By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

Red clay to true blue, Tyson Summers and the Eagles have walked the same paths.

A Tifton-native, Tyson Summers grew up with a special appreciation for Georgia Southern’s unique traditions. As the Eagles, born in the early 1980s, chased championships, Summers, roughly the same age, pursued his own pigskin passions. Last December, the two timelines crossed. Summers, getting an early Christmas gift, called Georgia Southern his “dream job” when hired in December. Red clay to true blue, Summers and the Eagles have walked the same paths.

Summers has long envisioned the day he will lead Georgia Southern onto the field at Paulson Stadium, a introduction he was a part of as an assistant in 2006. Even still, his mind races to opening day, memories promptly driven by a line of yellow school buses. For all of the pageantry a Saturday in Statesboro offers, Summers is anxious to experience one time-tested right-of-passage in particular.

“It’s a called a win,” Summers laughed.

Settled in to his first opportunity as a head coach, Summers has seen his players buy-in to the new regime and focus on a common goal. The Eagles, already one of the top programs in the Sun Belt Conference, are fresh off the momentum of the school’s first-ever bowl game triumph and Summers’ welcome. There is a palpable energy around campus as the start of the season approaches.

Soon enough, practice will turn to production. Summers has seen notable progress already.

“We have fantastic young men and I’m extremely proud of them,” he explained. “They have had great attitudes through a real tough camp at this point and time.”

Since taking over, Summers has seen players commit to each other; teammates have worked to both better themselves and their team, dedication driving each drill. Summers has cultivated that mindset, with improvement standing as the standard status quo. Progress has been fluid, a moving measuring stick that advances like a first-down marker on a signature drive.

Momentum, dating back to the spring, has been very real.

“I think they have worked really hard and it goes to show the type of senior leadership that we have and the amount of work they put in this summer. They have had a great summer from a work ethic standpoint, from a cohesion standpoint and I think it has carried into camp so far,” Summers continued.

A powerful tone of competition and cooperation has been set from the top down. Players, challenging for spots on the depth chart individually, remain focused on the big picture.

Quarterbacks Kevin Ellison and Favian Upshaw have split first-team repetitions this fall. Two of the roster’s most dynamic talents, at the game’s most prominent position no less, Ellison and Upshaw have, along with the fiery Summers, helped set an upbeat practice pace. As was the case a year ago, expect both signal callers to play leading roles for Georgia Southern in 2016.

Having led the nation in rushing in their first two seasons in the FBS, the Eagles are working on developing more polish in the passing game. Summers and his offensive coaches, co-coordinators David Dean and Rance Gillespie, want improved proficiency throwing the football, a major focal point of recent practices. That said, the Georgia Southern offense will undoubtedly stay true to its core.

“The big thing is we are going to continue to be a run-first team, like our legacy and history has been here,” Summers stated. “What I want to see is us to be efficient when we do throw the ball.”

Formerly the defensive coordinator at Central Florida and Colorado State, Summers is excited to build on the Eagles’ reputation on the other side of the football. Georgia Southern ranked second in the league a year ago, leading the conference in scoring defense in 2014. Summers, back at his introductory press conference, stated his desire for an aggressive, attacking unit.

Returnees like Bernard Dawson, Jay Ellison and Ironhead Gallon should give the Eagles one of the Sun Belt’s top units.

“What I hear out of that group is that they want to be a team that is known as one of the best defenses in the league. They have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder,” Summers detailed. “Georgia Southern is typically thought of as a place with great tradition, a team that is thought of as being an offensive team. I think this defense has been challenging itself to make sure they are known for what they are able to do.”

Summers, aside from the Xs and Os, has been pleased with the relationships created within the program. Veteran leaders have emerged and are taking full advantage of their opportunities; Summers and his staff even allowed some of the upperclassmen to coach some of the freshmen and sophomores in a recent team scrimmage. The overall atmosphere has been one of passion and persistence.

“I try to pay attention to our football team and where we are at from a chemistry standpoint and where we are at from a work ethic standpoint. I think both of those things are very good right now,” Summers nodded.

Temperatures are nearing triple-digits in the low country, but the countdown is nearly down to two hands. With players ready for live game action, and Summers eager for his official debut, the season can’t come soon enough; Georgia Southern will host Savannah State on September 3rd, one of just two home games before an October 27th Thursday night showcase against Appalachian State.

Recently picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference, the Eagles, once again, have championship expectations. Two years at the FBS level have resulted in two nine-win campaigns. Back are a pair of talented quarterbacks, an All-American candidate in running back Matt Breida and a veteran defense with proven commodities along the front seven. This is a team ready for another run.

“It’s football season in Statesboro, so you know there is excitement,” Summers concluded.

Young, passionate and right at home on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek, Summers isn’t all that different from the program he now leads.