STATESBORO - While the Georgia Southern football team was passing its first test on Saturday, breezing past Savannah State 54-0, there was another element of the game that was passing its first test of the season as well: the new synthetic turf of Glenn Bryant Field at Paulson Stadium. Installed this past spring to much attention, the turf withstood nearly 6 inches of rain dumped by the remnants of Hurricane Hermine - whose eye passed directly over Statesboro - just a day before the teams took the field.
Instead of officials worrying about potential delays or rescheduling the game because of drainage issues, the new turf was dry and fast as the Eagles ran past the Tigers on opening day.