PHOTO GALLERY
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Eagle Nation's invasion of Montgomery was evident on Wednesday as Georgia Southern supporters descended on the city to truly paint the town Blue. Friday's events included the annual Alabama Legends Luncheon, the final practice of the season, a press conference, the team picture, a pep rally and Christmas Parade as rain affected the day.
After having its usual No Sweat Thursday walk-thru on Thursday at Huntingdon College, the Eagles had to move their Fast Friday practice from Cramton Bowl to Alabama State. With the overnight rain soaking the freshly painted turf and more rain on the way, bowl officials didn't want the teams on the field. But the stadium is set up and ready to roll for Saturday's Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The red carpet was rolled out for the annual Alabama Legends Luncheon, which was the first time all week both teams have been at the same event together.
Coach
Chad Lunsford, running back
Wesley Fields and All-America cornerback
Kindle Vildor met the media in the mid-afternoon and then all three headed to the team photo, which will be used on commemorative plaques.
Georgia Southern was represented well at the pep rally as the entire team headed to Union Station Train Shed for the event. With the Southern Pride Marching Band performing their top tunes including the fight song. Cheerleaders, Freedom and Gus were also in attendance. The city's annual Christmas Parade followed in the streets of downtown Montgomery.
It was down to business after that as the team went into pre-game mode. A team dinner and meetings started the evening off and then Coach Lunsford, Coach
Bob DeBesse, Coach
Scot Sloan, Vildor, Fields and
Shai Werts met with the ESPN announcing crew. This is an important meeting before any game as the crew isn't as familiar with the team and players with this being their first game calling Georgia Southern Football. Coach Lunsford also met with
Danny Reed of the Georgia Southern Sports Network to make sure he was prepared for his broadcast.
The Aviator Bar hosted Frank Sulkowski's live WJCL bowl special, which featured members of the radio crew as a standing room only crowd watched and enjoyed the local beverages and hospitality.
The team is locked in and ready to take on Eastern Michigan Saturday afternoon. Several of the players talked about how they've never won a championship at any level and how much this game means to them. It also will be the final football game many of the 15 seniors will play, as well, adding extra significance and emotion to the contest. And finally, the team will be playing not only for a trophy to put next to the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl trophy in the ted Smith Family Football Center lobby, but a win would earn them bowl rings courtesy of the athletic department. The design of the ring is pretty special and knowing that the only way to get that ring is to win Saturday gives the team one last little bit of motivation.
The Raycom Media Camellia Bowl will take place on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 4:30 p.m. (CT)/5:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN. The game can also be heard via the GS Sports Network on radio stations across the state and online.
Georgia Southern fans are encouraged to wear blue for the game. Rain is expected Friday overnight and into Saturday morning, but is expected to clear out for tailgating and the game. Georgia Southern will arrive to the stadium at approximately 2:25 p.m. (CT) on Saturday and any fans wanting to join the team for the Eagle Walk are asked to line Hall Street by Gate 8 starting at 2:15 p.m. after EMU arrives.
