UGA's John Eason has unique perspective on Bulldogs playing Southern University: 'It's a big deal'

Coach John Eason, Ph.D.
UGA BULLDOGS
Courtesy: UGA Sports Communications

ATHENS, Georgia -- John Eason has spent 15 seasons on the football staff at Georgia, first as wide receivers coach and then in an administrative role. Before that he was a part of another major college football program as an assistant coach at Florida State under Bobby Bowden.

His first exposure to college football in person came as a ninth-grader with his Howard (Fla.) High School football team watching Southern (La.) play at Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla.

His team played the night before in nearby Quincy.

“We didn’t go in the stadium,” he said. “We sat on the top of the grass and looked down.”

Eason, who went on to play at Florida A&M, will be inside the stadium Saturday when Southern comes to town to play No. 7 Georgia. It’s the first time a team from the historically black colleges and universities has played against Georgia.

“It’s a big deal for historically black colleges to come and do that,” said Eason, an All-American punter who also played wide receiver at Florida A&M from 1963-66. “It does a lot for their budget. It’s an opportunity for their players to come and show what they can do.”

Southern gets a $650,000 guarantee for the game.


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