ICYMI: Georgia State Bans Georgia Southern From Bringing Freedom To College Football Game

Georgia State is preventing Georgia Southern from bringing their live bald eagle mascot, Freedom, to this Saturday’s football game in Atlanta. The decision requires Georgia Southern to leave the mascot at home in Statesboro, even though the rule is understandable, it feels unpatriotic.

Despite being separated by less than 200 miles, these two in-state rivals have only faced off 10 times since 2014, with Georgia State leading the series 6-4. The upcoming game will be the 11th meeting, and it will mark the first time the matchup has an official name—the ‘Georgia Grown Bowl,’ sponsored by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Grown to promote the state’s top industry. The winning team will be awarded the Commissioner’s Cup by Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.

However, Freedom is completely prohibited from attending. Freedom, a 20-year-old bald eagle, has been Georgia Southern’s live mascot since 2004, after an injury left him unable to live in the wild. He is kept at the Center for Wildlife Education at the university.

Georgia State cited liability concerns for the ban on live mascots, which applies to more than just the eagle.

Freedom regularly flies over Allen E. Paulson Stadium at Georgia Southern’s home games but doesn’t do so during away games. While that is understandable, banning him entirely from the stadium seems unnecessary, especially when other schools, such as West Virginia, had no issue allowing the eagle. Freedom’s handler, Steve Hein, ensures the eagle is always under control and has never caused any harm, so the risk is minimal.