I'm so excited
I know, a Pointer Sisters song? What am I thinking. Well, it's the best I could come up with . Sorry.
Georgia Southern.
Furman.
To fans of 1-AA football, there really isn't a need to say anything else. However, since I'm assuming most of the people who frequent the Nexus of the Universe aren't fans of 1-AA football, allow me to explain why I'm looking forward to this game more than any game in the past three years.
Normally Georgia Southern-Furman games are colossal in the 1-AA landscape. To say tomorrow's game is colossal does a disservice to the word. No, tomorrow's game is enormous. It's gigantic. It's. . . well . . . ginormous.
Georgia Southern is the most successful program in the history of 1-AA football. We've won six national championships. We've won more playoff games than any other school, despite the fact we were six years late getting to the party.
Furman is the Eagles' arch-rival. Dating back to the first two times the teams met in 1985 and 1988, there always seems to be something on the line. In those first two, a national title was at stake. In 1985 Georgia Southern came from 28-6 down in the title game to top Furman 44-42 to give the Eagles their first title.
Three years later, Furman returned the favor, winning 17-12 for the Paladins only championship.
Since that time, the Eagles and Paladins have squared of at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro several times, with the Paladins winning about as often as Rosie O'Donnel at a Tyra Banks look-alike contest.
This time, however, is different.
Furman comes in ranked number one in the country for the first time in the program's history. They're riding a six-game winning streak and are looking to secure the top seed in the 16-team tourament. Things are looking good for the Paladins.
Meanwhile, Georgia Southern is ranked 14th in 1-AA. Not bad, but their record sits at 6-3. One more loss would effectively knock them out of the playoffs. They need this game like a fat kid needs cake.
Add to the mix that the rumblings around Statesboro is that the Eagles head coach needs this win to keep his job and you've got all the makings for a fantastic day at the stadium.
(Cheesy anouncer voice): But wait, there's more.
At halftime, Georgia Southern will be honoring the members of the 1985 championship team (you know, the ones that beat Furman.) Making things more intriging is that Furman's head coach was the quarterback of the 1985 Paladin squad.
I haven't looked forward to a game this much since my last semester in school when the Eagles and Paladins squared off in the semi-finals. Georgia Southern jumped out to an early lead, but Furman stormed back in the second half to give the Eagles their first home playoff loss in school history.
(The week leading up to that game, word got out that the Eagles head coach would be leaving at the end of the season to take over as head coach at Navy. Did that play a role in the Eagles loss? I don't know. However, the next year, Furman faced the same situation when it was reported their coach would be leaving at the end of the season and the Palidins lost their next playoff game.)
For fans of either program, this is the game they circle on the calander. I know I did. And now, it's almost here.
My pick:
Georgia Southern - 27
Furman - 20
(Remember, all picks by the Nexus of the Universe guaranteed wrong or your money back.)
Georgia Southern.
Furman.
To fans of 1-AA football, there really isn't a need to say anything else. However, since I'm assuming most of the people who frequent the Nexus of the Universe aren't fans of 1-AA football, allow me to explain why I'm looking forward to this game more than any game in the past three years.
Normally Georgia Southern-Furman games are colossal in the 1-AA landscape. To say tomorrow's game is colossal does a disservice to the word. No, tomorrow's game is enormous. It's gigantic. It's. . . well . . . ginormous.
Georgia Southern is the most successful program in the history of 1-AA football. We've won six national championships. We've won more playoff games than any other school, despite the fact we were six years late getting to the party.
Furman is the Eagles' arch-rival. Dating back to the first two times the teams met in 1985 and 1988, there always seems to be something on the line. In those first two, a national title was at stake. In 1985 Georgia Southern came from 28-6 down in the title game to top Furman 44-42 to give the Eagles their first title.
Three years later, Furman returned the favor, winning 17-12 for the Paladins only championship.
Since that time, the Eagles and Paladins have squared of at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro several times, with the Paladins winning about as often as Rosie O'Donnel at a Tyra Banks look-alike contest.
This time, however, is different.
Furman comes in ranked number one in the country for the first time in the program's history. They're riding a six-game winning streak and are looking to secure the top seed in the 16-team tourament. Things are looking good for the Paladins.
Meanwhile, Georgia Southern is ranked 14th in 1-AA. Not bad, but their record sits at 6-3. One more loss would effectively knock them out of the playoffs. They need this game like a fat kid needs cake.
Add to the mix that the rumblings around Statesboro is that the Eagles head coach needs this win to keep his job and you've got all the makings for a fantastic day at the stadium.
(Cheesy anouncer voice): But wait, there's more.
At halftime, Georgia Southern will be honoring the members of the 1985 championship team (you know, the ones that beat Furman.) Making things more intriging is that Furman's head coach was the quarterback of the 1985 Paladin squad.
I haven't looked forward to a game this much since my last semester in school when the Eagles and Paladins squared off in the semi-finals. Georgia Southern jumped out to an early lead, but Furman stormed back in the second half to give the Eagles their first home playoff loss in school history.
(The week leading up to that game, word got out that the Eagles head coach would be leaving at the end of the season to take over as head coach at Navy. Did that play a role in the Eagles loss? I don't know. However, the next year, Furman faced the same situation when it was reported their coach would be leaving at the end of the season and the Palidins lost their next playoff game.)
For fans of either program, this is the game they circle on the calander. I know I did. And now, it's almost here.
My pick:
Georgia Southern - 27
Furman - 20
(Remember, all picks by the Nexus of the Universe guaranteed wrong or your money back.)
posted by Luke at 7:30 PM
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