Georgia State football faces its first FBS transitional team at the Georgia Dome this Saturday in the South Alabama Jaguars.  This week we caught up with Brian Wright of Thunderjags.com to get his thoughts on the Jags offensive identity and his expectations arriving in Atlanta.

PantherTalk.com: What are Jag fans expecting as they enter the Georgia Dome on Saturday?

Brian Wright: I think the fans expect a good football atmosphere and an exciting game.I think most fans come into this game expecting a win because the Jags won last season, albeit in a high scoring shootout. The fans have developed high expectations for the program and they expect them to beat teams that are in the same classification (or lower if you look back to previous opponents), which they have done 21 out of 23 times so far.

But there are many that understand that this is a homecoming game for the Panthers and a renewal of an old basketball rivalry between two schools who just added football. While GSU has had a rough season so far, what better way to turn the rest of the season around than a win on Saturday.

PantherTalk.com: South Alabama has seemed to find their identity as a run first football team as CJ Bennett has struggled to throw the ball this year [9 INT to 4TDs passing]. Do you expect to see USA establish the run Saturday?

BW: The Jags rely on establishing the running game. Kendall Houston is a punishing runner that just isn’t easy to bring down and Baker has great break away speed while being very physical as well. I expect them to establish the run, but to what degree will determine how the game goes. If Houston and Baker get their average of about 5 yards per rush, then that’s a huge advantage and takes pressure off of Bennett and the receivers.

PantherTalk.com: How many South Alabama fans do you expect to make the trip to Atlanta Saturday?

BW: I hope a lot. When South Alabama traveled to Beaumont, TX for their first true road game they had probably around 500 there. Then probably a similar number, 500 or so, at UC-Davis the week after. This year in Raleigh, NC there were probably 750-900 fans there. With Atlanta being much closer than any of the previous road games, I would hope to see at least 1,200 or more. Obviously the administration and coaches would be absolutely thrilled to see 2,000 or more fans make the trip.

Special Thanks to Brian Wright for joining us!  Check out his great work at Thunderjags.com.