Georgia Southern University will host former National Football League player and National Football Foundations College Hall of Fame member, Archie Manning, at Hanner Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The appearance is part of the university’s leadership lecture series, developed to expose students to insights from world-class leaders.
Manning, a native of Mississippi, has set records on and off the field.
He was the first player in the New Orleans Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame, was named one of the Top 25 Athletes of the Century in Louisiana and for the past 25 years has hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in Louisiana and Mississippi.
“I am proud our students have chosen both a successful business person and a great humanitarian for our Leadership Lecture Series,” said Teresa Thompson, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “Archie Manning was an outstanding football player but more importantly, he is a wonderful leader and humanitarian as evidenced by all his work since he left football.”
As an active member in his community, Manning participates in the Louisiana Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scouts Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports foundations and serves on the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
Willie Fritz, head football coach, says Manning’s career is an example of true professionalism.
“I think it’s neat that we’re bringing someone in who has tremendous integrity. He did it the right way…he’s a real role model,” Fritz said.
Manning joins a distinguished list of leaders to appear at Georgia Southern’s Leadership Lecture Series which includes former first lady Laura Bush, former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin.
“No matter what kind of work you do or how famous you become, it is even more important to become a good person and give back to your community; that is the true testament of a good leader,” said Thompson.
Manning and his wife Olivia reside in New Orleans and have three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli. Both Peyton and Eli Manning are NFL stars and have quarterbacked teams to Super Bowl victories.