When it comes to Sun Belt media day, those interested in Georgia Southern never have to dig too far to find a big story.
In 2014, the Eagles were new kids on the scene. In 2015, everyone wanted a piece of the defending conference champions. Last season saw plenty of intrigue as Tyson Summers made his first media day appearance as head coach.
And on Monday, with Summers back in town and the Eagles reeling from a 2016 season that didn’t go according to script, the questions came early and often about how Georgia Southern intends to get back to its winning ways.
Summers says that plenty of growth happened at a personal level in enduring a 5-7 season that led to the jettison of most of the offensive staff over the winter.
Valuable lessons don’t often come without adversity, but Summers is leading in and making changes both with himself and with his team.
“Your first year, you don’t know what to expect,” Summers said. “For me, I have just really tried to pour my heart and my time into individual players and try to build trust and cohesion with our guys.”
Summers immediately left town after fulfilling his media day obligations as Tuesday marks the first day of fall camp for Georgia Southern. Per NCAA rules, teams are allowed to begin practice three weeks before classes begin. Since Georgia Southern begins its fall semester a bit earlier than most, the Eagles will get a head start.
Georgia Southern will be on the same limit of practice hours allowed as other teams, but the wider time range in which to fill those hours allows for a flexible schedule.
“We are bringing our guys out earlier and have breaks built in,” Summers said. “We have three days of practice and a recovery day over a five week preseason as opposed to two straight weeks. We are being smarter with our bodies and our health.”
Of course, the real change Eagle fans want to hear about centers around the offense.
Despite trying to stay true to its option roots last season, the Eagle offense sputtered and rarely looked like the rushing juggernaut that has become its calling card over the last three decades.
In an attempt to right the ship, Bryan Cook joins the staff as new offensive coordinator, along with receivers coach Juston Wood and offensive line coach Bob Bodine. All have extensive backgrounds coaching various versions of option offenses. The hope is that a solid base of knowledge at the coaching level will feed into a team that is talented, but much younger and less experienced than last year’s Eagle squad.
“I think you’re going to see an offensive line that is playing downhill and attacking similar to most option teams,” Summers said. “I think you’re also going to see some explosive plays. I think the answers (to improving the offense) are built into our scheme and better than what you would have seen last year.”
As much as the critics will look for the Eagles to regain the ability to run the ball, another concern is their ability to stop the run on the other side of things.
A wealth of experience in the front seven moved on after 2016, leaving plenty of empty spots on the depth chart at defensive line and linebacker. A secondary that proved itself with underclassmen last year now figures to be the strength of the Eagle defense, but last season’s reserves — as well as a few would-be starters who were lost to injury — want to do their part up front.
“The offseason has been good for us,” Eagle linebacker Chris DeLaRosa said. “It is good that we are getting Todd Bradley back (after getting hurt last year). We have Logan Hunt and Darrius Sapp and they will be really good up front. Really, those young guys, the linebackers, they really bought in and have a lot of talent. I know they will be stars.”
And, being as it’s Georgia Southern and all, DeLaRosa also had to give his take on the offense.
“The triple option is back. I can promise you that. After going against it every day in the spring, it’s going to be fun to watch.”
Meet the Eagles Aug. 4
The annual Meet the Eagles Fan Fest will be on Aug. 4 at Allen E. Paulson Stadium. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the team will scrimmage from 6-8 p.m. The Fan Fest will begin after the scrimmage is completed and will last approximately 90 minutes. The public is invited and can come on the field at, or when the scrimmage is over. The North Concourse will be the only side open and fans may enter through Gate 12.
The athletics department will have activities on the field, including inflatables for the kids, posters and schedule cards, corn hole, GUS, cheerleaders and autographs and activity stations with all of the fall sport teams. Concessions will be available.
Meet the Eagles Fan Fest is free and open to fans of all ages. Parking is also free. Guests may also pick up their season ticket packets and Eagle Fund membership benefits at Gate 8 starting at 5 pm. For those who haven’t purchased their season tickets, they can do so at the event, as well. The ticket booth will close at the end of the event.
Georgia Southern will take a practice on the road as it heads to Savannah for its third and final scrimmage. The Eagles will head east on I-16 and will practice on the campus of Armstrong State University on Aug. 18 from 6-8 p.m. Following the completion of the scrimmage, the team will hold a fan fest with autographs, inflatables, entertainment and much more.