1989 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1989 Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern Eagles wordmark.svg Independent 15–0 Erk Russell 8th Tim Stowers 2nd Paulson Stadium NCAA Division I-AA champion NCAA Division I-AA Championship W Won 37–34 vs. Stephen F. Austin The 1989 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern College (now known as Georgia Southern University) as an independent during the 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by Erk Russell in his eighth and final year as head coach, the Eagles compiled a record of 15–0 and won the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship, the program's third national title in five seasons. After completing an 11–0 regular season, Georgia Southern advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, beating Villanova in the first round, Middle Tennessee, in the quarterfinals, Montana in the semifinals, and Stephen F. Austin in NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. Schedule 1989 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee September 2 w 2 1989 Valdosta State Blazers Valdosta State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 31–10 16,007 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-sharpe-sparks-southe/162402161/ The Macon Telegraph Sharpe sparks Southern to win September 3, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com September 9 w 2 1989 West Georgia Wolves West Georgia Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 48–7 11,939 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-southern-takes-no-pr/162402210/ The Macon Telegraph Southern takes no prisoners September 10, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com September 16 w y 2 Florida A&M Gator Bowl Jacksonville, FL Bold City Classic 28–0 13,481 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-eagles-shut-out-rat/162344085/ Tallahassee Democrat Eagles shut out Rattlers September 17, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com September 21 w 3 Middle Tennessee Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 26–0 16,449 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mtsu-staggered-by-hurrica/162402258/ The Tennessean MTSU staggered by hurricane forces September 22, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com October 7 w 2 1989 Savannah State Tigers Savannah State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 35–14 20,507 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-georgia-southern-rol/162402328/ The Greenville News Georgia Southern rolls, 35–14 October 8, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com October 14 w y 2 Nicholls State John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA 21–13 5,286 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-ga-southern-tu/162400968/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Ga. Southern turns back Nicholls upset bid 21–13 October 15, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com October 21 w 2 UCF Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 31–17 19,640 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-efford-guides-georgia-sout/162402381/ Florida Today Efford guides Georgia Southern past UCF 31–17 October 22, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com October 28 w y 2 Samford Seibert Stadium Homewood, AL 52–7 6,042 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-unbeaten-georgi/162400571/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Unbeaten Georgia Southern rumbles past Samford 52–7 October 29, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com November 4 w y 2 James Madison JMU Stadium Harrisonburg, VA 36–21 11,685 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87057040/rally-pushes-southern-to-90/ The Atlanta Constitution Rally pushes Southern to 9–0 November 5, 1989 October 13, 2021 Newspapers.com November 11 w 1 Chattanooga Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 34–13 24,078 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-no-1-georgi/162362579/ The Springfield News-Leader No. 1 Georgia Southern pulls away in fourth quarter November 12, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com November 18 w 1 Marshall Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 63–31 16,323 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-ross-southern-stamp/162364026/ The Macon Telegraph Ross, Southern stampede Herd November 19, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com November 25 w 1 Villanova 16 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 52–36 10,161 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100206761/eagles-rally-past-villanova-5236/ The Atlanta Journal and Constitution Eagles rally past Villanova 52–36 November 26, 1989 April 21, 2022 Newspapers.com December 2 w 1 Middle Tennessee 10 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 45–3 11,272 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-mtsu-stomped/162402448/ The Daily News-Journal MTSU stomped December 3, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com December 9 w 1 Montana 6 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 45–15 10,421 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montana-standard-grizzlies-hopes-di/162319571/ The Montana Standard Grizzlies' hopes die in Dixie December 10, 1989 January 6, 2025 Newspapers.com December 16 w 1 Stephen F. Austin 3 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game 37–34 25,725 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-its-the-eagles-ga/144018947/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution It's the Eagles! Ga. Southern wins 37–34, claims third I-AA title December 17, 1989 March 24, 2024 Newspapers.com 1989 Football Schedule https://gseagles.com/sports/football/schedule/1989 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 1989 Football Media Guide at gseagles.com Georgia Southern Category:Georgia Southern Eagles football seasons Category:NCAA Division I Football Champions Category:College football undefeated seasons Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern