Kirby Southard didn’t know the quarterback he was facing in ninth grade would eventually be one of his closest teammates in college. A freshman at Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek, Southard squared off against future Mercer quarterback John Russ, a freshman at Middle Creek High School. Fast ...
Money talks. At least, enough for Mercer athletics director Jim Cole to stray from his “business plan” of scheduling one FBS school each year for Mercer football. The money isn’t the only reason, just a big one. In 2017, the Bears will play two Southeastern Conference opponents for a payday ...
Lauren Lightfritz always sets her eyes on the prize. At her first college tournament, Lightfritz finished as the top Mercer golfer. Golfing since the age of seven, Lightfritz has worked tirelessly to get where she is today as a freshman NCAA Division-I (D1) golfer. At the age of 11, she started playing ...
One of the lasting pieces of advice my coach has told me was simply this: Anybody can do it once, but those who can back it up and do it consistently are the ones who prove to be elite Division-I athletes. And that’s true for any college sport, or really, anything in life. When we set out ...
Cole Fisher stands ready behind the holder, preparing himself for the kick. The center snaps the ball. The holder catches it, sets it up, and waits. Fisher nails the ball with a powerful kick and the ball soars through the air and passes through the uprights. Cole Fisher, the Mercer Bears’ starting ...
[sidebar title="Upcoming Volleyball Matches" align="right" background="on" border="all" shadow="off"] OCT 7 (FRI) / 8 PM SOCON AT SAMFORD BIRMINGHAM, ALA. OCT 14 (FRI) / 6 PM SOCON AT WESTERN CAROLINA CULLOWHEE, N.C. *OCT 15 (SAT) / 3 PM SOCON VS FURMAN MACON, GA. / HAWKINS ARENA *OCT 18 (TUE) / ...
In Spain, they have El Clasico. In England, they have the Manchester Derby. At Mercer, there’s a new soccer rivalry taking off between two teams with mutual friends and lots of smack talk. Kanye2020 and American Toast Mafia are on a collision course to meet for the third time this season. This time, ...
Mac Power is a sophomore cross country runner from Dallas, Georgia — in all ways, a football town. “When I went to high school, everybody played football,” Power said. He tried football out at first, like everyone did, but the two just did not mesh. Cross country, meanwhile, competed in the ...
Bailey is 5’9” with freckles and red hair. Hannah is an inch taller and has dark brown hair. Looking at this pair on the court, the only apparent relationship between the two would be that they both play volleyball for Mercer University. However, Hannah and Bailey Noon are sisters who have the unique ...
From a young age, Katie-Rose Alligood said she was pushed to be an athlete. By the time she could walk, her father — a former college football player — had her with a softball and a soccer ball. Her introduction to sports at such an early age has translated into a success while at Mercer University. Before ...
The face minding the net for the Mercer Bears women’s soccer team this season is new, but not unfamiliar. Cristina Mursuli is Mercer’s new full-time keeper, but she has plenty of experience with the program, including being on the team in 2014 when they brought home a Southern Conference Championship. ...
The Mercer Bears notched their first win of the season with a victory over Tennessee Tech 34-27 . The Bears improve to 1-2 on the season heading into the bye week. Tennessee Tech falls to 1-2 on the season following the loss. The game did not start well for the Bears as Dontez Byrd returned the opening ...
The Mercer Bears have started the season 0-2 after a heartbreaking one point loss to conference rival The Citadel and a 35-10 loss to FBS opponent Georgia Tech. The Bears will look to notch a W in the win column as they take on the Golden Eagles from Tennessee Tech. Here are three things to watch for ...
The Mercer men’s tennis team traveled to Puerto Rico for the Palmas Del Mar tournament to challenge four teams that finished last season ranked in the ITA-Top 50 — No. 7 Georgia, No. 18 Illinois, No. 26 Florida State and No. 46 N.C. State — in singles and doubles action. Mercer’s Fernando ...
“1, 2, 3 Team!” is the chant of many kids’ sports teams and the title of Mercer University Women's Basketball Coach Susie Gardner’s new children's book. “[The book] is about a little girl named Zoe. She is the best [basketball player] and she knows it. . . she doesn't think she needs her ...
Mercer’s trip up Interstate 75 did not end in a victory as it dropped its outing against in-state opponent the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 35-10. The Bears fall to 0-2 on the season while Georgia Tech remains undefeated. For a short time in the first quarter the Bears held a touchdown lead. ...
The Bears are set to take on their first FBS team since the program restarted in 2013. A battle for Interstate 75 is set up for Saturday as they take on in-state power Georgia Tech. Here are three things to watch if the Bears hope to pull out a historic upset. 1. Jet lag versus extra rest. While ...
Chants of “I believe that we will win” ring out in the arena. The streamers are tossed high into the air. Somewhere in the sea of orange and black, the Mercer Maniacs are going wild for their team. ”We are the student spirit group. We are not an exclusive group — anyone who likes to cheer on ...
Tyler Ward remembers when pine trees and natural grass occupied the space that is now Mercer football’s home. It had been nearly 65 years since the sport had been played at Mercer. Fast forward a few years, and the territory Ward looked out upon while attending a baseball camp would soon be engulfed ...
Solutions by The State News