Mercer Football (Atlanta, Savannah, Macon: homes, neighborhood, law school)

[Newsboy]

So I see they play their first game against Reinhardt this weekend. That's a pretty quick start for a program that hasn't played in decades! Is there much excitement in Macon? What's their home stadium gonna be? Will they have a marching band?

BTW ... on my last trip home from Atlanta to Savannah, I had some time to kill and drove Riverside Drive down through the College Hill neighborhood. My god, that part of Macon is gorgeous! So many beautiful old homes, leafy streets, great vistas! I hope football can kick Mercer (and Macon) into a new era!

[midgeorgiaman]

It is going to be great to have football back in Macon. Mercer has built a 10000 seat stadium at the back of their campus next to Mercer U Drive and there will be a marching band. Mercer is a small school, but they have done this right and it should be successful. In fact the College Hill Corridor that you drove through...Mercer was a huge player in helping to renovate that area. They are a great part of the Macon community and I think Macon as a city is really supporting Mercer now..

There is a good bit of excitement about the new football program especially from Mercer alumni and students, but also from much of the intown Macon community. I think it is great.

[Newsboy]

Mercer built a brand new 10,000 seat stadium? WOW! That's VERY impressive!

[midgeorgiaman]

Its no UGA or Southern but for a small private school, it is rather impressive. What I have really been surprised by is the reception by Maconites who aren't Mercer alumni. From what I understand, season tickets sold above expectations and single game tickets have been strong. Hey, I went to a huge state school many states away and I'm going to a game...maybe more than one... I love football and tailgating and with this I dont have to travel.

[Newsboy]

They're likely to get clobbered in their first season, you know that?! LOL! But nothing beats the excitement of college football Saturdays in the fall!

[Bob Priddle]

Honestly - this is one of the best things that has happened to Macon in YEARS. First game was a 12,000 + sell out, and the Bears won as well. Let's just hope those people keep coming back - even if the Bears struggle some (which is more than likely going to happen here in the beginning)!

[OrangeCrush6317]

I was always surprised Mercer didn't have a football team, given they have engineering programs that most small schools don't. Why would a Furman and a Wofford have football but not Mercer?

they did a good job with that stadium. that's really all Mercer was missing to attract more students there, i think b/c it seemed like a nice college when I went there. I always though it should be a public school in georgia which would give an alternative to gtech, and now ga for engineering for lower tuition.

[Newsboy]

Don't forget the medical and law schools. Football is really gonna propel Mercer (and Macon) on a new level.

[OrangeCrush6317]

Yeah I didn't forget about the law school. A guy I know from high school went to law school there. I don't think i knew about the medical school.

Did you go to college there? Mercer is the only other school that I applied to other than Clemson but I couldn't get a scholarship there and my dad didn't want to pay twice as much for me to go there. I thought it was a nice campus and I thought Macon itself was pretty nice, nice architecture, kind of an Old South colonial feel to it, that is why I always been surprised people seem to hate it.

[NightWatchMan96]

Anybody go to the Mercer game, or know anybody that did? I am curious how that went. Looks like a nice stadium for a small college.

Looks like Berry College in Rome has a new football stadium and program this year too.