Khadrice Rollins
krollins@ajc.com
This week is not like every other week.
Georgia State (2-8, 1-5 Sun Belt) players agreed this week’s matchup with Georgia Southern (4-6, 3-3) has a different feel and more meaning than the other games this season.
“This game is different,” offensive guard Michael Ivory said. “I mean it’s a rivalry game. It’s 1-1, I don’t want to be 1-2 against them boys. I want to definitely walk out 2-1 with the advantage in my career and always have something to brag about.”
Last season the Panthers dominated the Eagles in the last game of the season in Statesboro to clinch bowl eligibility and give Georgia Southern its worst home loss in program history. This time around, pride and revenge are the main motivators for a GSU team that is looking to stop a three-game losing streak and get a little momentum going into the offseason.
The last time these two teams met in the Georgia Dome, the site of Saturday’s contest, Georgia Southern walked away victorious. But the Eagles didn’t just win, they claimed the Georgia Dome was their territory in the process.
“They came up here and they beat us real bad, and then we went down there and got after them a little bit,” tight end Keith Rucker said. “And last time they were here, they mentioned that the Georgia Dome was Paulson Stadium North, and I think a lot of guys took to that.”
Now the Panthers have the chance for the first home win for either team in the young rivalry and to take an advantage in the series.
For seniors like Rucker, this means they have the opportunity to leave GSU with a winning record against the Eagles. In order for the seniors to go out on top though, they will be reliant on the many young players the Panthers have been forced to put on the field this season.
Those younger players though, understand just how important this rivalry is. And as much as the seniors want to come away with a victory for themselves, they also want to get the underclassmen off on the right foot against the Eagles.
“Let these young guys understand you want to walk out of here 4-0 against them,” Ivory said. “That’s the end goal when you come to Georgia State, you never want to lose to that team. So recognizing that they have the opportunity this Saturday to get their first win, freshmen, sophomores be 2-0, that is huge, and it will build the program a lot, for the sophomore class, freshman class to not lose to those guys.”
