When those last three seconds on the clock ran out Saturday night and the Eagles’ defense prevented ULM from scoring, which led to us being the Sun Belt Conference Champions for 2014, I found myself crying. Saturday night was a bittersweet for me. It was my last football game as a student of Georgia Southern. Yes, I still have a semester left here, but football season is over, and we are champions. 

I had never been to a college football game before I came to Georgia Southern and I didn’t know a single thing about football. Now, three seasons later, you can’t keep me away from Paulson Stadium. I sport my blue, white and gold proudly every single game day. I yell and cheer with everyone else and I stay until the very end.

Saturday night was no different. I screamed until I was hoarse, paced back and forth on the stands during those last three seconds and joined the masses as we swarmed the field following our win. As I stood in the end zone surrounded by thousands of fans and players, all celebrating, I felt an overwhelming pride in my university. After the ceremony was over, I made my way to the Field of Dreams with my friends where I took pictures with Steve & Freedom, Coach Fritz and President Keel.

As people began to leave the stadium, I looked out over the field and took it all in. The next time I step onto that field, I will be there for my college graduation. I will never attend another GSU game as a student. Next time I’m there for a game, I’ll be alumni of the university, so I just want to say thank you.

Thank you, football team, for a great season. Thank you, Coach Fritz, for leading them to this incredible championship. Thank you, Eagle Nation, for being the best place I could have picked to attend college.