North Georgia Nighthawks North Georgia Nighthawks The North Georgia Nighthawks are the athletic teams that represent the University of North Georgia (formed after the merger of North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College in 2013), located in Dahlonega, Georgia, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Nighthawks compete as members of the Peach Belt Conference in 12 of their 13 varsity sports; with rifle competing in the Division I Southern Conference. All 13 intercollegiate programs are hosted on the university's Dahlonega campus. The merged school inherited the athletic legacy of NGCSU, which competed under the nickname "Saints" with a mascot
1983 Peach Bowl 1983 Peach Bowl The 1983 Peach Bowl featured the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference against the then-independent Florida State Seminoles Making his first collegiate start ever, quarterback Eric Thomas connected on a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes to Weegie Thompson as Florida State defeated North Carolina 28-3, in the 16th annual Peach Bowl Classic. Thomas, who played sparingly throughout the year after missing of 1982 with a shoulder injury, led FSU to a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions. Taking over on the FSU 38, Thomas directed a nine-play 62-yard march that ended on a