Georgia Southern Eagles Logo PNG
Representatives of the local university’s athletics department, which dates back to 1924, take pride in their emblem, rooted in the state’s distant past. The mascot that serves as the emblem of the Georgia Southern Eagles reflects intelligence, grandeur, courage, and the aspiration to reach the heights of victory.
Georgia Southern University dates back to 1906 in Statesboro, Georgia, when it was founded as an agricultural and teaching school. Team names shifted over time, from Blue Tide in 1924–1941 to Professors after World War II. In 1959, students voted for Eagles, narrowly beating Colonels.
Football began in 1924 but stopped in 1941 due to the war. The program returned in 1981 under Erk Russell, former Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator known for the “Junkyard Dogs” unit. Early teams played with basic gear and used a local high school field.
In 1985, Georgia Southern won its first FCS national title, followed by another in 1986. The offense relied on the triple option. Quarterback Tracy Ham led a comeback in the 1986 quarterfinal, turning a 28:6 deficit into a win. In 1989, the team went 15:0, the first undefeated season of its kind in that era.
In 1990, Tim Stowers secured a fourth title. After staff changes, Paul Johnson led the program back in 1999. Running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 247 yards in the final, earning the Walter Payton Award. In 2000, Georgia Southern won its sixth FCS title against the Montana Grizzlies.
In 2014, the program moved to FBS and joined the Sun Belt Conference. In its first season, Georgia Southern went 8:0 in conference play. In 2015, the team won the GoDaddy Bowl against Bowling Green. The rivalry with Appalachian State remains a defining part of the conference schedule.
Meaning and History
Since the students chose a new nickname for the sports program, it has been reflected in the official logo. The 1982-2003 version features an abstract white eagle’s head against a blue-and-gold circle. From 2004 to 2009, a more detailed image of the bird was used: wings and tail were discernible in chaotic lines. The mascot clutched the inscription “Georgia Southern” with its taloned feet. The words were done in italics with serifs and placed on a parallelogram with rounded corners.
In 2010, another logo appeared, this time with the head of an eagle. Artists borrowed it from the previous logo, expanded it, enlarged it, and slightly adjusted it. The sports department’s name, as before, was located below. Now, the name is surrounded by an additional light gray frame.
What is Georgia Southern Eagles?
The Georgia Southern Eagles is the athletics department of Georgia Southern University, consisting of 17 teams. It is located in Statesboro, Georgia, and has been a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 2014. Students compete in NCAA Division I (FBS), Southern (shooting sports), and CCSA (women’s swimming and diving teams).
1982 – 1999
1999 – 2010
2010 – 2016
2016 – today
Georgia Southern Eagles Baseball
Founded in 1933, the baseball team has played in 13 NCAA tournaments, won 8 SoCon championships, and reached the College World Series twice. One of the team’s most successful seasons was in 2009, when it won the Southern Conference baseball tournament.
Georgia Southern Eagles Football
At Georgia Southern University, the football team emerged in 1910 but had to pause due to the war. The team was reinstated only in 1982. Since then, it has had a series of successes: it has won ten championships in the Southern Conference, one in the Sun Belt Conference, and six in the NCAA FCS (I-AA) national championship.