http://www.fayettedailynews.com/article...._news=9662

Curry is the man to lead Georgia State to the next level
2012-04-11
By Christopher Dunn
These days it does not seem like there is a much integrity left in the college coaching ranks. Arkansas's football coach is on the ropes with a new scandal involving a motorcycle accident and a young employee. Kentucky's National Championship winning basketball coach will always be shadowed by the vacated wins in his past. Even Penn State's long-honored coach was forced out in disgrace last year. In the changing environment of college sports, Georgia State has a truly special leader.
Bill Curry, head coach for the Panthers football team, is shepherding a program still in its infancy, but preparing for a huge step. Speaking as a graduate of Georgia State, you could not ask for a better head man. Curry is a man synonymous with honesty and integrity in the coaching ranks. He molds kids into men. He harkens back to the old days when a coach could walk into a house and make a promise to a recruit's parents and you could count on him to keep his promise. For that reason, the Panthers boast a number of second-generation players under their fathers' head coach. One story tells of Curry taking time away from his busy coaching schedule to be by a player's side while he was hospitalized with a tumor. That player said of Curry, "I never met a finer human being."
Recently I was lucky enough to sit down for lunch with Coach Curry to discuss the future of Georgia State football, and the outlook is bright. Later that afternoon, the school would officially move up to the highest level of college football.
When he was hired to be the football team's first coach, Curry brought with him an impressive resume in all facets of the game. He played center at Georgia Tech before heading to the NFL where he played in Super Bowls one, three, and five as a member of the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts. During those stints, he would snap the ball to Hall of Fame quarterbacks Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. While with the Packers, Curry played under the legendary Vince Lombardi. Curry said at the time he hated Lombardi for his hard nosed style. As the years passed, he learned to respect and understand what made him such a great leader.
He would go on to be the head coach at Georgia Tech, Alabama, and Kentucky before working as an analyst for ESPN until his hiring at Georgia State in June of 2008.
The Panthers are just now on the verge of their third season competing in football. They will compete on the FCS level, formerly Division 1-AA, this season. It was initially expected that the team would hang around that level for the foreseeable future. Instead, the school announced on Monday afternoon that it had accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference on the FBS level, formerly Division 1, starting in 2013. That means a program in its infancy could compete for bowls as soon as the 2014 football season after a one year transitional period.
It is a daunting move for sure and one quicker than expected, but according to Coach Curry, it's a move the school is ready to make. The school administration is committed to building the program the right way, making sure it doesn't just get bigger, but better. The football offices and practice facilities opened prior to last season were immediately seen as top-quality, on par with FBS level schools. The Georgia Dome is already a great drawing point for games. At 15,000 plus fans a game, the fan base is off to a good start.
Interest in the program has always been high with local recruits. Local players like Blake Wyatt (Landmark Christian), Davis Knowles (Whitewater), Matt Hubbard (Starr's Mill), and McClain Head (Whitewater) have already joined the blue and white. Sandy Creek's two-time state champion quarterback Ronnie Bell is in the process of transferring in. The move up should bring an even greater influx of talent. Coach Curry noted that a high number of players have said that they would sign with State the minute they went division one. While one can't guarantee the players will live by their word, it is certainly encouraging to the Panther faithful to think that they will see even better players in coming years.
Much like with recruits, Athletic Director Cheryl Levick spoke at the press conference about potential donors pledging to come on board as soon as the team raised to the FBS level.
It is the school's hope that the city of Atlanta is ready for another big football program. Just a few short years ago, Georgia State football seemed like a pipe dream. The foundation is now in place for the Panthers to succeed for a long time. While Bill Curry won't be around for ever, the lasting legacy he will leave at Georgia State will be of a program run with class and integrity. With their new home in the Sun Belt Conference, the Panthers' new day looks brighter than ever.