Allen E. Paulson Stadium
12/19/2008 5:20:00 AM | General
Allen E. Paulson Stadium was dedicated on Sept. 29, 1984 with a 48-11 rout of Liberty Baptist. The game was a fitting end to four years of planning and hard work - four years of dreaming of one of the finest football facilities in America.
Constructed at a cost of $4.7 million, Paulson Stadium currently seats 18,000 spectators while permanent light fixtures were added prior to the 1994 season.
The stadium features a prescription athletic turf playing field designed to accommodate both soccer and football, special climate-controlled VIP boxes with luxurious interiors, private restrooms and food service areas.
Prior to the start of the 2005 season, a brick façade was built along the walls of Paulson Stadium while the video scoreboard was also surrounded with a brick garden/façade.
Paulson Stadium reflects and enhances the growing importance of Georgia Southern University and Southeast Georgia - an importance symbolized by the area's economic and educational impact on the state and nation.
The stadium is named for the late Allen E. Paulson, who donated more than $1 million toward construction of the facility.
PAULSON STADIUM FACTS
Layout: East-West
Capacity: 18,000
Initial start date: First shovel - 1983; Opening Game - Sept. 29, 1984
Surface: Prescription Athletic Turf with special Tift Bermuda on a clay, sand and gravel base over an elaborate drainage system.
Miscellaneous: 26 private booster boxes, film deck and a 50-seat working press area.
First Opponent: Liberty Baptist, Sept. 29, 1984
First Win: 48-11 vs. Liberty Baptist, Sept. 29, 1984
First NCAA I-FCS Playoff Win: 27-0 vs. Jackson State, Nov. 30, 1985
First Loss: 35-10 vs. Middle Tennessee State, Sept. 14, 1985
First NCAA I-FCS Playoff Loss: 24-17 vs. Furman, Dec. 15, 2001
All-Time Record (Through 2012 season): 171-32 (.842)
NCAA I-FCS Playoff Record: (Through 2012 season): 33-3 (.917)
First Score: 36-yard run by Tracy Ham vs. Liberty Baptist (13:44, 1st quarter)
First 100-Yard Rusher: 104 by Melvin Bell vs. Liberty Baptist
First Shutout: 34-0 vs. Tennessee Tech, Oct. 5, 1985
