GS Set to Welcome Aggies to Statesboro
10/9/2017 12:08:00 PM | Football
Georgia Southern has played one home Saturday football game in the past 392 days since playing ULM on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, but that all changes Saturday when the Eagles host New Mexico State in Paulson Stadium Saturday at 6 p.m. Here's all you need to know about the game:
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 • 6:05 PMLocation: Statesboro, Ga. (Allen E. Paulson Stadium; 25,000)
Records:
Georgia Southern: 0-4, 0-1 Sun Belt
New Mexico State: 2-4, 0-2 Sun Belt
Broadcast Information
Online: ESPN3/ESPN App
PBP: Matt Stewart; Analyst: Tyoka Jackson
Radio: Georgia Southern Sports Network
PBP: Danny Reed; Analyst: Terry Harvin; Sidelines: Russ Brown
GS: GAME NOTES (PDF)
The Series
• Georgia Southern leads the all-time series with New Mexico State 3-0 after winning last year on the road.
• In last year's game Kevin Ellison rushed for 117 yards and threw for 101 yards as the Eagles topped NMSU 22-19 in Sun Belt Conference football action on the road.
• In 2015, GS downed the Aggies 56-26 in Statesboro. The Eagles jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half with touchdown runs from four different players.
• In 2014, L.A. Ramsby ran for a career-high 136 yards and his 7-yard touchdown run with 11:37 left in the third quarter gave the Eagles their first lead of the night as they came from behind to beat NMSU 36-28 in Las Cruces.
• Even though this is the last year NMSU will be in the Sun Belt Conference, the two schools will continue to play as they signed a home-and-home non-conference series. In 2018, GS will travel to Las Cruces and the Aggies will return the trip to Statesboro in 2019.
Celebrating Erk
• When you think of Georgia Southern football, you think of the name Erk Russell. When you think of Erk Russell, you think of Georgia Southern football.
• It is only fitting that in 2017, the Georgia Southern Eagles are going back to their roots, celebrating Russell and his contributions to the program, by wearing the Erk Russell Classic alternate uniforms designed and created to honor his spirit and memory.
• The jerseys and pants will be grey and the entire uniform combination has several homages to Russell and the history of Georgia Southern Athletics, including:
• the stripes going down the sides to represent the three national championships won under Russell as well as Beautiful Eagle Creek;
• the middle stripe is gold to signify the rich history of Georgia Southern football and the unprecedented six NCAA I-AA national titles;
• the script "Eagles" on the jersey and helmet;
• the stripes on the sides of the pants stop at the thighs before reaching the bottom of the pants, representing the athletic department's current motto of "Continue the Journey" as it has made the move to the FBS and the Sun Belt.
Honoring AP
• Former GS star running back Adrian Peterson will be honored at the end of the first quarter for his election to the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
• Peterson's No. 3 jersey is retired at Georgia Southern and he still stands as the NCAA's Division I all-time leading rusher with 6,559 yards in regular-season contests. He is already a member of GS's Athletics Hall of Fame and was a four-time All-American for the Eagles.
• Peterson will join fellow Georgia Southern star Tracy Ham as the only two Eagles enshrined in Atlanta. They are also the only two Georgia Southern football players to have their jersey numbers retired.
Countdown to Kickoff
10: Ten of Matt Flynn's 23 punts this season have been fair caught.
9: Georgia Southern has recorded nine runs of 20 yards or longer in four games this season.
8: The Eagles have just eight seniors on the 2017 roster, the fewest in the FBS.
7: GS is 27-7 on Homecoming in the modern era after falling to Louisiana last year.
6: Georgia Southern's alternate uniforms will honor the late Erk Russell and will have homages to his three national titles and his iconic script Eagles shirt, as well as the school's six national championships.
5: L.A. Ramsby and Wesley Fields have combined to score five touchdowns in the past two games against NMSU.
4: Four different players recorded their first career interception last week against Arkansas State.
3: Every Eagle helmet will have a three on the side in honor of Adrian Peterson's CFB Hall of Fame induction.
2: Shai Werts picked up his second career 100-yard rushing game against A-State, rushing for 112 yards.
1: GS has played one home Saturday football game in the past 392 days since playing ULM on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.
