1985 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1985 Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern Eagles wordmark.svg Independent 13–2 Erk Russell 4th Paul Johnson 1st Option Len Gravelson 1st 4–4 Paulson Stadium NCAA Division I-AA champion NCAA Division I-AA Championship W 44–42 vs. Furman 9 The 1985 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented the Georgia Southern Eagles of Georgia Southern College (now known as Georgia Southern University) during the 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. The team was coached by Erk Russell, in his fourth year as head coach for the Eagles. They went on to defeat Furman 44-42 in the Division 1-AA Championship Game to win their first of six Division 1-AA Championships and the first of two in a row.Championships/Postseason https://gseagles.com/sports/2015/12/8/GEN_1208152412 2025-08-18 Georgia Southern University Athletics en Offensive Coordinator Paul Johnson, who would go on to be the head coach at Navy and Georgia Tech at the Division 1 level,Paul Johnson College Coaching Records, Awards and Leaderboards https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/paul-johnson-1.html 2025-08-18 College Football at Sports-Reference.com en specifically curtailed the offensive scheme, known as the Hambone, around quarterback Tracy Ham. Ham was an incredible athlete who can both run and pass, making the option offense of the Hambone very successful.2013-11-21 Throwback Thursday - First Georgia Southern-Florida Game - August 30, 1986 https://gseagles.com/news/2013/11/21/FB_1121133656 2025-08-18 Georgia Southern University Athletics en Johnson would go on to popularize and refine a similar offense to the Hambone known as the flexbone, which has had great success across college football for many coaches and teams.Hinton Matt 2008-04-02 CFB Explainer: Flexbonin' https://www.sundaymorningqb.com/2008/4/2/12521/45441 2025-08-18 Sunday Morning Quarterback en Schedule 1985 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Eastern September 7 w y Florida A&M Gator Bowl Jacksonville, FL Bold City Classic 27–21 18,086 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-georgia-so-outla/159007536/ Pensacola News Journal Georgia So. outlasts FAMU, 27–21 September 16, 1984 November 13, 2024 Newspapers.com September 14 l Middle Tennessee Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 10–35 9,227 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mtsu-rambles-3510-over-g/160123093/ The Tennessean MTSU rambles 35–10 over Georgia Southern September 15, 1985 December 1, 2024 Newspapers.com September 21 w y Troy State Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL 17–10 6,400 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112913735/ham-paces-ga-southern-to-1710-win/ The Atlanta Constitution Ham paces Ga. Southern to 17–10 win September 22, 1985 November 11, 2022 Newspapers.com September 28 w y Chattanooga Chamberlain Field Chattanooga, TN 19–14 8,892 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-ham-leads-eagle/159451664/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Ham leads Eagles over UTC 19–13 September 29, 1985 December 1, 2024 Newspapers.com October 5 w Tennessee Tech Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 34–0 9,152 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-southern-routs-te/160123244/ The Daily News-Journal Southern routs Tech October 6, 1985 December 1, 2024 Newspapers.com October 12 w 19 Bethune–Cookman Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 46–24 8,063 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-southern-takes-4624/154821590/ The Macon Telegraph & News Southern takes 46–24 victory October 13, 1985 September 7, 2024 Newspapers.com October 26 w 8 1985 Newberry Indians Newberry Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 38–17 12,831 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-georgia-southern-rol/160123383/ The Greenville News Georgia Southern rolls past Newberry October 27, 1985 December 1, 2024 Newspapers.com November 2 l y 7 James Madison JMU Stadium Harrisonburg, VA 6–21 5,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87003202/james-madison-dukes-upend-georgia-southe/ The Daily News Leader James Madison Dukes upend Georgia Southern, 21–6 November 3, 1985 October 12, 2021 Newspapers.com November 9 w 16 UCF Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 35–18 7,759 https://www.newspapers.com/article/indian-river-press-journal-georgia-south/160123562/ Indian River Press Journal Georgia Southern rallies to down Central Florida November 10, 1985 December 1, 2024 Newspapers.com November 16 w 12 East Tennessee State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 46–7 8,142 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-ham-leads-southern-r/159456435/ The Macon Telegraph & News Ham leads Southern ro 46–7 win November 17, 1985 November 20, 2024 Newspapers.com November 23 w y 10 South Carolina State Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Orangeburg, SC 43–30 6,543 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-georgia-southern-explosion-bur/154824811/ The State Georgia Southern explosion buries S.C. State 43–30 November 24, 1985 September 7, 2024 Newspapers.com November 30 w 9 Jackson State 15 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 27–0 4,128 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122517939/georgia-southern-advances/ Georgia Southern advances The Columbus Ledger December 1, 1985 April 8, 2023 Newspapers.com December 7 w y 9 Middle Tennessee 1 Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 28–21 9,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-georgia-southern-earns-date/160123689/ The Waterloo Courier Georgia Southern earns date against UNI with upset win December 8, 1985 December 1, 2024 Newspapers.com December 14 w y 9 Northern Iowa 4 UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 40–33 12,300 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-southern-wins-moves/160090695/ The Macon Telegraph & News Southern wins, moves into final with Furman December 15, 1985 December 1, 2024 Newspapers.com December 21 w y 9 Furman T–2 Tacoma Dome Tacoma, WA NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game 44–42 5,306 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98429741/erks-eagles-land-with-a-title/ The Atlanta Constitution Erk's Eagles land with a title December 22, 1985 March 26, 2022 Newspapers.com 1985 Football Schedule https://gseagles.com/sports/football/schedule/1985 Georgia Southern University July 11, 2025 2024 Football Media Guide https://gseagles.com/documents/2024/7/16/2024GSFB_Guide.pdf Georgia Southern University 126 July 11, 2025 References External links 1985 Football Media Guide at gseagles.com Georgia Southern Category:Georgia Southern Eagles football seasons Category:NCAA Division I Football Champions Georgia Southern Eagles football Category:Long stubs with short prose Georgia Southern