1986 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1986

| team = Georgia Southern Eagles

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Independent

| record = 13–2

| head_coach = Erk Russell

| hc_year = 5th

| off_coach = Paul Johnson

| oc_year = 2nd

| off_scheme = Option

| def_coach = Len Gravelson

| dc_year = 2nd

| def_scheme = 4–4

| captain =

| stadium = Paulson Stadium

| champion = NCAA Division I-AA champion

| bowl = NCAA Division I-AA Championship

| bowl_result = W 48–21 vs. Arkansas State

}}

The 1986 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented the Georgia Southern Eagles of Georgia Southern College (now known as Georgia Southern University) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. The team was coached by Erk Russell, in his fifth year as head coach for the Eagles.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1986

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA

| poll = NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee

| timezone = Eastern

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = August 30

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = Florida

| opprank = 13 (I-A)

| site_stadium = Florida Field

| site_cityst = Gainesville FL

| score = 14–38

| attend = 74,221

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-big-game-for-go/135002974/|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal & Constitution|title=Big game for goliath: Gators 38, Eagles 14|date=August 31, 1986|accessdate=November 11, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 13

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| rank = 1

| opponent = Florida A&M

| site_stadium = Gator Bowl

| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL

| gamename = Bold City Classic

| score = 35–12

| attend = 21,982

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-hambone-whacks-famu/160409754/|work=Tallahassee Democrat|title=Hambone whacks FAMU|date=September 14, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 20

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Middle Tennessee

| opprank = 17

| site_stadium = Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium

| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN

| score = 34–31

| attend = 11,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-georgia-southern-slips-pa/160411470/|work=The Tennessean|title=Georgia Southern slips past MTSU|date=September 21, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 27

| w/l = w

| rank = 4

| opponent = Chattanooga

| site_stadium = Paulson Stadium

| site_cityst = Statesboro, GA

| score = 34–14

| attend = 15,235

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-georgia-southern-win/160256782/|work=The Idaho Statesman|title=Georgia Southern wins easily over Tennessee–Chattanooga|date=September 28, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 4

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Tennessee Tech

| site_stadium = Tucker Stadium

| site_cityst = Cookeville, TN

| score = 59–13

| attend = 6,211

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-georgia-souther/160411701/|work=The Atlanta Journal & Constitution|title=Georgia Southern rallies to win big|date=October 5, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 11

| w/l = w

| rank = 3

| opponent = Bethune–Cookman

| site_stadium = Paulson Stadium

| site_cityst = Statesboro, GA

| score = 52–31

| attend = 14,321

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-ham-georgia-southern-wh/154884824/|work=St. Petersburg Times|title=Ham, Georgia Southern whip Bethune–Cookman|date=October 12, 1986|accessdate=September 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 18

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = East Carolina

| site_stadium = Ficklen Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Greenville, NC

| score = 33–35

| attend = 27,121

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72735664/ga-southern-falls-as-ecu-ends-15-loss/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Ga. Southern falls as ECU ends 15-loss streak|date=October 19, 1986|accessdate=March 5, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 1

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 9

| opponent = Western Kentucky

| site_stadium = L. T. Smith Stadium

| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY

| score = 49–32

| attend = 13,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-not-to-be-ham-wont/160411812/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Not to be: Ham won't let Western pull off upset|date=November 2, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 8

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 5

| opponent = UCF

| site_stadium = Florida Citrus Bowl

| site_cityst = Orlando, FL

| score = 33–23

| attend = 11,137

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-eagles-fly-high-3323/160411878/|work=Florida Today|title=Eagles fly high, 33–23|date=November 9, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 15

| w/l = w

| rank = 5

| opponent = James Madison

| site_stadium = Paulson Stadium

| site_cityst = Statesboro, GA

| score = 45–35

| attend = 16,135

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86967221/defenseless-ga-southern-survives-james/|work=The Atlanta Constitution|title=Defenseless Ga. Southern survives James Madison 45–35|date=November 16, 1986|accessdate=October 12, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 22

| w/l = w

| rank = 5

| opponent = South Carolina State

| site_stadium = Paulson Stadium

| site_cityst = Statesboro, GA

| score = 28–7

| attend = 12,585

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-southerns-defense-b/154884115/|work=The Macon Telegraph & News|title=Southern's defense beats S.C. State 28–7|date=November 23, 1986|accessdate=September 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 29

| w/l = w

| rank = 4

| opponent = North Carolina A&T

| opprank = 20

| site_stadium = Paulson Stadium

| site_cityst = Statesboro, GA

| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA First Round

| score = 52–21

| attend = 7,767

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-southern-buries-aggi/143874782/|work=The Macon Telegraph & News|title=Southern buries Aggies 52–21|date=November 30, 1986|accessdate=March 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 6

| w/l = w

| rank = 4

| opponent = Nicholls State

| opprank = 12

| site_stadium = Paulson Stadium

| site_cityst = Statesboro, GA

| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal

| score = 55–31

| attend = 9,121

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-georgia-southern/160196703/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Georgia Southern in semifinals|date=December 7, 1986|accessdate=December 2, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 13

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Nevada

| opprank = 1

| site_stadium = Mackay Stadium

| site_cityst = Reno, NV

| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal

| score = 48–38

| attend = 15,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-ham-leading-eagles-back/160317308/|work=The News Tribune|title=Ham leading Eagles back to Tacoma|date=December 14, 1986|accessdate=December 4, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 19

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Arkansas State

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Tacoma Dome

| site_cityst = Tacoma, WA

| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game

| score = 48–21

| attend = 4,419

| source = {{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31182822/georgia_southern_goes_for_2ndstraight/ |title=Georgia Southern goes for 2nd-straight title |agency=AP |newspaper=The News-Press |location=Fort Myers, Florida |page=5C |date=December 19, 1986 |accessdate=May 2, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31182882/georgia_southern_wins_iaa_football/ |title=Georgia Southern wins I-AA football crown |newspaper=Reno Gazette-Journal |location=Reno, Nevada |page=1B |date=December 20, 1986 |accessdate=May 2, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/gatadb/gamereports/1986/19861220_arkansas_state_complete.pdf |title=NCAA Official Scoring Summary |date=December 19, 1986 |accessdate=May 2, 2019 |via=Amazon Web Services}}

}}

References

External links

[https://static.gseagles.com/custompages/football/FB_MG_1986.pdf 1986 Football Media Guide] at gseagles.com

Georgia Southern

Category:Georgia Southern Eagles football seasons

Category:NCAA Division I Football Champions

Georgia Southern Eagles football