{"id":12253,"date":"2026-06-30T10:41:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/?p=12253"},"modified":"2026-06-30T10:41:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T14:41:30","slug":"new-statue-honors-beloved-bald-eagle-mascot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/2026\/06\/30\/new-statue-honors-beloved-bald-eagle-mascot\/","title":{"rendered":"New Statue Honors Beloved Bald Eagle Mascot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A new symbol of Eagle spirit stands at the entrance of Allen E. Paulson Stadium, which pays tribute to Freedom, Georgia Southern University\u2019s late bald eagle mascot. The life-size \u201cFreedom to Soar\u201d bronze sculpture has a wingspan of approximately eight feet and weighs 385 pounds. It sits atop a custom cast and polished concrete pedestal that weighs 6,000 pounds. The inspiration for the final look is one that Eagles football fans will find familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sculpture is designed to reflect Freedom flying over the stadium, explained Jason McCoy, studio technician in the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt). \u201cIt has the terracing of the seating inside the stadium, and Freedom is flying at an angle and soaring down to the field,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, it\u2019s designed to mirror the stadium and Freedom\u2019s flight over the stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For more than two decades, Freedom embodied strength, pride and the True Blue spirit of Eagle Nation. He inspired thousands of alumni, students, faculty, staff and fans, and his presence at community and University events uplifted generations of Eagles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beloved eagle died in March 2025, and restoration and preparation of the statue began the next month. The work was carried out by a diverse team from all corners of the Georgia Southern community that included students, faculty and staff from the BFSDoArt. Steve Hein, executive director of the Center for Wildlife Education, served as a consultant throughout the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statue stands alongside the Erk Russell statue in the plaza at Gene Bishop Field House, uniting two enduring symbols of Eagles football.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new symbol of Eagle spirit stands at the entrance of Allen E. Paulson Stadium, which pays tribute to Freedom, Georgia Southern University\u2019s late bald eagle mascot. The life-size \u201cFreedom to Soar\u201d bronze sculpture has a wingspan of approximately eight feet and weighs 385 pounds. It sits atop a custom cast and polished concrete pedestal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":12255,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[91,92],"class_list":["post-12253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-up-front","tag-fall-2025","tag-spring-2026"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t