Johnson, Ham, Peterson to be honored
Georgia Southern is proud to announce another addition to the Parrish-Scoggins Plaza at Allen E. Paulson Stadium, as busts of the Eagles’ three College Football Hall of Famers will be added adjacent to the statues of legendary coach Erk Russell and Freedom. A special unveiling ceremony will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31, before the App State game.
Last season, Georgia Southern unveiled a bronze sculpture honoring Freedom, the school’s beloved live bald eagle mascot who passed away in 2025 at age 21. Freedom’s statue stands in stately companionship with the statue of Erk Russell, a towering figure in Georgia Southern lore whose legacy looms large in Statesboro and whose 100th birthday will be celebrated throughout the year.
To further honor Georgia Southern’s storied history, the university will add busts of three College Football Hall of Famers: Tracy Ham, Adrian Peterson and Coach Paul Johnson. These new additions are slated for installation during the football season. Room will also be left for future additions should any Eagles be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“Parrish-Scoggins Plaza is becoming a true centerpiece of the Georgia Southern game day experience,” said Director of Athletics Chris Davis. “From Freedom and Erk Russell to soon honoring Tracy Ham, Adrian Peterson and Coach Johnson, this space represents the heart and soul of Eagle Nation. It’s a place where fans, alumni and families can celebrate our history, take pride in our traditions and be inspired by the legends who built this program, 365 days a year.”
Hanlon Sculpture Studio will create the busts.
Honorees
Tracy Ham — One of the most dynamic quarterbacks in college football history, Ham guided Georgia Southern to back-to-back national championships in 1985 and 1986. A dual-threat player, Ham became the first quarterback in NCAA history to rush for more than 3,000 yards and pass for more than 5,000 yards in a career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Adrian Peterson — A four-time All-American running back, Peterson is the NCAA’s Division I all-time leader in career rushing yards (6,559). He helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back national championships in 1999 and 2000, earning the Walter Payton Award in 1999 as the best player in Division I-AA. Peterson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Paul Johnson — A College Football Hall of Fame coach, Johnson led Georgia Southern to two NCAA Division I-AA national championships (1999, 2000) during his five-year tenure as head coach (1997–2001). Known for his innovative triple-option offense, Johnson compiled a 62-10 record with the Eagles before going on to successful head coaching stints at Navy and Georgia Tech. Johnson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
Eagle Victory Plan
The Eagle Victory Plan is aimed at advancing the success of Eagle student-athletes and reinforcing Georgia Southern’s mission to compete at the highest level of collegiate athletics and consists of five ways to give to the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation and support your Eagles:
- Capital/Facility Project Funds
- Competitive Excellence Fund
- Eagle Nation Fund
- Erk Russell Fund
- Sport-Specific Agency Fund
These five funds will serve as an avenue for donors and Eagle Nation to contribute directly to initiatives that impact the programs and student-athletes, including revenue-sharing models and NIL support structures.
