Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Georgia Southern Eagles 9/13/2025, 7:02pm EST

GA Southern 41 – Jax State 34, Attendance: 24,585

Weather: Sunny, 78; Ticket: Stubhub $32 Face: $60, Parking: $30 in private lot

“Tradition rich, FBS poor” by Tree

Georgia Southern has cash lots at $25 (also can be purchased in advanced). We were late for our lot of choice which we were told was sold out from a cash perspective when we arrived. It did not look that way to us when we drove by, but I will take them at their word. It meant we had some scrambling to do.

Making such changes after lots open is always dicey as roads get closed, traffic becomes heavy and the GPS becomes useless. As we sat in a long line of cars, I spied a small legal office that was selling parking spaces for $30. At that point, the extra $5 was moot but I still didn’t know where the stadium was in relation to that spot. We were going to hike to a tailgate with our signage, beer, etcetera so I was looking for something close. My buddy pointed out to me that the stadium was right next to us. I slapped my forehead and we pulled into the private lot.

We grabbed our stuff and made our way to the Green Lot to join Randy, Rob, and their tailgate crew. As we walked through another lot, we met plenty of friendly fans. Overall, the tailgating was good. Randy’s setup was one of the best. He and his crew have been doing it for many years.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not surprisingly, the fees are creeping toward $5k for an annual lot space like his. When Georgia Southern was a FCS Power, overall lot attendance was a little better. However, with a big screen TV, multiple tents and tables, our tailgate was jumping. We shared bespoke Jello shots and did a Dead Turtle – vodka, pickle juice, and hot sauce. We also enjoyed BBQ while we played cornhole.

The beauty of joining an established tailgate is that you can get the full scoop on the traditions of the program, of which Georgia Southern has some great ones. The football program started in 1924 but was suspended in 1941 due to World War II. However, it did not start up again until 1981. When it did, the school was cash strapped.

The local school district “sold” two old buses to the football team to transport players to and from the practice facilities for the princely sum of $1 each. This bus ride became an enduring tradition for the Eagles that continues today. Luckily, the bus route ended right in front of our tailgate spot, and we witnessed the whole thing. The rocking bus and fans greeting the exiting players is a unique and endearing tradition.

The first (from the 1981 restart), and perhaps the best coach from GA Southern, was Erk Russell who recognized the importance of traditions in college football and added more traditions.

Players in the old days were required to cross the Eagle Creek Bridge to get to the practice fields. The tradition of players running once they crossed the bridge became a tradition and established the creek as an important totem to the program. Eagle Creek is a gnat infested drainage ditch. However, Coach Russell declared that it has magical powers and deemed it “Beautiful”. Accordingly, a jug of water from the creek is taken to road games where some of the water is sprinkled on the opponent’s field. Graduating seniors are also baptized in the Creek. I can confirm the creek, like a Dollar General storefront, is nothing special. And, that only makes the associated traditions that much better.

One of the other most notable traditions is GATA, or Get After Their Asses. Another Erk Russell creation, GATA is plastered all over the place in Statesboro – on cars, clothing and buildings. And of course, being Eagles, Georgia Southern has a live eagle mascot, Freedom. Unfortunately, the latest Freedom had passed earlier in the year of our visit. This meant no “Freedom Flight” where the eagle flies down from the press box to the field for our game.

There is one large video board above one endzone with an old school scoreboard on the other side. The concessions had a good variety of concession staples. There were two different souvenir cups, one of which was the most elaborate I have seen to date. Beer is sold and there is even an all-you-can-eat/drink option in the Beer Garden Club. Stadium attire is laid back southern – lots of polos in the guys, plenty of denim dresses with cowboy boots, and the occasional blue and white striped overalls.

This was a great game of two evenly matched teams, with remarkably similar stat sheets on offense and defense. Alas, the Eagle recognized that there are three phases of the game and their special teams’ performance made all the difference.

Each team produced a long drive touchdown to start the game. However, Jax State after scored, Southern ripped off a 95-yard kickoff return. It did not take the Gamecocks long to react, scoring in under three minutes, with a 75-yard drive that included a 56-yard touchdown pass. Southern answered with a field goal to increase their lead to 17-14. The Eagle defense then got into the act, intercepting a Gamecock pass. The quarter ended with Georgia Southern driving.

The Eagles scored another touchdown and extended their lead to 10. However, Jax State kept fighting and drove to the Georgia Southern 14. The Eagle defense final stiffened and forced Jax State to settle for a short field goal with the score now 24 – 17 in favor of Georgia Southern.

The Eagles weren’t done on offense. Another long drive punctuated with a 32-yard touchdown run pushed their lead to 31 -17. The two teams then traded three and outs. The ensuing Eagle punt gave the Gamecocks the ball on their own 34-yard line and three minutes to score. Down by 14, this game was getting away from Jax State, but a nice mix of runs and passes got them a touchdown with 22 seconds left in the half. Georgia Southern was happy to head to the locker room with a conservative run up the middle to end the half, now up by a touchdown, 31-24.

Jacksonville State came out strong but stalled again in the red zone. However, another field goal closed the Eagles’ lead to four. The teams traded short drives again. The Eagles then started to put together another nice drive when disaster struck. A fumble and ensuing return gave the Cocks, a first down from their own 49 yard line. Jacksonville drives but the Georgia Southern stiffened, forcing the Gamecocks to kick a field goal – or so everyone thought. Their fake field goal failed, but Georgia Southern was flagged for roughing the passer with a huge targeting call. The Gamecocks took advantage and scored on the next play.

All of a sudden the crowd is quiet and the Eagles found themselves down by three. However, there was no quit in these raptors. They immediately drove down and scored a field goal to tie the game. Jacksonville State then went three and out and momentum was starting shift back to the home team.

In the first play of the following drive, the Eagles busted out a 42-yard run. It seemed to take the wind out of the Gamecocks. Georgia Southern methodically drove the rest of the way to the endzone to go up by seven. Jacksonville State’s next series was short-lived. They were forced to punt with just under four minutes remaining. However, at this point, the Eagles’ ground game was in full gear. They easily ran out the clock to seal the win, 41-34.

The stadium then lit up with fireworks and a L.E.D. light show to celebrate the win. It was a good game, evenly matched in every category and exciting from start to finish.

I met another guy, Andrew Baughs from College Football Tour, who was trying to hit all the FBS stadiums. He was five to six behind me in the count. We compared notes on our experiences and exchanged some swag. It was a reminder that my little journey isn’t as unique as I sometimes think it is. The same could be said for most college traditions, like Georgia Southern plain uniforms (see Penn State). But overall, the Eagle still have one of the better small school environments even with a recent heritage.

Oddly enough, if GA Southern was still in the FCS and dominating, I would have classified them as a must see site. Between the unique game day traditions and serene stay in Savanah, going to see Georgia Southern has a lot to offer. The problem is that the program has been middle tier in the FBS Group of Four. It means you won’t always get a good game. Seeing the Eagles play is an experience not necessarily needed, nor should it be avoided. It would be nice add on to an autumn, long-weekend visit to Savanah. And if your team is playing the Eagles, make the trip. Hopefully, your guys are ready for GATA.