Georgia Southern vs. Troy: The Best of Twitter

If you can't be at a football game, the next best thing is watching it on TV. Either way, keep that laptop or smartphone handy because Twitter is the third best thing about college football (sorry radio, it's 4th place for you).

Here is some of the best from Thursday night while Georgia Southern was putting the hurt on Troy, 42-10.

#Hail Southern

Hail Southern started as an informal cheer that's also a play on the ol' Southern accent. Over the years it has evolved into something akin to Roll Tide or War Eagle.

The cheer: Leader: "Hail Southern!" Crowd: "Hail Southern!" Leader: "Hail Southern!" Crowd: "Hail Southern!" Leader: "Hail Southern!" Crowd: "Hail Southern!" Leader: "Hail (name of the opponent)" Crowd: "Hail/ell/eyul No!"

What is passing? #GATA #FunBelt #HailSouthern

— Brandon Morgan (@BMGT755) October 30, 2014

#GATA

GATA emerged from somewhat mysterious origins and of course stands for Get After Their 'Assets.' It was brought to Georgia Southern by legendary coach and program starter Erk Russell. Russell served as defensive coordinator at Georgia for 17 years, and the way I understand the story is it grew out of a Georgia/Georgia Tech halftime. The Dawgs were losing. Erk saw a wall bearing the letters GTAA: Georgia Tech Athletic Association. He told his players, "We're taking that GTAA and turning it into GATA: Get After Their 'Assets'!"

#unstoppable #GATA #TrueBlue #HailSouthern pic.twitter.com/s6x7RU8m27

— Steve Waldron (@steve_waldron) October 31, 2014

....when you start feeling sorry for the other team #GATA #HailSouthern

— кαуℓєє (@klynnjohnston) October 31, 2014

#freeGSU

This is a play on the #freeGurley movement to get the former Heisman candidate reinstated. Georgia Southern can't go to a bowl game per obscure NCAA rules. Basically, Marshall moved from FCS to FBS in the mid-90s and dominated thanks to a bunch of transfer players. Needless to say, that's not the case here.

#freegsu pic.twitter.com/0nMBKkNshu

— Robert Ellis (@therealgsu12) October 30, 2014

If elected, would you #FreeGSU? RT @Perduesenate Another great stop visiting with folks in Statesboro. #GASen pic.twitter.com/uRfPYoSpUq

— Haisten Willis (@HaistenWillis) October 30, 2014

Grantland's Holly Anderson took in the game via the press box.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>let me tell you about watching this Loovll game wind down with Georgia Southern’s band playing Nessun Dorma <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FEELINGSBALL?src=hash">#FEELINGSBALL</a></p>&mdash; Holly Anderson (@HollyAnderson) <a href="https://twitter.com/HollyAnderson/status/528015408302161920">October 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As did @UnderdogDynasty

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>GSU&#39;s Ramsby probably had time to check his twitter before walking into the end zone there.</p>&mdash; Underdog Dynasty (@underdogdynasty) <a href="https://twitter.com/underdogdynasty/status/527979127261757441">October 31, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
We can only hope.

And. Paula Deen.

Selfie with @PaulaDeen tailgating @GSAthletics style at Allen E. Paulson #HailSouthern #HailYea! #GATA pic.twitter.com/XSHfZRqGKU

— Terry E. Harvin (@terryharvin) October 30, 2014

Paula dean here to cheer Georgia Southern onto victory. #HailSouthern #GATA @OnlyAtSouthern #OnlyAtSouthern pic.twitter.com/E71Q5rwnM3

— Jim McDonald (@iamtallrthanu) October 30, 2014

Paula Deen is at my football game #GetOnMyLevel

— Hannah (@HannahHolland4) October 30, 2014

Have to get the record straight.We will supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Thursday night and Paula Deen will be here not Paula Dean.

— Tom Kleinlein (@TKleinleinAD) October 28, 2014

How much butter did Paula Deen slip into Troy's pregame meal?

— Underdog Dynasty (@underdogdynasty) October 31, 2014

By the way. If you watch Dateline on NBC, live Twitter is pure gold.