What’s next for GSU football?

The Panthers lost most of the starters from last year’s winless season
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Photograph by Peter Read Miller Photography

When they went 6–5 in their inaugural season four years ago, Georgia State University’s Panthers had reason for optimism. Now it seems the young Panthers grew up too quickly for their own good. GSU managed just four wins in the following two seasons, saw founding coach
Bill Curry retire, and entered bowl division play with last year’s ugly 0–12 debut season in the Sun Belt Conference under new coach Trent Miles.

The Panthers now face an odd dilemma: Almost half of last season’s starters graduated. For a team that went winless, is that really a bad thing? Granted, GSU loses a few standouts—offensive tackle Ulrick John and wide receiver Albert Wilson inked NFL deals—but Miles reeled in strong recruits and the team is expected to improve this season.

The Panthers’ uneven record did little to dissuade fellow upstarts the Kennesaw State University Owls, who debut football in 2015.

This article originally appeared in our August 2014 issue.

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