Players Mentioned
Spring Football Practice: Breida Embracing the Bull’s-Eye
4/1/2015 9:04:00 PM | Football
Next practice is scheduled for Friday at 2:45 p.m.
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STATESBORO, Ga. – It didn't take very long for Georgia Southern running back Matt Breida to explode on the college football scene last season.
On his third carry in the Blue and White, the junior went through the left side, accelerated as if he was shot out of a cannon, and 61 yards and seconds later, was celebrating the Eagles first FBS touchdown and a 6-0 lead at NC State.
One of the bigger questions coming into the season – who is going to replace Jerick McKinnon as the Eagles' leading ground gainer – had been answered and answered in a heartbeat. From a special teams player who missed spring practice under first-year coach Willie Fritz, to an opening day starter, Breida staked his claim.
That was just the beginning.
He would go on to be a Doak Walker Award Semifinalist and a first-team All-Sun Belt selection after leading the nation with 8.7 yards a carry and touchdown runs of 50-plus yards (7). Breida finished the campaign with 1,485 yards and 17 touchdowns in helping the Eagles to the Sun Belt Conference title.
It was a pleasant surprise for Eagle Nation, and to say Breida expected it would be a bit of a stretch.
"I didn't know where I would stand coming into the fall," he admitted. "I didn't play spring ball last year. It was a huge surprise but at the same time, I knew I could do it; I just had to put it the extra work."
A position that once seemingly had a lack of depth has blossomed into one of strength for the Eagles. Add the running ability of the quarterbacks and receivers, and the ground game is alive and well at Georgia Southern. Breida has helped develop the depth at his position by assuming a leadership role with the younger backs.
"I'm not that big of a rah-rah guy; I try to lead by example," he said. "I will get on you, but I try to always be the person they can look up to, the one who is always doing the right thing."
Breida and the Eagle rushing attack will not be sneaking up on any opponents this season, but he doesn't mind the attention he'll receive.
"If they key on me, we have Kevin (Ellison), and we have LA (Ramsby) and we have a whole bunch of great wide receivers like BJ Johnson and Montay Crockett," said Breida.
Fritz has made no bones about the necessity to get better in the passing game this spring. He says teams really loaded the box late in the season, almost daring the Eagles to throw.
"In order for us to become a better football team than last year, offensively, we're going to have to throw the ball more effectively," said Fritz. "We've got to add 50, 60, 70 yards in the passing game. We have to hit some over the top. Those can be big plays for us – not just 10 or 15 yards but 40 or 50 yards."
If Georgia Southern adds that dimension to the vaunted rushing attack, the sky is the limit for an offense that averaged 488.3 yards and 39 points a game in 2014.
The Eagles practiced for the fifth time this spring Wednesday on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Friday's session is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. at the same location.
Remaining Spring Practice Schedule
Friday, April 3 - 2:45 p.m. - Eagle Creek
Saturday, April 4
Monday, April 6
Wednesday, April 8
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Monday, April 13
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18 – Spring Game
Second Annual Tailgate Cook-Off Set for Football Spring Game
Register for Tailgate Cook-Off
Do you put on the best tailgate? Do you grill up the best BBQ? Maybe you make a mean peach cobbler? Show Georgia Southern and Eagle Nation your skills at the Second Annual Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off April 18 at Paulson Stadium. Tasting begins at 11 a.m.
The top-place tailgate and grill masters will claim the title of 2015 Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off Champion, a one-of-a-kind trophy, a one-night stay at a hotel plus 2 tickets to the Georgia Southern vs. Georgia game in Athens Nov. 21, 2015, and of course, bragging rights. "True Blue Barbecue," Adam Pace and Jared Brown, won the inaugural Tailgate Cook-Off last year.
To enter the contest, a team or individual must register online by April 14 and pay a $20 cash fee per entry on site April 18. All teams or individuals are responsible for providing their own food and equipment for grilling/cooking and will be allowed only one vehicle inside the cook-off zone. Participants are encouraged to grill, cook, steam, etc. their best food for fans to enjoy.
Eagle fans are invited to serve as tasting judges for $3 to enter the tailgate zone, sample the food and complete a ballot to determine the top four. Scores from the tasting judges will be calculated and winners will be announced during the Blue-White Spring Football game. Tasting will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m.
The second-place winner will receive four tickets and two sideline passes to the home football game against Texas State Oct. 29, 2015, on ESPNU. Third place will claim two tickets and two meal vouchers to the home football game against South Alabama Nov. 28, 2015. Fourth place will walk away with an autographed football and Georgia Southern prize pack.
EFAA Raffle
The Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) will be holding its Eighth Annual $10,000 Reverse Raffle & Auction Sat., April 18, at 5 p.m. in the Gene Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium following the Blue & White Spring Game.
There will be a silent and live auction, which will feature an array of items such as autographed memorabilia, vacation opportunities, once-in-a-lifetime Georgia Southern game experiences, vintage Georgia Southern Football memorabilia, autographed memorabilia from local professional teams and much more. In addition, the Third Edition Erk Russell Commemorative Shotgun will be auctioned off in the live auction. This year's theme for the shotgun is "Yellow School Buses." The final 10 tickets in the reverse raffle will be drawn after the live auction, and the final ticket will win $10,000.
2015 Schedule
Georgia Southern will face two Power Five conference teams, four teams that played in bowl games a year ago and will host six home games in Paulson Stadium in 2015. The Eagles have also been selected to play two games on nationally-televised ESPNU Thursday night broadcasts.
All home games and all Sun Belt Conference games will once again air on the ESPN platform.
Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by visiting GSEagles.com/tickets or calling 1-800-GSU-WINS.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Eagle fans can follow Coach Willie Fritz's twitter account @CoachWEFritz.
STATESBORO, Ga. – It didn't take very long for Georgia Southern running back Matt Breida to explode on the college football scene last season.
On his third carry in the Blue and White, the junior went through the left side, accelerated as if he was shot out of a cannon, and 61 yards and seconds later, was celebrating the Eagles first FBS touchdown and a 6-0 lead at NC State.
One of the bigger questions coming into the season – who is going to replace Jerick McKinnon as the Eagles' leading ground gainer – had been answered and answered in a heartbeat. From a special teams player who missed spring practice under first-year coach Willie Fritz, to an opening day starter, Breida staked his claim.
That was just the beginning.
He would go on to be a Doak Walker Award Semifinalist and a first-team All-Sun Belt selection after leading the nation with 8.7 yards a carry and touchdown runs of 50-plus yards (7). Breida finished the campaign with 1,485 yards and 17 touchdowns in helping the Eagles to the Sun Belt Conference title.
It was a pleasant surprise for Eagle Nation, and to say Breida expected it would be a bit of a stretch.
"I didn't know where I would stand coming into the fall," he admitted. "I didn't play spring ball last year. It was a huge surprise but at the same time, I knew I could do it; I just had to put it the extra work."
A position that once seemingly had a lack of depth has blossomed into one of strength for the Eagles. Add the running ability of the quarterbacks and receivers, and the ground game is alive and well at Georgia Southern. Breida has helped develop the depth at his position by assuming a leadership role with the younger backs.
"I'm not that big of a rah-rah guy; I try to lead by example," he said. "I will get on you, but I try to always be the person they can look up to, the one who is always doing the right thing."
Breida and the Eagle rushing attack will not be sneaking up on any opponents this season, but he doesn't mind the attention he'll receive.
"If they key on me, we have Kevin (Ellison), and we have LA (Ramsby) and we have a whole bunch of great wide receivers like BJ Johnson and Montay Crockett," said Breida.
Fritz has made no bones about the necessity to get better in the passing game this spring. He says teams really loaded the box late in the season, almost daring the Eagles to throw.
"In order for us to become a better football team than last year, offensively, we're going to have to throw the ball more effectively," said Fritz. "We've got to add 50, 60, 70 yards in the passing game. We have to hit some over the top. Those can be big plays for us – not just 10 or 15 yards but 40 or 50 yards."
If Georgia Southern adds that dimension to the vaunted rushing attack, the sky is the limit for an offense that averaged 488.3 yards and 39 points a game in 2014.
The Eagles practiced for the fifth time this spring Wednesday on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek. Friday's session is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. at the same location.
Remaining Spring Practice Schedule
Friday, April 3 - 2:45 p.m. - Eagle Creek
Saturday, April 4
Monday, April 6
Wednesday, April 8
Friday, April 10
Saturday, April 11
Monday, April 13
Wednesday, April 15
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18 – Spring Game
Second Annual Tailgate Cook-Off Set for Football Spring Game
Register for Tailgate Cook-Off
Do you put on the best tailgate? Do you grill up the best BBQ? Maybe you make a mean peach cobbler? Show Georgia Southern and Eagle Nation your skills at the Second Annual Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off April 18 at Paulson Stadium. Tasting begins at 11 a.m.
The top-place tailgate and grill masters will claim the title of 2015 Spring Football Tailgate Cook-Off Champion, a one-of-a-kind trophy, a one-night stay at a hotel plus 2 tickets to the Georgia Southern vs. Georgia game in Athens Nov. 21, 2015, and of course, bragging rights. "True Blue Barbecue," Adam Pace and Jared Brown, won the inaugural Tailgate Cook-Off last year.
To enter the contest, a team or individual must register online by April 14 and pay a $20 cash fee per entry on site April 18. All teams or individuals are responsible for providing their own food and equipment for grilling/cooking and will be allowed only one vehicle inside the cook-off zone. Participants are encouraged to grill, cook, steam, etc. their best food for fans to enjoy.
Eagle fans are invited to serve as tasting judges for $3 to enter the tailgate zone, sample the food and complete a ballot to determine the top four. Scores from the tasting judges will be calculated and winners will be announced during the Blue-White Spring Football game. Tasting will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m.
The second-place winner will receive four tickets and two sideline passes to the home football game against Texas State Oct. 29, 2015, on ESPNU. Third place will claim two tickets and two meal vouchers to the home football game against South Alabama Nov. 28, 2015. Fourth place will walk away with an autographed football and Georgia Southern prize pack.
EFAA Raffle
The Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA) will be holding its Eighth Annual $10,000 Reverse Raffle & Auction Sat., April 18, at 5 p.m. in the Gene Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium following the Blue & White Spring Game.
There will be a silent and live auction, which will feature an array of items such as autographed memorabilia, vacation opportunities, once-in-a-lifetime Georgia Southern game experiences, vintage Georgia Southern Football memorabilia, autographed memorabilia from local professional teams and much more. In addition, the Third Edition Erk Russell Commemorative Shotgun will be auctioned off in the live auction. This year's theme for the shotgun is "Yellow School Buses." The final 10 tickets in the reverse raffle will be drawn after the live auction, and the final ticket will win $10,000.
2015 Schedule
Georgia Southern will face two Power Five conference teams, four teams that played in bowl games a year ago and will host six home games in Paulson Stadium in 2015. The Eagles have also been selected to play two games on nationally-televised ESPNU Thursday night broadcasts.
All home games and all Sun Belt Conference games will once again air on the ESPN platform.
Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by visiting GSEagles.com/tickets or calling 1-800-GSU-WINS.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Eagle fans can follow Coach Willie Fritz's twitter account @CoachWEFritz.
Georgia Southern Football Media Availability (3/3/26)
Tuesday, March 03
The GATA Zone - Women's Basketball Post Season
Tuesday, March 03
2026 Only For Southern
Thursday, February 26
2026 Georgia Southern Football Ticket Video
Wednesday, February 25
