Georgia Southern Eagles Football: A History of Success and Tradition

Early Years and the Birth of the Eagles

Georgia Southern University's football program began in 1924 as a member of the Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The team played its home games at Bacon Park in Statesboro, Georgia, and quickly established itself as a force in the region. In 1939, Georgia Southern joined the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association and continued to find success on the gridiron.

In 1963, the Eagles moved to their current home, Allen E. Paulson Stadium, which has a capacity of over 25,000 fans. The move to a larger stadium coincided with a period of unprecedented success for the program.

Georgia Southern won six Southern Conference championships in the 1970s, and in 1981, the Eagles made their first appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

The Erk Russell Era

In 1981, Erk Russell took over as head coach of Georgia Southern. Russell, a former player for the Eagles, quickly turned the program into a national powerhouse. Under Russell's leadership, Georgia Southern won six national championships in Division I-AA and became one of the most dominant teams in the country.

Russell's success was due to his innovative coaching style and his ability to motivate his players. He also implemented the triple-option offense, which became known as the "Erk Russell System."

The triple-option offense is a run-oriented attack that is designed to keep the defense off balance. The offense is based on the idea that the quarterback has three options on every play: to hand the ball to the running back, to keep the ball and run himself, or to throw the ball to a receiver.

The triple-option offense was a perfect fit for Georgia Southern's talented running backs. The Eagles had some of the best running backs in the country, and they were able to use the triple-option offense to exploit the weaknesses of their opponents.

Recent Success and the Move to the FBS

Georgia Southern continued to find success in the FCS after Russell's retirement in 1993. The Eagles won two more national championships in 1999 and 2000, and they made several other appearances in the playoffs.

In 2014, Georgia Southern made the move to the FBS, the highest level of college football. The Eagles have since found success at the FBS level, and they have established themselves as one of the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference.

Georgia Southern is a proud football program with a rich history and tradition. The Eagles have won numerous championships and have produced some of the best players in the country. The future is bright for Georgia Southern football, and the Eagles are poised to continue their success in the years to come.

Upcoming Game: Georgia Southern Eagles vs. South Carolina State Bulldogs

The Georgia Southern Eagles will host the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Paulson Stadium on Saturday, September 17th. The game will be a non-conference matchup between two of the top teams in the FCS.

Georgia Southern is ranked No. 6 in the FCS, while South Carolina State is ranked No. 9. Both teams are coming off of wins in their season openers, and they will be looking to make a statement in this early-season matchup.

The game will be a rematch of last year's contest, which Georgia Southern won 35-21. The Eagles will be looking to extend their winning streak against South Carolina State to three games.

Fans can expect a close and exciting game when the Georgia Southern Eagles take on the South Carolina State Bulldogs on September 17th.