History

After the war years, Georgia Southern restarted its football program.

Dale Lick

In 1980, Dale Lick was president of a pretty-good small college.

He decided that starting up a successful football program would help him turn the small college into a pretty-good regional university.

Bucky Wagner

Dale Lick hired Bucky Wagner as his athletics director.

Bucky turned the sleepy athletic department into a dynamic team

His enthusiastic approach always found the solution to a problem.

The unorthodox way often won over the bureaucratic way.

Sam Baker

Sam Baker replaced Bucky Wagner as athletics director when Bucky retired.

Sam saved Georgia Southern from a tailspin caused by coaching problems.

He returned Georgia Southern football to national prominance and brought stability back to the athletics department.

Erk Russell

Erk Russell was a legend before he came to Georgia Southern. While at the school, he became even more legendary.

While coaching eight years of I-AA football, he won three national championships.

And his players won a fourth championship the year after he retired.

The traditions he created still live on.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson invented the Georgia Southern offense when he was an assistant coach under Erk Russell.

When he returned to Georgia Southern as a head coach, his teams won two national championships during his five years.

Six Flags

Dale Lick's football program has now won six I-AA national championships.

Georgia Southern's student enrollment has increased from 4,000 students to 16,500 students.

The campus has been enlarged several times with many new facilities.

The college has become a university.

Tracy Ham

Tracy Ham was the greatest quarterback in Georgia Southern history.

He was the expert at the triple option. His read of the fullback dive was the best. His pitch to the trailing back was the best. If he had to run, nobody could tackle him.

Then, if he had to pass, he was the best passer around.

He led Georgia Southern to two national championships.

Georgia Southern retired his number 8.

"The Catch"

Frankie Johnson makes "The Catch" from Tracy Ham to win "The Game" for the 1985 national championship against Furman.

Football Hall of Fame

In 2007 Tracy Ham was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson set so many running records at Georgia Southern that nobody can count them.

He helped Georgia Southern win two national championships.

Georgia Southern retired his number 3.

"The Run"

Adrian Peterson makes "The Run" while winning the 1999 national championship against Youngstown State.

PrinterEagle has much more history and lore about Georgia Southern football.