NEW ORLEANS – The Georgia Southern football team concluded final game preparations and Eagle Nation soared into New Orleans for tomorrow's game. Wednesday's events included a bowl luncheon, the final practice of the season, pep rally, and Hail Southern Live! to wrap up game preparation. 

The morning began with a bowl luncheon as bowl teams gathered in the same place for the first time this week. Head coach Clay Helton met with the media and both teams entered to their band and cheerleaders stirring up the crowd. Former Miami star Ed Reed was the guest speaker and both coaches also had a Q&A with Jen Hale of Fox Sports.

After lunch, the team wrapped up final preparations at the official site of the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and familiar scene, Caesars Superdome. After the final horn blew and a team picture, seniors were carried off the field by their brothers one last time.

Coach Clay Helton, along with coordinators Ryan Aplin, Brandon Bailey and Turner West, along with Marques Watson-Trent, JC French and Alex Smith all took a short ride down Poydras to Manning's Sports Bar for Hail Southern Live! and a pep rally. Freedom and GUS also made appearances and fans took in the scenes of New Orleans. Eagle Nation was treated to a special guest as Archie Manning showed up and was a guest on the show and was gracious enough to take lots of photos with fans. Manning is very familiar with Georgia Southern as her spoke to the team in 2015 in Statesboro. For the record, Manning predicts an Eagle win Thursday night!

The team is locked in and ready to take on Sam Houston Thursday night. Georgia Southern will leave its hotel at 3:30 p.m. (CT) for the stadium and fans are encouraged to line up inside the Marriott and outaide on thw sidewalk by 3:10 p.m. for an Eagle Walk as the team heads to the stadium.

The New Orleans Bowl will kick off at 7 p.m. (ET) and will be broadcast on ESPN2. The game can also be heard via the GS Sports Network on radio stations across the state and online.