Your Seat, Your Story: A Packed Paulson Goes a Long Way for Players, Staff
5/21/2026 11:00:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO – Nicknamed "The Prettiest Little Stadium in America," Allen E. Paulson Stadium has built a reputation for its electric gameday atmosphere and the challenge it presents to opposing teams. Georgia Southern assistant head coach Darius Safford, assistant defensive line coach Dillon Springer and assistant special teams coach Anthony Beck II know that environment firsthand – first as players and now as coaches walking the sidelines.
For Springer, his first game inside Paulson Stadium remains a moment he will never forget.
"I remember slowly looking around and trying to take in the moment of my first snap as an Eagle," Springer said. "The best part was hearing the 'Georgia… Southern… Whose House?... Our House!' chant for the first time and realized just how loud Paulson could get. That was the moment I truly understood the saying, 'Hail Southern & No Place Else.' The atmosphere is electric. The fans are elite — they are present, engaged and such a huge part of the team."
Safford and Beck said the magic of Paulson Stadium starts long before kickoff, crediting Eagle Nation for creating an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the conference.
"Our passion and fan base are second to none," Safford said. "It truly becomes a weapon for us and a real home-field advantage. Our fans have every home game circled on their calendars, and they do a tremendous job of flooding the stadium. At the same time, you want to tip your hat to the ones who came before you. You want to honor that sacred ground and honor the blue and white by protecting Paulson Stadium."
"I would say the environment more than anything," Beck said. "You get to see everything that goes into it. It's funny because even on Thursdays, you start seeing people roll in with their campers and RVs, and you can feel the excitement building. That energy lasts all the way through the end of the game. It's not just the stadium itself – it's everything surrounding it and the buildup leading into kickoff."
For Beck, one of the most defining elements of the Paulson experience is the student section and the energy it brings every gameday.
"Our student section always shows out behind the visitor's bench, and that's one of the coolest spots in the league," he said. "You don't see many atmospheres like that around the conference. If you want to call it an advantage, I think we have the best one when it comes to that. Overall, it's just the environment and atmosphere as a whole, and watching it build throughout the week is really special."
As coaches, those same unique qualities have become major selling points for Georgia Southern on the recruiting trail, helping the Eagles stand out to coaches, recruits and potential transfers alike.
"Now being a coach, I get to observe what that feeling is like and just how impactful it is on our players," Springer said. "We've won games, created unforgettable memories and lived through historic moments in Paulson because of the 'Power of Paulson.' We win recruiting battles because of it. Even coaches from different schools and backgrounds talk about how special this place is and how different it feels here. Young athletes visit here and are always complimentary of how different the atmosphere is and how it's not just a football game at Paulson – it's a way of life. That's what people want to be a part of."
Passion. Pride. Electric.
These are just a few of the words to describe the Power of Paulson.
"Having experienced it as a player and now as a coach, you realize how much players feed off the environment and the fans," Beck said. When you go on the road and there are maybe 2,000 people in the stadium, you have to create your own energy as players and coaches just to get things going and start fast. But when you have an atmosphere like the Power of Paulson, it's easy to want to go out there and play. The players genuinely feed off that energy."
Although Statesboro and Paulson Stadium have evolved since their playing days, the deep-rooted appreciation the coaches have for the program and Eagle Nation has never wavered.
"I love Georgia Southern. I tell people all the time that if you cut me open, I'd probably bleed blue and white," Springer said. "What I love even more is being part of the constant growth and evolution we're creating here at Paulson. My playing years were from 2018 through 2022, and I can't even describe how much advancement we've made to adapt to the changing world of college athletics. Huge shoutout to our president, athletic director, athletic foundation, board members, and committed donors. Hail Southern!"
For Beck, his appreciation for Paulson has only deepened now that he experiences it from the sidelines as a coach rather than as a player.
"I'd say my appreciation for it has changed the most," Beck said. As a player, especially playing my position as a punter, I wasn't out there taking hits every down, so I was able to spend a little more time on the sideline and really enjoy the atmosphere. Now, as a coach, I appreciate it even more because I'm not playing anymore. My work is mostly done leading up to the game, and while I still have responsibilities on game day, there are moments where I can take the headset off, hear the crowd, and really soak it all in. I appreciate it on a completely different level now."
Safford, Beck and Springer each have a unique view of Paulson Stadium from their "seats," but so does everyone else who fills the stadium each fall. Stay tuned throughout the summer as Georgia Southern highlights the stories of season ticket holders at Paulson Stadium, and if you're interested in telling your story, email us at gseagleswin@gmail.com.
To join in the excitement of gameday this fall, go to GSEagles.com/Tickets today and secure your tickets today!
For Springer, his first game inside Paulson Stadium remains a moment he will never forget.
"I remember slowly looking around and trying to take in the moment of my first snap as an Eagle," Springer said. "The best part was hearing the 'Georgia… Southern… Whose House?... Our House!' chant for the first time and realized just how loud Paulson could get. That was the moment I truly understood the saying, 'Hail Southern & No Place Else.' The atmosphere is electric. The fans are elite — they are present, engaged and such a huge part of the team."
Safford and Beck said the magic of Paulson Stadium starts long before kickoff, crediting Eagle Nation for creating an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the conference.
"Our passion and fan base are second to none," Safford said. "It truly becomes a weapon for us and a real home-field advantage. Our fans have every home game circled on their calendars, and they do a tremendous job of flooding the stadium. At the same time, you want to tip your hat to the ones who came before you. You want to honor that sacred ground and honor the blue and white by protecting Paulson Stadium."
"I would say the environment more than anything," Beck said. "You get to see everything that goes into it. It's funny because even on Thursdays, you start seeing people roll in with their campers and RVs, and you can feel the excitement building. That energy lasts all the way through the end of the game. It's not just the stadium itself – it's everything surrounding it and the buildup leading into kickoff."
For Beck, one of the most defining elements of the Paulson experience is the student section and the energy it brings every gameday.
"Our student section always shows out behind the visitor's bench, and that's one of the coolest spots in the league," he said. "You don't see many atmospheres like that around the conference. If you want to call it an advantage, I think we have the best one when it comes to that. Overall, it's just the environment and atmosphere as a whole, and watching it build throughout the week is really special."
As coaches, those same unique qualities have become major selling points for Georgia Southern on the recruiting trail, helping the Eagles stand out to coaches, recruits and potential transfers alike.
"Now being a coach, I get to observe what that feeling is like and just how impactful it is on our players," Springer said. "We've won games, created unforgettable memories and lived through historic moments in Paulson because of the 'Power of Paulson.' We win recruiting battles because of it. Even coaches from different schools and backgrounds talk about how special this place is and how different it feels here. Young athletes visit here and are always complimentary of how different the atmosphere is and how it's not just a football game at Paulson – it's a way of life. That's what people want to be a part of."
Passion. Pride. Electric.
These are just a few of the words to describe the Power of Paulson.
"Having experienced it as a player and now as a coach, you realize how much players feed off the environment and the fans," Beck said. When you go on the road and there are maybe 2,000 people in the stadium, you have to create your own energy as players and coaches just to get things going and start fast. But when you have an atmosphere like the Power of Paulson, it's easy to want to go out there and play. The players genuinely feed off that energy."
Although Statesboro and Paulson Stadium have evolved since their playing days, the deep-rooted appreciation the coaches have for the program and Eagle Nation has never wavered.
"I love Georgia Southern. I tell people all the time that if you cut me open, I'd probably bleed blue and white," Springer said. "What I love even more is being part of the constant growth and evolution we're creating here at Paulson. My playing years were from 2018 through 2022, and I can't even describe how much advancement we've made to adapt to the changing world of college athletics. Huge shoutout to our president, athletic director, athletic foundation, board members, and committed donors. Hail Southern!"
For Beck, his appreciation for Paulson has only deepened now that he experiences it from the sidelines as a coach rather than as a player.
"I'd say my appreciation for it has changed the most," Beck said. As a player, especially playing my position as a punter, I wasn't out there taking hits every down, so I was able to spend a little more time on the sideline and really enjoy the atmosphere. Now, as a coach, I appreciate it even more because I'm not playing anymore. My work is mostly done leading up to the game, and while I still have responsibilities on game day, there are moments where I can take the headset off, hear the crowd, and really soak it all in. I appreciate it on a completely different level now."
Safford, Beck and Springer each have a unique view of Paulson Stadium from their "seats," but so does everyone else who fills the stadium each fall. Stay tuned throughout the summer as Georgia Southern highlights the stories of season ticket holders at Paulson Stadium, and if you're interested in telling your story, email us at gseagleswin@gmail.com.
To join in the excitement of gameday this fall, go to GSEagles.com/Tickets today and secure your tickets today!
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