A boffo opening night for Georgia State football and its fans
Does this look like real football? It sure as heck felt like it. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
If Georgia State never wins another game or scores another point, the Panthers and their fans can say this: On Sept. 2, 2010, a start-up college-football program outdrew a first-place big-league baseball club head to head. On its first time out of the box, GSU served notice that there’s enthusiasm in this city for this brand new team.
And that wasn’t always a given. Indeed, there were those — that’s my hand you see raised — who feared GSU would unveil its football team to an intimate gathering of friends and family beneath the cavernous Georgia Dome. But there was nothing small about the crowd Thursday night, and there was nothing intimate about the setting.
The Dome’s lower bowl was full, and the overflow spilled upward into the second tier. Cheryl Levick, GSU’s athletic director, reported that there were 11,000 students on hand, and certainly her estimate didn’t seem fanciful. The students arrived early and yelled all night — they even shrieked after a successful Panthers fair catch — and they roared their approval when the school president took a pregame walk in front of their end zone.
Said Mark Becker, the president in question, recalling his promenade: “Our student section was already full; their bodies were painted. I’ll never forget the excitement of those kids. … To see the student excitement and to see them fill the student section straight away will be with me forever.”
Someone asked Becker if he could have imagined such a crowd. “Two months ago, no,” he said. “A week ago, yes. Just the buzz around the city has been electric. … In the last couple of days, I predicted at least 25,000.”
He got it, plus 5K. Attendance was announced as 30,237. (The Braves, by way of contrast, drew 24,895 for their game against the Mets.)
Said Levick: “I am shocked and excited to do 30,000.”
About the game: The Panthers beat Shorter 41-7. They scored on their first drive and scored on their last, eight seconds from the end. They stopped themselves with some penalties, but this was, after all, the first time they had done this. (And it’s not as if established programs can’t be penalized. Ask the folks in Athens.)
Bill Curry, who had coached at Georgia Tech, Alabama and Kentucky, was so moved by this Opening Night that he gathered his family for photos before the game in front of the GSU students, who already were roaring. And his players were so stoked that they nearly injured themselves taking the field for warmups, so furiously were they leaping and smacking one another and waving to the crowd.
On the field for the coin flip — for history buffs: GSU won the toss and took the ball — and the kickoff, Levick said she looked into the expectant eyes of her players and “felt chills.” And it wasn’t, she noted, just the players. Walking the concourse, she kept being stopped by gray-haired alums who wanted to say thanks.
And then there were the folks who actually attend GSU. Said Levick: “[The students] are electric down there. They finally have a team, and they’re proud of it.”
When it was done, GSU was a 41-7 winner. The Panthers sprinted to the end zone and sang with the band — to go with a new team, Georgia State had to assemble a marching band — and celebrated with those wearing blue body paint, and it felt like a real football game had just been played and won.
“When you come to the moment of truth, you don’t know what’s going to happen when the lights come on,” Curry said. Then, pointing to the “incredible turnout,” he said: “I wondered if [the crowd] would unglue us. It did not.”
If anything, the crowd emboldened the new team. Forty-five minutes before kickoff, a cluster of Panthers gathered in the tunnel, and one shouted, “This is our house!”
Fancy that. The Georgia Dome — not Deion Sanders’ house, and not Arthur Blank’s, either. Instead it belonged, at least on this night, to a team that had never played, and darned if the Panthers didn’t make themselves at home.
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231 comments Add your comment
Car77
September 3rd, 2010
1:54 am
Well, Georgia State’s website is gsu.edu… I think that shows who owns claim to the abbreviation GSU. It made sense for sports sites to abbreviate Georgia Southern as GSU because obviously that was their abbreviation… but we were first, and we own GSU. It was annoying looking up ESPN scores because of this, that abbreviation is soon to be ours!
Give Georgia Southern “GSO”
OnceInALifeTime
September 3rd, 2010
3:03 am
Amazing! I’ve been to professional ATL games that didn’t have a crowd that size – or that enthusiastic. Congratulations to the team, the coaching staff, and the students – this has been a long time coming and it was worth the wait. Nexxxxt…
KakNiqueTree
September 3rd, 2010
3:31 am
Can see it now (well, maybe someday, G-State and G-Tech, the next great intracity rivalry. USC and UCLA won’t have nothing on this!
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A boffo opening night for Georgia State football and its fans – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) « Furniture Store USA
September 3rd, 2010
4:05 am
[...] A boffo opening night for Georgia State football and its fansAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Indeed, there were those ? that's my hand you see raised ? who feared GSU would unveil its football team to an intimate gathering of friends and family …and more » [...]
mike
September 3rd, 2010
4:08 am
congrats to georgia state football team, university, alumni, staff, and current students.. one more local football team can’t be a bad thing, right?
-gsu alum ‘05
Cardog
September 3rd, 2010
4:09 am
Georgia State’s website is GSU.EDU… they are the original GSU. It made sense for the only school with those abbreviations (GA Southern) to be called that. It makes it difficult to find ga state’s info on espn, and we are going to surpass them in popularity and recognition. I say change Georgia Southern to GSO….
You would think with the gsu.edu website, we have some claims to the trademark.
mike
September 3rd, 2010
4:11 am
also, although i am still a gstate supporter and alumni, it is still deion’s house.
bozydeco
September 3rd, 2010
4:16 am
Congrats to GSU, Bill Curry, the players, the students, and the alums. A shining start.
F9F
September 3rd, 2010
4:22 am
I’ve always thought you were an excellent writer, but I wasn’t happy with that column you wrote when GSU announced it’s intention to field a football team. All is forgiven, though. Great job, Mark!
Class of 99
September 3rd, 2010
4:45 am
I am so excited for the school! GO PANTHERS!
A boffo opening night for Georgia State football and its fans – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Hot Topics
September 3rd, 2010
5:26 am
[...] A boffo opening night for Georgia State football and its fansAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)… never wins another game or scores another point, the Panthers and their fans can say this: On Sept. 2, 2010, a start-up college-football program outdrew …Georgia State wins big in debutSavannah Morning Newsall 184 news articles » [...]
Cash Strapped Braves Fan
September 3rd, 2010
6:11 am
Way to Go GA State..Big fan of Coach Curry…a man of class and dignity. As far as outdrawing the Braves…so what? It’s the first EVER football game in the history of the program…this is game #130 something of the season for the Braves…it’s a long season…why even compare??
Class of 2009
September 3rd, 2010
6:15 am
As a new Georgia State Alumni, I must say this game was one of the best experiences I have had with sports ever. I know that sounds weird (this division/games are not worth much), but I guess it is due to not having a team as a student (especially in Georgia, where college football is huge). You learn to really appreciate things by going without them, and going without football as a college student in Georgia was TOUGH.
Sorry for the pointless rant, what a great game by Bill Curry and Company!
GO PANTHERS
Class of 89 and 97
September 3rd, 2010
6:20 am
It was a great game — and having football should shed a little light on what have been happening on campus. Many folks don’t know what a great university GSU has become — for student life, research, arts, etc. It’s great to see that football is going to bring many alums and other visitors downtown to see this for themselves.
Class of 89 and 97
September 3rd, 2010
6:22 am
“what has been happening” — sorry. No coffee yet!
George
September 3rd, 2010
6:55 am
Congratulations to Georgia State on a great win. I am skeptical, however, that the enthusiasm and attendance will continue past this first season. Hope I’m wrong.
Football cake
September 3rd, 2010
7:06 am
Well 30,000 is very good start u all act next they made people come in see it,,,well we see if get more if braves on road n college home around i say 47,000 next game for U GS football…if tech home oh nver mind u out draw Tech home opener anyway!Good luck Coach Curry if GT yech’s kept u not fired u cause he tellin off the loser AD then he would been winnin there also,what ever curry go’s its below avg college program n kentucky n Gt were and is kentucky tryin be…Tech No any college AD keeps a chokin baseball coach there is not.GS Panthers will be 10-2 this season folks!
Panther brethren show us how it’s done « PantherU
September 3rd, 2010
7:12 am
[...] “[GSU Athletic Director Cheryl] Levick said she looked into the expectant eyes of her players and ‘felt chills.’ And it wasn’t, she noted, just the players. Walking the concourse, she kept being stopped by gray-haired alums who wanted to say thanks.” Mark Bradley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
AtlantaFootballFan
September 3rd, 2010
7:15 am
The walk-up crowd for last night’s game was incredible. The ticket booths were overwhelmed. The student tickets were all gone by 6:15. If they keep getting 15,000 students for each game, the crowds will be great. Good luck on the rest of the season. Go Panthers.
Topp Dogg
September 3rd, 2010
7:17 am
Next year GSU football will outsell GT in tickets and merchandise.
A boffo opening night for Georgia State football and its fans – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Blog-about.com Free Blogs
September 3rd, 2010
7:17 am
[...] A boffo opening night for Georgia State football and its fansAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)… never wins another game or scores another point, the Panthers and their fans can say this: On Sept. 2, 2010, a start-up college-football program outdrew …Georgia State wins big in debutSavannah Morning Newsall 184 news articles » [...]
PantherBlazerilla
September 3rd, 2010
7:40 am
Tide Rising, you have a lot of class. Thanks for your gracious support and I look forward to seeing our Panthers play the awesome Tide.
Butts Wagner
September 3rd, 2010
7:42 am
Bryan actually the cost of the “tickets” is the increased student / athletic fees that every student is paying to field the team. So if you really think about it, GSU “sold” another 14,000 tickets due to the students that are currently enrolled that didn’t attend.
And we have a new contender for the most convoluted argument crown! This is where the real excitement is. Maybe some fresh blood can be injected into the idiocy that is the Uga/GT squabbles on these blog comments.
To start some more lunacy, that means that when GT falls 10k short of selling out, they really did sell out because of the 10k students who paid their athletic fees and didn’t attend the game, so that means GT sells out every game. Take that! Uga fans who try and make fun of GT for not selling out their games. According to our friends at GSU, GT actually does sell out every game.
» BBL: Basketball takes pictures, football gets ready John Clay’s Sidelines
September 3rd, 2010
7:51 am
[...] Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that it was a boffo first night for Curry and Georgia State. [...]
Cracker Jacket
September 3rd, 2010
7:57 am
Nice to have a classy coach in Atlanta for a change!
GEORGE LIVINGSTON
September 3rd, 2010
7:59 am
AT LAST…A real team in the ATL
10-1 Lead After 3
September 3rd, 2010
8:00 am
Move over Yellow Jackets, take a hike Bulldogs, there’s a new power in town. And most of all, get ready Crimson Tide–the Panthers are coming!
shreveport
September 3rd, 2010
8:08 am
great game GSU! we’d love to pair you up with the underachievers from athens in december for our big bowl game
Kickoff Kid's Dad
September 3rd, 2010
8:10 am
As an Alumn of GSU and RSB, I’m overjoyed with our Football program. However, when I saw my son, Pete Tatum, run on the field and pick up the tee, I was overcome with emotion. The GSU Football program is Top Shelf; from the AD all the way to David the Team Manager. They made a “DREAM COME TRUE” for one Panther family. Way to go Pete!
– to my wife, who is UGA Dawg… Sorry honey, I won’t be going to Athens with you anymore!
Go Panthers!
ryan
September 3rd, 2010
8:10 am
Am I the only one that thinks that front page picture of Curry on the ground looks like he’s getting his a** kicked by the players?
Seriously, isn’t there maybe another picture?
PantherBlazerilla
September 3rd, 2010
8:10 am
Oh, and for all of your GA Suthern people, We were GSU while you were still GA Suthern College. I know- I was a student there starting in 1986, and GSU was used widely on campus and off. The Board of Regents owns the acronym and has assigned it to Georgia State because that’s where it has always belonged.
SomewhereinGA
September 3rd, 2010
8:12 am
I can’t wait till GSU gets its feet on the ground, so to speak, and plays the Nerds…..it should be fun. Anybody wanna bet GT will not agree to play them? Just like the other GSU, don’t have the kahonees to play Southern either.
The Grinch
September 3rd, 2010
8:16 am
That photo makes it look like Bill Curry just got kicked in the jewels. Gotta be careful pouring ice on old folks.
Really, though, I’m glad they had this kind of turnout and positive experience. They’ll probably struggle for a while but they may turn into a good program. I hope so; look forward to some in-state competition.
F-105 Thunderchief
September 3rd, 2010
8:17 am
Congrats, Georgia State. Wishing you continued much success. As an ’80s Georgia Southern alum, I know what this feels like. Hope our schools can become rivals in football.
KR
September 3rd, 2010
8:17 am
Congratulations to Georgia State’s players, Bill Curry and the entire school. Best of luck for continued success this season!
TCH
September 3rd, 2010
8:25 am
GSU needs to plan big and dream big and move to get either in a stronger conference or at the least schedule all non conference games with stronger teams. the sooner they move up the latter and schedule a more competitive season the quicker it will get to the big time. However, it is an awesome start and I will support GSU all the way. Go Panthers!!!
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 3rd, 2010
8:26 am
All I know is when I googled GSU football, Georgia Southern University came up first. Erk Russell put Statesboro on the map with that program and it will be forever embedded in people’s minds everywhere except Atlanta when football is mentioned. Enjoy your program, in Atlanta.
shovelhead
September 3rd, 2010
8:32 am
I hate haters. Good grief. Congratulations to the GSU Panthers.
john
September 3rd, 2010
8:33 am
Congrats Georgia State on your first victory! Only 6 national championships away from being the real GSU.
TCH
September 3rd, 2010
8:35 am
TTTT you are a complete idiot. When Georgia southern started playing football about 1983 it was Georgia southern COLLEGE. In the 1990s the decided they wanted to be a “University” GSU has been GSU forever. If you took a pole today more people in Ga would say GSU is Georgia State. GSU already has more exposure, support, and everything else then Southern. It doesn’t really matter what you think. GSU IS Georgia State. Get over it!!
Problem Solver
September 3rd, 2010
8:38 am
Will the REAL GSU stand up. Since Georgia State supporters and Georgia Southern supporters both believe that they should be called “GSU,” let’s solve this the old-fashioned way. How about scheduling a football game between Georgia State and Georgia Southern? As for naming the Panther mascot “Gus,” Georgia Southern already has its Eagle mascot named “Gus.”
GSU (Georgia Southern, that is) opens its season Saturday in Statesboro.
Opportunity awaits Boilers around the Bend – ESPN (blog)
September 3rd, 2010
8:38 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
UGAgrad05
September 3rd, 2010
8:39 am
I’m an mba student at GSU and an undergrad diehard from UGA. I went to the dome yesterday and got chills from how excited everyone was. The 30,000 in there were loud. It wasnt sanford stadium, but it definatly got me ready for football. Good job GSU
ruggerfool
September 3rd, 2010
8:45 am
Awesome night downtown there cannot be a classier coach than Curry. Class of 87
Go Pikes
ryan
September 3rd, 2010
8:47 am
Southern plays at Paulson Stadium.
Capacity about 18K with grass seating. Record attendance was nearly 26K, during a 1989 playoff game. Regular attendance is usually less than 15K.
State, last night, drew nearly 31K.
Anyone who wants to dismiss that because “it was just the first game” needs to ask what did Southern draw for their first game?
Well, it surely wasn’t 31K.
Because they played at Statesboro High School.
GSU GRAD
September 3rd, 2010
8:56 am
GSU CO/09! I am so proud of my Panthers! I will be at all the games and support you all the way. The excitement in that Dome was amazing. I hope everyone keeps coming out for the games to support their team. GSU GIVE EM’ HELL!
john
September 3rd, 2010
8:56 am
No, State is missing the pole with 6 national championship banners flying from it. I am happy for State, but lets be serious here. You have won a single game against Shorter College. And is there mascot really named GUS?
EaglesForever
September 3rd, 2010
9:14 am
I soooooo smell a rivalry brewing between the two GSUs in this state. Let’s take it to the gridiron PLEASE!! Congrats to the panthers. Keep up the good work and support your team NO MATTER WHAT!! Having said that…..when it comes to football Ga State is….gsu but Ga Southern is…GSU. You have to give Southern the edge based on success and history. Academics is another matter and even as a Ga Southern alum I’ll admit that. So there’s only one way to settle this and that’s to take it to the field. Those games will be some of the most fun you’ll have as a Ga State fan. Hopefully, it will happen soon. Until then…Go gsu Panthers!!
Reality Check
September 3rd, 2010
9:15 am
Butts Wagnor – GT doesn’t sell out because they don’t sell out. It had nothing to do with their student tickets. They can’t sell out the other sections. I guess I would be pissed to if I cheered for a school that has been playing football over a century and GSU almost sold more tickets to their opener than Tech did.
I am usually in Athens watching the dawgs and of course last night isn’t quite Athens yet, but I was actually impressed with the atmosphere at the dome. Great job GSU and keep up the good work.