2002 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2002 Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern Eagles wordmark.svg Southern Conference SoCon 3 11–3 7–1 Mike Sewak 1st Mitch Ware 1st Rusty Russell 6th Paulson Stadium SoCon champion NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal L 28–31 vs. Western Kentucky The 2002 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented the Georgia Southern University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by first-year head coach Mike Sewak, the Eagles compiled an overall record of 11–3 with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, winning the SoCon title for the sixth consecutive season. Georgia Southern advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Bethune–Cookman in the first round and Maine in the quarterfinals before falling to Western Kentucky in the semifinals. Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. Schedule 2002 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network Eastern August 29 7:00 pm l y y 5 Delaware 22 Delaware Stadium Newark, DE 19–22 19,056 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-ga-southern-falls-t/176512504/ The Macon Telegraph Ga. Southern falls to Delaware in Sewak's debut August 30, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 7 w y 12 Gardner–Webb Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 56–0 18,895 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-eagles-score-5/176512658/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Eagles score 5 TDs in first 25 minutes September 8, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 21 7:00 pm l 9 Wofford Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 7–14 15,564 https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-independent-mail-wofford-upsets/176512879/ Anderson Independent-Mail Wofford upsets perennial SoCon power Georgia Southern September 22, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 w y 18 Chattanooga Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN 38–10 8,566 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-ga-southern-rebound/176513131/ The Macon Telegraph Ga. Southern rebounds against Chattanooga September 29, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 w 18 VMI Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 52–7 15,621 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-virginian-georgia-southern-crus/176513319/ The News-Virginian Georgia Southern crushes VMI October 6, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 w y 16 Western Carolina E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC 41–24 7,749 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-eagles-overwhelm/176513450/ Asheville Citizen-Times Eagles overwhelm Cats October 13, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 w 13 Appalachian State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA rivalry 36–20 15,146 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89892004/no-13-and-growing-up/ The Atlanta Constitution No. 13 and growing up October 20, 2002 December 1, 2021 Newspapers.com October 26 2:00 pm w y 10 The Citadel Johnson Hagood Stadium Charleston, SC 28–24 16,427 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-citadel-cant-pull-off-upset/176513576/ The State Citadel can't pull off upset October 27, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 w 9 East Tennessee State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 40–7 16,106 https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times-news-soaring-eagles-bott/176513714/ Kingsport Times-News Soaring Eagles bottle up Bucs in 40–7 win November 3, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 w y 9 Furman Paladin Stadium Greenville, SC 39–24 15,794 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110109132/georgia-southern-takes-easy-win-over-pal/ The Item Georgia Southern takes easy win over Paladins November 10, 2002 September 24, 2022 Newspapers.com November 16 w y 4 Jacksonville State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 37–13 8,544 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mobile-register-eagles-rout-jsu/176513832/ The Mobile Register Eagles rout JSU November 17, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 30 w y 2 Bethune–Cookman 11 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 34–0 7,395 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-georgia-southern-erases-b/30122919/ Florida Today Georgia Southern erases B–CC December 1, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com December 7 w y 2 Maine 7 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 31–7 6,708 https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-monitor-eagles-run-away-in-the-s/176514043/ Concord Monitor Eagles run away in the second half December 8, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com December 14 5:30 pm l y 2 Western Kentucky 15 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 28–31 6,573 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-hilltoppers-den/176514181/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Hilltoppers deny hopes for 7th title December 15, 2002 July 12, 2025 Newspapers.com 2002 Football Schedule https://gseagles.com/sports/football/schedule/2002 Georgia Southern University July 11, 2025 2024 Football Media Guide https://gseagles.com/documents/2024/7/16/2024GSFB_Guide.pdf Georgia Southern University 127 July 11, 2025 References Georgia Southern Category:Georgia Southern Eagles football seasons Category:Southern Conference football champion seasons Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern