Roughly an hour northeast of Savannah lies Statesboro, Georgia. This endearing town is home to Georgia Southern University and Paulson Stadium, affectionately known as “The Prettiest Little Stadium in America.” Opened in 1984, it’s a youthful venue that feels prototypical of stadiums that have endured multiple decades. The stands feel cozy and familiar as they keep fans close to the action. The spirit squad, Southern Pride Marching Band, and Gus the Eagle feel like family here. It’s a college football classic without the expansive history of its brethren. Even “pretty” feels like an understatement.
Gameday begins with a tradition that cements the essence of Georgia Southern. Known for its blue collar mentality, the football team is transported through town to the stadium by yellow school buses. The journey represents Georgia Southern’s modest early days when the football facilities were not on campus and simple yellow buses were the primary form of transport. Football was dropped in 1941 and didn’t return until the early 1980s when a hard-earned turnaround resulted in championships achieved. As the program in Statesboro has grown consistently prosperous, the yellow bus tradition remains a reminder of the determination that gave the Eagles their wings. The fans enhance the spectacle as they gather on the streets to cheer as the buses wheel through. When players get dropped off near Paulson Stadium for the Eagle Walk, they are greeted with a rowdy and loving reception by the Georgia Southern faithful.
On gameday and beyond, that blue collar grit permeates campus with a rallying cry unique only to Statesboro. G.A.T.A. stands for “Get After Their Asses,” which embodies the raw spirit of the program and fanbase. The phrase originated with tenacious former coach Erk Russell who spearheaded the rebirth and championship legacy at Georgia Southern. From t-shirts to scoreboards, the GATA acronym is ubiquitous throughout campus and is emblazoned in the hearts of all who bleed Georgia Southern blue.
Erk Russell’s influence extends far beyond GATA. The statues both inside and outside of Paulson emit the “One More Time” rallying cry that he coined to inspire a widespread community of players and fans. He had a knack for converting that which was lackluster into something inspiring. At his suggestion, the uninviting gnat-populated drainage ditch near the practice fields became known as “Beautiful Eagle Creek” through which magical waters flowed. As a result, this creek now symbolizes the immense power in something unassuming – an ideal metaphor for Georgia Southern.
Mascots are emblematic of the spirit of a school, but few mean more than the live eagle that takes flight before kickoff on Georgia Southern gamedays. In 2007, Freedom was introduced and became an instant legend. Flying over the stands, this majestic eagle defined the soul of Georgia Southern. Thousands of proud eyes lifted their gaze toward the soaring strength of Freedom – a single creature above that unified the masses below. In the spring of 2025, Freedom passed away triggering shock and sorrow across the Peach State. Tributes and tears graced the home opener as fans embraced the memory and legacy of Freedom. A bronze statue now rests outside the stadium immortalizing his dynamism and grandeur. As healing runs its course under quiet skies, the future above Paulson holds winged legends that will carry on this treasured tradition.
Georgia Southern proves something special about college football. Their four-decade gridiron hiatus did not stunt their growth. The spirit of college football is born from fan bases and fight songs, towns and traditions, and a connection that defies definition. Statesboro has all of this, and they relied on gritty stamina to get there. Filled with adoration for their team, Eagle Nation delivers on making hearts beat proudly on gamedays.
