Georgia Southern alumni get together under red flag

STATESBORO - Follow that flag, and it won&#39;t lead you to a defiant rival fan. <br> <br> It&#39;s the tailgate banner for a group of devoted Georgia Southern fans who call themselves The Red Flag Gang. <br> <br> The group of GSU students, alumni, university supporters and die-hard Division I-AA football fans from all over the state met on a Web site devoted to Georgia Southern football, called Southern Connection. After chatting online for years, they decided to meet up for a tailgate party during Homecoming 2000. <br> <br> ``We had never met face to face,&#39;&#39; said Red Flag Gang member Laney Claxton. ``And Mike Wright, who has a son on the team, said he would put up a red flag so we would all know who he was.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Since then, the group has met under the red flag for a tailgate party during every home football game and almost every away game. <br> <br> The group includes about 20 regulars who are planning a burger and hot dog feast before the 1 p.m. homecoming game kickoff on Saturday against Virginia Military Institute. <br> <br> Claxton, a 1987 GSU graduate, is involved in several alumni activities, including the Greater Savannah Eagle Club and Southern Boosters. She said her love of college football led her to the Southern Connection Web site and the Red Flag Gang. <br> <br> ``I was in school from 1983 to 1987,&#39;&#39; Claxton said. ``They opened the stadium in 1984 and won championships in 1985 and 1986. I don&#39;t know how anyone who was in school at that time could not be wrapped up in Georgia Southern football.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Paul Barkley was all wrapped up in Georgia Southern football in 1997 when he started the Southern Connection Web site. <br> <br> ``I had always been a big Eagle fan but there was nothing out there, resource wise, on the Internet for Georgia Southern so I started my own Web site,&#39;&#39; Barkley said. ``In late 1997, I had 30 people communicating frequently so I added a message board. Over the years people just found it through search engines and word of mouth.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Red Flag tailgater Nicole Brown said she has met other GSU supporters from all over the state through the football games, the parties and the online chats. <br> <br> ``The people that we tailgate with come from everywhere,&#39;&#39; she said. ``We&#39;re different people from different walks of life who probably would never have met under different circumstances.&#39;&#39;

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/189288