September 01, 2010 Alex Brown

d.alex.brown@gmail.com

    It’s game week.
    At long last, Georgia Southern football is back. And hopefully not just in the sense that a game has not been played at Paulson Stadium since November — although, it has been a long nine months or so for the Eagle Nation as we have tried to get the bitter taste of a losing season out of our mouths. But it has been even longer since Georgia Southern football actually has been Georgia Southern football as long-time fans know it.
    Much different from the past few years, this time around we’ll be watching this program as it is coached by several who know first-hand not only what it means to coach or play here, but how to win here.
    Gone are the days of five-wide receiver sets and shotgun formations. The Eagles are returning to the old triple option with A-Backs, B-Backs, pitches, dives and, hopefully, only about five to ten pass attempts per game. If Southern is throwing it more often than that in this offense, it usually means we’re trying to come back from a large deficit.
    But just because pass plays aren’t plentiful doesn’t mean this offense doesn’t have big-play capabilities. Sure it can get to be a grind — hopefully we will see many a four-yard plunge up the middle. In this system, three yards per play is all you need — Southern won’t be punting on fourth and short.
    Don’t fall asleep on this offense if it starts grinding out long, time consuming drives though. Just when you think you have seen one too many fullback dives up the middle, the defense will cheat up one step too close, and a pass over the top will make them pay. Then there’s always the threat of a perfectly timed pitch on the corner and a 70 yard touchdown run.
    This week’s opponent is Savannah State. It’s always fun when these programs get together simply because of the proximity of the two schools. SSU will bring a huge following to Statesboro and Georgia Southern fans should turn out in droves because it’s the season opener and the start of what many hope to be a return to Georgia Southern football as it should be.
    There are so many unknowns going into this game for both teams. Savannah State has a new coach and has dealt with plenty of offseason turmoil. The Tigers had 33 players miss spring practice due to academic ineligibility, leaving the team (either quit or dismissed) and five players were in jail. Ouch.
    But the Eagles have plenty of questions to answer themselves — not the least of which is a roster full of players who were either recruited to run an entirely different type of offense or have no game experience whatsoever at the college level. New schemes on both sides of the ball, a first-year head coach, several transfers and plenty of freshmen being asked to contribute immediately all will be obstacles Southern must face this season.
    No matter what happens on Saturday, football season is back. This is the best time of year, so let’s enjoy it. Paulson will be filled with activity all weekend as tailgaters start showing up on Friday. Grills will be lit, music will be playing and the Eagle Nation will unite at Our House to kick off another season of Eagle football. And, to quote Erk, you just can’t beat that.
    And the Tigers just can’t beat Georgia Southern this weekend.
    Tattler prediction: The offense sputters a bit early, but gets in gear in the second half as Southern wins going away.
    Eagles 41, Tigers 10.

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