GATA Talk

It was a bitter-sweet final Saturday of the 2024 regular season for Georgia Southern as the Eagles beat arch rival App State but came up a play short of winning the Sun Belt East as Marshall beat James Madison in double overtime. Matt and Cody recap the App State win and breakdown the 8-4 regular season. Were expectations met? Where do we go from here? Are changes of any kind warranted? 

Show Notes:

• App State Game Was as Strange as Ever
• Crowd Was Electric and Single Season Attendance Record Set
• Honoring the 2024 Senior Class
• How Does the 8-4 (6-2) Record Stack Up to Other FBS Years?
• Defense Recap: Was It as Bad as Some Fans Think?
• Offense Recap: Eagles Regressed in 2024 
• Special Teams Recap: Placekicking and Punting Were Solid
• Does the Result of the Bowl Game Matter?
• Should We Be Concerned With Margin of Victory?

It's officially Hate Week, and there's so much more on the line than simply bragging rights. Georgia Southern is still very much in the Sun Belt East race going into the final game of the regular season against App State, needing a win and a Marshall loss to book a spot in the conference championship game. Matt and Cody discuss the lopsided win at Coastal Carolina, what needs to improve to beat App and win a title, and cover all of the postseason scenarios for the Eagles. 

Show Notes:

• It All Comes Down to the Final Week
• Defense Shines Against Coastal 
• Concerns Over Red Zone Offense and Run Game
• We Must Not Beat Ourselves Against App State
• Breaking Down Championship Game Scenarios
• Get to Paulson, Set Attendance Record, and Will the Team to Victory

Following a disappointing loss to Troy in Paulson, Georgia Southern finds itself desperate for a win to stay in the Sun Belt East race. To make matters worse, the program finds itself in the middle of drama, with underwhelming reactions from head coach Clay Helton, ensuing backlash from fans and another departure of a prominent player in Issac Walker. 

Show Notes:

• The Troy Game Was NOT 'NFL-like' 
• Response from Helton More Upsetting Than the Loss
• Play-calling Against Troy Was Atrocious 
• Coordinators Need to Answer for Their Decisions 
• Breaking Down the Isaac Walker Situation 
• Does This Program Have a Shared Goal of Championships? 
• Previewing Coastal: Hungry Team Looking for Bowl-bid
• East Title Still in Reach, But Optimism Isn't High
• Silver Lining: We're 3-0 After Losses This Season

Georgia Southern comes out of the bye week in the driver's seat of the Sun Belt East, but they will host Troy this Saturday without their backup quarterback. Matt and Cody discuss the abrupt departure of Dexter Williams II and what it may mean for the remainder of the season. The guys also preview a Troy team that is finding their identity thanks to a strong running game and a familiar face in the backfield. 

Show Notes:

• Dexter Williams Is Gone: Instant Reaction
• Who Is to Blame for This?
• Eagles Down to French and Two True Freshmen
• Claiming Dex Was Deserving of QB1 Is Short-sided
• Previewing Troy: Rough Start But Finding Their Stride
• Running Game Features Former Eagle Gerald Green
• Key to Victory Is Stopping the Run and Establishing It Offensively
• Outlook on Rest of Season and Sun Belt East Race

Georgia Southern becomes bowl eligible and moves solely into first place in the Sun Belt East after a come-from-behind victory on the road, in November, against South Alabama. Matt and Cody discuss the much needed win and the outlook for the rest of the season as well as the recent athletic director change from Jared Benko to Chris Davis.

Show Notes:

• Cardiac Eagles Strike Again
• Total Team Effort in Fourth Quarter
• Unlike Marshall, Both QBs Were Key in Win
• JC French Played Safe, But Made the Plays When Needed
• Defense Looked Shaky at Times, but Pitched Shutout in Fourth 
• Running Game Concerns: OJ Needs More Touches
• Benko Out, Chris Davis In
• Jared Benko Is the Best Georgia Southern AD Since Bucky