After spending 21 years with his beloved bald eagle Freedom, Steve Hein knew the introduction of Freedom II last Saturday at Paulson Stadium would be an emotional evening.

“It was even more emotional than I anticipated,” said Hein, the executive director of Georgia Southern’s Center for Wildlife Education and Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center, a position he has held since the Center was founded in 1991. “Once we illuminated (my) old Scout driving in, and I heard the roar from the Paulson crowd, I went, ‘uh-oh, this is going to hit me.’ It did not let me down, and I hope that Eagle Nation overall was pleased with the introduction of Freedom II.”

Freedom II is succeeding Freedom, who died in March. Freedom had been part of the Georgia Southern community since 2004, when he was found knocked

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