Georgia Southern–Georgia State rivalry

Georgia Southern–Georgia State rivalry
Football Rivalry
First meetingOctober 25, 2014
Georgia Southern 69, Georgia State 31
Latest meetingSeptember 28, 2024
Georgia Southern 38, Georgia State 21
Next meeting2025
Statesboro
Meetings total11
All-time seriesGeorgia State, 6–5
Largest victoryGeorgia Southern, 69–31 (2014)
Longest win streakGeorgia State, 3 (2015–2017, 2020–2022)
Current win streakGeorgia Southern, 2 (2023–present)
Men's Basketball Rivalry
First meetingFebruary 19, 1972
Georgia Southern 103, Georgia State 55
Latest meetingJanuary 8, 2025
Georgia State 82, Georgia Southern 72OT
Next meetingFebruary 28, 2025
Meetings total69
All-time seriesGeorgia Southern leads 40–29
Largest victoryGeorgia Southern, 103–55 (1972)
Georgia Southern, 109–61 (1985)
Longest win streakGeorgia Southern, 7 (3x)
Current win streakGeorgia State, 1 (2025–present)
Map
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Georgia State
Georgia State
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern
Locations of Georgia Southern and Georgia State

The Georgia Southern–Georgia State rivalry, also known as the Georgia Grown Bowl and Modern Day Hate, is a college athletics rivalry between the Georgia Southern Eagles and Georgia State Panthers.[1][2] Both schools are members of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC).

For the 2021–22 school year, the men's soccer rivalry temporarily moved to the Mid-American Conference, with both schools joining that league for men's soccer after the SBC disbanded its men's soccer league.[3] However, SBC expansion in 2022 and the addition of three "Power Five" programs led to the reinstatement of SBC men's soccer effective in 2022–23.[4] While the teams have only met nine times in football (due to Georgia State beginning their program in 2010),[5] the rivalry dates back to the 1970s in basketball and other sports.[6]

History

Georgia Southern and Georgia State have only competed against each other in football since 2014. They played annually in basketball from the 1971–72 to 1980–81 seasons, 1995–96 and 1996–97, and 2009–10 to 2013–14 out-of-conference and as conference mates from the 1985–86 to 1991–92 seasons in the Trans America Athletic Conference (which is now the ASUN Conference) and since the 2014–15 season in the Sun Belt Conference.[6][7] Starting in December 2009, the two teams went nearly 10 years without losing a home game to their rival. The streak was snapped on March 9, 2019 when Georgia State won in Statesboro by a score of 90–85. Georgia Southern has a 38–26 lead in the all-time basketball series.[8]

Because both schools can be abbreviated GSU, a point of conflict between the two is the claim by either fan base that their university is, in fact, "the real GSU." Georgia State lays claim to the initials as it became a university (and therefore GSU) in 1969 while Georgia Southern didn't achieve university status until 1990.[9] Both schools are referred to as GSU colloquially in their region of the state, though Georgia State is the only one of the two that officially brands itself "GSU." In 2014, when Georgia Southern joined the Sun Belt Conference (the conference Georgia State joined the year prior), Georgia Southern updated its branding and media guidelines to explicitly state the school should be referred to as "Georgia Southern" or "GS" to avoid confusion in the media. But fixtures on their campus such as the "GSU" hedge and traditions like the marching band's "GSU Scramble" remain.

The rivalry intensified after the hire of former Appalachian State (longtime rival of Georgia Southern) athletic director Charlie Cobb to the same position at Georgia State University. During Georgia State's press release introducing Cobb, he revealed that Georgia Southern's athletic director Tom Kleinlein told him "welcome, now the war is on."[10] The two teams first met on the gridiron during the 2014 football season. During the run up to the game, fans from both teams expressed their dislike for the other over social media outlets such as Twitter. Students at the time used the hashtags "SouthernNotState" and "StateNotSouthern" in their tweets to differentiate which GSU they attended. Both schools adopted the phrases as a slogan that defined their side of the rivalry.[11] During the period before the game, a beat writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution dubbed the matchup as "Modern Day Hate," a play on the rivalry between Georgia Tech and UGA, Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.[2][dead link‍] Georgia Southern beat Georgia State by a final score of 69–31 in the Georgia Dome in front of 28,427 fans.[12] After the game, Georgia Southern fans unrolled a banner saying "Paulson Stadium North" claiming the stadium as their own and cementing the rivalry. The following season, Georgia State handed Georgia Southern their worst home defeat in school history with a final score of 34–7.[13][14] Georgia State leads the football series 6–4.

In 2024, the schools announced the intent to stop calling the football game "Modern Day Hate" alongside a partnership with Georgia Grown to rename the rivalry the Georgia Grown Bowl.[15] The two schools will begin competing for the Commissioner's Cup trophy.

Football game results

Georgia Southern victoriesGeorgia State victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 25, 2014 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 69–31
2 December 5, 2015 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 34–7
3 November 19, 2016 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 30–24
4 November 4, 2017 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 21–17
5 November 24, 2018 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 35–14
6 November 30, 2019 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 38–10
7 November 28, 2020 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 30–24
8 October 30, 2021 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 21–14
9 October 8, 2022 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 41–33
10 October 26, 2023 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 44–27
11 September 28, 2024 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 38–21
Series: Georgia State leads 6–5

Men's basketball game results

Table shows results since both teams officially entered NCAA basketball competition with one another.[8]

Georgia Southern victoriesGeorgia State victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 February 19, 1972 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 103–55
2 March 1, 1972 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 107–77
3 February 19, 1973 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 79–62
4 February 24, 1973 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 97–96
5 February 20, 1974 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 126–91
6 March 1, 1974 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 89–71
7 December 7, 1974 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 69–59
8 January 16, 1975 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 82–73
9 December 8, 1975 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 83–72
10 February 14, 1976 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 107–88
11 January 15, 1977 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 83–65
12 February 21, 1977 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 81–75
13 November 30, 1977 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 75–73
14 January 9, 1978 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 88–83
15 November 27, 1978 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 86–68
16 January 20, 1979 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 81–79
17 December 8, 1979 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 70–66
18 February 13, 1980 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 96–68
19 December 6, 1980 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 81–69
20 January 14, 1981 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 80–61
21 January 10, 1985 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 77–61
22 February 7, 1985 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 77–50
23 March 2, 1985 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 109–61
24 January 9, 1986 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 91–77
25 February 6, 1986 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 66–62
26 January 3, 1987 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 85–79
27 February 5, 1987 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 73–68
28 January 7, 1988 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 80–60
29 February 11, 1988 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 73–65
30 March 10, 1988 Daytona Beach, FL Georgia Southern 71–55
31 January 5, 1989 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 100–93
32 February 2, 1989 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 95–90
33 January 27, 1990 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 68–66
34 February 22, 1990 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 78–66
35 January 17, 1991 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 73–72
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
36 February 14, 1991 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 90–86OT
37 January 11, 1992 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 88–87
38 February 8, 1992 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 91–84
39 March 11, 1992 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 95–82
40 December 12, 1995 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 60–58
41 December 21, 1996 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 68–49
42 December 22, 2009 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 85–65
43 December 22, 2010 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 74–72OT
44 December 22, 2011 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 72–52
45 December 29, 2012 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 68–64OT
46 December 20, 2013 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 73–61
47 February 5, 2015 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 58–54
48 March 7, 2015 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 72–55
49 March 15, 2015 New Orleans, LA Georgia State 38–36
50 January 19, 2016 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 69–66OT
51 February 23, 2016 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 54–52
52 December 31, 2016 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 88–65
53 March 4, 2017 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 72–67
54 January 20, 2018 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 83–66
55 February 16, 2018 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 85–80
56 March 10, 2018 New Orleans, LA Georgia State 73–67
57 February 2, 2019 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 81–72
58 March 9, 2019 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 90–85
59 January 25, 2020 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 82–77
60 February 28, 2020 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 79–70
61 March 11, 2020 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 81–62
62 February 11, 2021 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 79–75
63 February 17, 2022 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 79–63
64 February 19, 2022 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 58–49
65 January 21, 2023 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 58–52
66 February 2, 2023 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 64–60
67 January 13, 2024 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 90–62
68 January 20, 2024 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 86–70
69 January 8, 2025 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 82–78OT
Series: Georgia Southern leads 40–29

Men's soccer results

Georgia State leads Georgia Southern 32–11–8 in men's soccer competitions.

Georgia Southern victoriesGeorgia State victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 18, 1980 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 3–0
2 October 16, 1981 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 4–0
3 October 3, 1982 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 5–0
4 October 30, 1983 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 2–1
5 October 21, 1984 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 3–0
6 September 28, 1985 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 3–1
7 October 31, 1985 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 5–0
8 October 19, 1986 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 3–0
9 November 1, 1986 Abilene, TX Georgia State 4–0
10 October 10, 1987 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 1–0
11 October 31, 1987 Deland, FL Georgia State 1–0
12 October 1, 1988 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 2–0
13 October 28, 1988 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 4–1
14 September 23, 1989 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 6–0
15 October 7, 1989 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 5–1
16 September 22, 1990 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 3–2
17 October 13, 1990 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 3–0
18 September 28, 1991 Atlanta, GA Tie3–3
19 October 23, 1991 Statesboro, GA Tie1–1
20 September 8, 1992 Decatur, GA Georgia Southern 4–2
21 September 4, 1993 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 1–0
22 September 17, 1994 Decatur, GA Georgia Southern 2–1
23 October 4, 1995 Statesboro, GA Tie3–3
24 September 21, 1996 Atlanta, GA Georgia Southern 4–2
25 September 19, 1997 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 3–0
26 September 6, 1998 Decatur, GA Georgia State 2–1
27 October 13, 1999 Statesboro, GA Tie3–3
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
28 October 25, 2000 Decatur, GA Georgia State 3–2
29 October 30, 2001 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 2–1
30 October 8, 2003 Decatur, GA Georgia State 4–3
31 October 17, 2004 Statesboro, GA Tie1–1
32 September 14, 2012 Decatur, GA Georgia State 3–0
33 October 11, 2013 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 2–1
34 November 8, 2014 Decatur, GA Georgia State 1–0
35 November 14, 2014 Statesboro, GA Georgia Southern 2–1
36 November 7, 2015 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 5–3
37 November 13, 2015 Boone, NC Tie3–3
38 October 8, 2016 Decatur, GA Georgia Southern 3–1
39 November 11, 2016 Decatur, GA Georgia State 2–0
40 October 7, 2017 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 3–1
41 November 11, 2017 Conway, SC Georgia State 3–1
42 October 20, 2018 Statesboro, GA Tie1–1
43 November 11, 2018 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 4–2
44 October 12, 2019 Decatur, GA Georgia Southern 3–1
45 November 13, 2019 Boone, NC Georgia State 4–0
46 October 4, 2020 Decatur, GA Georgia State 2–0
47 October 16, 2020 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 3–0
48 November 4, 2021 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 2–1
49 October 1, 2022 Statesboro, GA Georgia State 4–2
50 October 13, 2023 Atlanta, GA Georgia State 1–0
51 October 18, 2024 Statesboro, GA Tie1–1
Series: Georgia State leads 32–11–8
Sources:[16][17]

Rivalry series

On October 1, 2015, both schools' athletic directors at the time announced the beginning of an annual "rivalry series" in which the winner takes home the Rivalry Series trophy and bragging rights at the following year's football game. The trophy was awarded to the school that defeats the other in a points-based system that encompasses all sports. Most wins counted as 1 point with football counting as 2 points. 2 points total were awarded to community service projects, and 1 to the school with the highest departmental GPA. [18][19]

Georgia Southern victoriesGeorgia State victories
No.DateWinnerScore
1 2015–16 Georgia State 14–7
2 2016–17 Georgia State 18–4
3 2017–18 Georgia State 16.5–5.5
4 2018–19 Georgia State 13–9
Series: Georgia State leads 4–0

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sun Belt Conference announced that all remaining spring sporting events after March 16 of that year would be suspended. Those sports included Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Golf, Baseball, Softball, and Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Georgia Southern was leading 9–6 in the 2019–2020 rivalry series at that time.[20]

On September 12, 2020, new Georgia Southern athletic director, Jared Benko, made a public statement that the all-sport rivalry series would be discontinued.

References

  1. ^ Moore, Ben (August 18, 2015). "Who Takes Title For 2015–16 in Modern Day Hate?". CBSsports.com. 247sports. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Roberson, Doug (October 26, 2014). "Georgia Southern destroys Georgia State". Cox Media Group. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  3. ^ "Georgia Southern, Georgia State Added As Affiliate Members in Men's Soccer" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "Sun Belt Conference Announces Return of Men's Soccer This Fall" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Georgia State Football Timeline". Georgia State University. April 17, 2008. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Sounds like Georgia State and Georgia Southern have a rivalry?". Atlanta Journal and Constitution. October 24, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  7. ^ Georgia State 2015–16 Men's Basketball, p. 153.
  8. ^ a b "Men's Basketball History vs Georgia State University from Feb 19, 1972 - Mar 11, 2020". Georgia Southern University. November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Becoming a University". Making History. Georgia State University. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  10. ^ Roberson, Doug. "Q&A with new Georgia State AD Charlie Cobb". Cox Media Group. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  11. ^ Roberson, Doug (October 26, 2014). "Sounds like Georgia State and Georgia Southern have a rivalry". Cox Media Group. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "Georgia Southern vs Georgia State (Oct 25, 2014)". Georgia State Sports. Georgia State Athletics. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  13. ^ Brown, Mike (December 5, 2015). "Georgia State rolls to victory in Statesboro". The Telegraph (Macon). Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  14. ^ Roberson, Doug. "Georgia State dominates Georgia Southern". AJC. Cox Media Group. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  15. ^ Young, Natasha (September 19, 2024). "State and Southern will go head to head in first Georgia Grown Bowl". WSAV News. Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  16. ^ "Georgia State Men's Soccer History and Record Book" (PDF). nmnathletics.com. Georgia State University. December 13, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  17. ^ "Georgia Southern Men's Soccer Media Guide" (PDF). gseagles.com. Georgia Southern University Athletics. August 24, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  18. ^ Roberson, Doug (October 1, 2015). "Georgia State and Georgia Southern add trophy to rivalry". Cox Media Group. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  19. ^ Holmes, Mike (October 1, 2015). "Georgia State-Georgia Southern Rivalry Series Announced". Georgia State Athletics. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  20. ^ "2019-20 Georgia Southern - Georgia State Rivalry Series". Georgia Southern Athletics. Retrieved October 13, 2022.