Bill Curry and Georgia State poised to join CAA Football in 2012

Bill Curry is Georgia State's first football coach.

Ask any individual who has competed in a team sport at any level to explain the euphoric emotions of team success and achievement, and they’d likely be at loss for words. 

It’s an indescribable passion which can only be felt.  The effort, dedication, commitment, and determination encompass everything they do in life at that given time.

When an individual gives so much of one’s self for the betterment of the team and success is the ultimate reward, the emotional high is a feeling like no other. 

 No matter how small or large one’s role may be in achieving victory as part of a team, the honor is shared equally.  When that feeling of achievement goes away, there is a void.

Georgia State football coach Bill Curry has had the good fortune of sharing the revelations of victory over 200 times as both a professional and college player and coach. 

With a resume that includes: playing for legendary coaches Bobby Dodd, Don Shula and Vince Lombardi, playing in Super Bowls, coaching for his alma mater at Georgia Tech, Alabama, Kentucky and now Georgia State, and awarded College Football’s Coach-of-the-Year (Alabama – 1989), there are very few individuals throughout the history of the sport who can equal his accomplishments.

When Curry walked away from coaching in 1996, after nearly 40 years of football, to join ESPN as an analyst, it was shocking to most.  Perhaps the long hours away from his family dedicating time to film study, game planning, practice schedules, recruiting visits, and the responsibility to more than one hundred staffers and players had finally taken its toll on Curry?

“I couldn’t ask her to move again.  She dealt with uprooting the family twenty-something times during my career.  It was time for us to go home and allow Carolyn to do something that she loved to do,” Curry said discussing the commitment of his wife, Dr. Carolyn Curry who works at Georgia State.

No longer coaching, Curry’s working hours were greatly reduced during his decade tenure at ESPN as an analyst.  He also managed to find time to serve as the Chief Operating Officer and Board Member for the National Consortium for Academics and Sports, authored several books, and provided a number of motivational speeches as a keynote speaker at high level events.

Despite being able to spend more time at home, Curry never slowed down.  Still, something was missing from his life now that he was no longer part of a football program. 

“I remember covering games for ESPN in Baton Rouge (Louisiana, home of LSU) and The Big House (Michigan) and the electricity that was in the air.  I missed it,” Curry whispered passionately.   “Even though I was there covering the game, after it was over I went back to my hotel room and that was it.  I missed sharing special moments with the staff and players, the singleness of purpose, bonding with the guys.”

Eleven years removed from the coaching profession Curry admitted, “I had just about given up the thought of coaching again.” So, when former Georgia State Athletic Director Mary McElroy approached Curry and informed him that Dan Reeves – former NFL player and coaching legend who took on the project of creating a football program at Georgia State in 2007—wasn’t interested in becoming the coach of the newly formed program, a nervous calm fell over Curry.  “My eyes lit up, and my palms were sweating.”

Curry knew what he wanted.  He wanted back in.  But first he had to turn to Carolyn for her thoughts.  “I called my beautiful wife when the job was offered to me.  It was her time now, so whatever she decided I would go forward with it,” Curry said, continuing with Carolyn’s response to him, “She said, if you can do something you love to do, and I don’t have to move again, go for it.”

In June of 2008, Curry informed Georgia State that he would take on the position as head football coach.  Two years later, he led the Panthers to a 6-5 record in their inaugural season.  Playing as an FCS Independent in 2010 and 2011, Georgia State will join CAA Football in 2012.

Although Curry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Georgia State program, his resume and national recognition will only enhance the credibility of CAA Football.  You can learn more about Bill Curry the man and his tremendous achievements in football, as well his contributions to improving the lives of others by visiting his web site www.billcurry.org.

Follow Ed Sheahin on twitter @NFLSkins