Georgia State is not allowing Georgia Southern to bring Freedom to Saturday’s college football game in Atlanta. It is forcing the visitors to leave their live bald eagle mascot at home in Statesboro.
The decision, while logical based on preexisting rules, could not be more unpatriotic.
Even though these two in-state schools are separated by less than 200 miles, they have played just 10 times since 2014. The Panthers currently lead the series over the Eagles with a 6-4 record in the series.
This weekend’s matchup will be the 11th all-time and the first to have an official name. The Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Grown have partnered to support each institution to showcase the state’s No. 1 industry in the ‘Georgia Grown Bowl.’ Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper will present the winner with the Commissioner’s Cup.
However, Freedom is completely banned.
Freedom, a 20-year-old bald eagle, currently lives at Georgia Southern’s Center for Wildlife Education. He was adopted by the university in 2004 after an injury to his beak left him unable to survive on his own in the wild and has served as the athletic department’s live mascot ever since.
Georgia State is not allowing its opponent to bring Freedom to the college football game. It cited liability issues for the live mascot ban, which apparently applies to more than just an eagle.
Do the Panthers hate America? Some are saying…
Freedom flies across Allen E. Paulson Stadium prior to every one of Georgia Southern’s home games. He obviously does not do so on the road, which makes total sense. However, the decision to ban him from the stadium all together is rather weak. Other schools, like West Virginia, had no issue with the eagle.
Steve Hein, Freedom’s handler and Wildlife Center Executive Director, keeps Freedom under control. Never once has the majestic eagle caused any harm. There is very minimal risk of disaster.
Forcing him to stay in Statesboro, regardless of what “the policy” might say, is lame!!