out recruiting and telling coaches and players that I work at GSU I think you can tell people! The only 'official' thing we are waiting on is my background check!"

So, I checked my blog tonight and I had over 1000 hits and the message board thread has been viewed over 1400 times! The comments are very positive and it even encourages me more about the upcoming season! It also confirms to me that we have been given a very special opportunity at a very sports supportive school!

I did laugh, however when I noticed that someone thought I had "let the cat out of the bag!"

Check out the thread at The Flight Line scroll down to see "Brett Gilliland"

Eagle Nation, we are so excited to meet you soon! So glad to be coming to a school with such an amazing spirit!

Speaking of Spirit, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and can capture that spirit and use it for good! Check out this post for some amazing ministries that can use some support for the amazing things they are doing in the country and across our globe! If you have other organizations this holiday season that could use some support, please share their site with me and I will update the post!

Early Christmas Present

It's official! I have been waiting to share the news... but Brett has accepted and started a job as a FULL TIME Position coach with Georgia Southern Football! We are getting very excited about the next step in our lives as we start the transition from Atlanta to Statesboro, Georgia! Looking for a place to live and a new job are now on my to do list in addition to working full time in Atlanta. I have been looking forward to this new step but I am sad to leave Atlanta! I will keep you posted in the next months with all of our exciting news... I just hope I am not without internet for too long once we actually move!

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement over the 4 years we have been at Tech!