January 2018 Today
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2017
In The Sports Report
In search of more Central Georgia high school basketball scores and info than anywhere in Central Georgia? You have come to the right place. This Week’s Coverage
In search of what colleges around here are playing who, when, and where this week? You have come to the right place. See below.
Weather
A little warmer day (57ish) and night (34ish), and clear. Warmer on Thursday.
The week’s area (and selected state) college schedule
Wednesday
8 p.m.: Men's basketball, Syracuse at Georgia Tech
Thursday
5 p.m.: Women's basketball, Furman at Mercer; Wesleyan at Berea
5:30 p.m.: Women's basketball, Mobile at Middle Ga. State
7:30 p.m.: Men's basketball, Furman at Mercer; Mobile at Middle Ga. State
8 p.m.: Women's basketball, Georgia at LSU
Friday
3 p.m.: Baseball, Tennessee Wesleyan at Middle Ga. State
6 p.m.: Women's basketball, Wesleyan at Maryville
Saturday 3
1 p.m.: Softball, FVSU at Edward Waters
1 p.m.: Baseball, Tennessee Wesleyan at Middle Ga. State (DH)
1:30 p.m.: Women's basketball, UNC Pembroke at Georgia College
2 p.m.: Women's basketball, Wofford at Mercer; Loyola at Middle Ga. State; Huntingdon at Wesleyan
3:30 p.m.: Men's basketball, UNC Pembroke at Georgia College
4 p.m.: Men's basketball, Loyola at Middle Ga. State
4:30 p.m.: Men's basketball, Wofford at Mercer
6 p.m.: Women's basketball, Paine at FVSU (Senior night)
6 p.m.: Men's basketball, Georgia at Mississippi State
8 p.m.: Men's basketball, Paine at FVSU
Sunday
12 p.m.: Men's basketball, Georgia Tech at Boston College, ESPNU
2 p.m.: Women's basketball, Mississippi at Georgia; Georgia Tech at Clemson
Reading/Viewing Material
Some more Falcons draft possibilities (QB?)
The NCAA playoff committees changes who you can second-guess
If you need something irrelevant to get fired up about ...
NCAA to move up the start of hoops season
Column on the NCAA transfer policy, a controversial one
* * * * *
Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018
In The Sports Report
Only place in Central Georgia – from Lamar County to Dodge County, Upson-Lee to Dublin, Dooly County to Putnam County – with some GHSA area wrestling qualifiers is The Sports Report. It’s been updated, albeit without nearly as many schools and kids as hoped. Thanks to Veterans head coach Garrett Martin for passing along all the qualifiers from Houston County.
Coming Thursday: a look at the weekend’s GHSA wrestling sectionals, and who from Central Georgia has advanced. Yup, all of them. FPD is lone area host, taking half of Class A.
Coming Tuesday: the only place in Central Georgia to find out where high school basketball teams in Central Georgia are playing that night.
Note to every area h.s. hoops team in all associations (GHSA, GISA, GICAA): please send region tournament info to centralgasports@gmail.com so we can tell people when and where to bring their wallets.
Also coming Tuesday: the only place in Central Georgia to find out where area – and some state – college teams are playing this week (in some sports).
Catching up with loads of Reading/Viewing Material. Including Twinkle Toes Nick Saban.
Weather
Back to non-spring temps, with the high just cracking 50 and the low cracking 30, but clear.
Who won Monday?
Middle Georgia State’s baseball team finished its series with Thomas University with a 7-4 win.
Jones County’s girls beat Stockbridge 56-47, and play Tuesday at Monticello. The Greyhounds’ boys lost 71-62.
Calvary Christian’s girls topped CFCA 49-40, while Windsor’s boys fell 85-73 to Crisp Academy.
Reading/Viewing Material
Louisville recycling another UGA defensive coordinator
Cleveland Indians make a logo change
Concussions up in NFL
Nick Saban is, in fact, a boogie man. Watch him boogie, man
A look at some Falcons' draft possibilities
Braves' new GM has interesting influences
How is Freddie's wrist?
A Q&A with “new” Georgia Southern football boss Chad Lunsford
* * * * *
Monday, Jan. 29, 2018
In The Sports Report
It’s hard to say that we had football when the “football” on TV is the Pro Bowl. But that’s signifies a time stamp of a week to the Super Bowl, and is a chance to talk some football without redundantly yammering about the Super Bowl.
Alas, The Sports Report finally has some area wrestling, albeit from only a few Twitter updates, an email – shoutout to Veterans – and one link on www.trackwrestling. Hoping to update that story Monday with a bunch more, because we want folks to know who’s advancing, and hope the wrestling programs want folks to know who’s advancing.
ICYMI – and it was missed by one area media outlet, which did offer an X Games injury update but no Central Georgia college action – from Saturday: Mercer women’s hoops coach Susie Gardner became the program’s winningest head coach with the Bears take-note-of-it win at Chattanooga. In This Week's Coverage.
Catch up on the rest of Saturday’s area college sports, including the first baseball games. And, of course, the lone high school basketball scoreboard for Central Georgia.
There’s also a pretty hefty collection of Reading/Viewing Material from the weekend, and from the week that’s worth looking at. More coming Monday, including a few Braves stories.
Also coming Monday: this week’s area (and select state) college schedule (only one around here you’ll find).
Weather
The drying of Central Georgia begins, with a 10-15 percent chance of rain, high in the low 60s, and rain chances decreasing at night, low around 32. Cooler Tuesday during the day, a bit colder at night, but clear. Just saved you time and irrelevant happy talk, let alone concerns about the early week in Montana.
Georgia Tech battles Clemson to final seconds
Georgia Tech had lost three straight when No. 18 Clemson came to town for a Sunday night battled.
The Yellow Jackets barely missed ending that streak with the upset, falling 72-70 at McCamish Pavilion.
* * * * *
Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018
In The Sports Report
Milestones were the order of the day at Mary Persons, Dodge County, and Peach County. Central Georgia’s most complete – as complete as it can be with many teams not telling people who won or updating websites – has more than two dozen scores, plus some details. This Week’s Coverage.
It was a milestone day for the Mercer women’s basketball program and head coach Susie Gardner. This Week’s Coverage.
More Reading/Viewing Material coming after church.
Update 6 p.m.: An early version of area wrestling and qualifiers is up at https://www.centralgasports.com/this-weeks-coverage-1 , and is likely to be updated tonight. Also, fresh set of Reading/Viewing Material is up, below.
Weather
A good day for inside “honey do” action with a 90-100 percent chance of rain, temps in the low 60s. Chances drop to 60 percent at time, temps just below 50.
Weekend college hoops
The Citadel holds off Mercer men, who lose third straight
Georgia College men upended at home
McGriff leads Georgia College women
Turnovers doom FVSU women
FVSU men win, get up to .500
Around the area college campuses
Wesleyan lost 78-77 in double overtime to Agnes Scott. Middle Georgia State’s men lost 76-65 to William Carey and the women fell 61-47. The Knights’ baseball team swept Thomas U. 3-0 and 7-4, and the teams finish the series on Monday.
Reading/Viewing Material
No surprise: Mercer baseball gets preseason Top 25 votes
About that latest GHSA appeal ...
Georgia College baseball atop Peach Belt poll
More good news on Braves' potential
Braves honor greats with HOF inductions
So how many "stars" did that Pro Bowler get?
Remember that expensive roof that was supposed to be open all the time in Atlanta?
Didn't vote for Chipper?
Chipper and Thome go waaaaay back
* * * * *
Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018
In The Sports Report
Central Georgia’s only comprehensive prep hoops scoreboard has more than 40 boys and girls scores, plus details on a variety of games, and the only place to find Saturday’s schedule. In This Week’s Coverage.
Coming Saturday (as fractured finger heals): Latest area Class A power ratings.
And feel free to review what else has been submitted this week for your approval (a bit abbreviated, courtesy busted finger). Reading/Viewing Material to be updated Saturday afternoon.
Note to Central Georgia high school basketball coaches and stat folks
Send region tournament info – even just the predetermined basics – to centralgasports@gmail.com to be run daily, so folks know who’s playing where in likely the only place in Central Georgia ready to run full tournament schedules. When seedings and the schedule are ready, fire off another email.
Weather
A spring-like high in the mid-60s, 20 percent chance of precip which grows to 80 percent Saturday night with lows in the low 50s. Sunday? Rain, rain, rain, currently 100 percent chance, high in the low 60s.
The weekend’s area/state college schedule
Saturday
1 p.m.: Baseball, Thomas at Middle Ga. State (DH)
1 p.m.: Women’s basketball, FVSU at Claflin
1:30 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Francis Marion at Georgia College
2 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Mercer at Chattanooga
2 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Georgia at Kansas State (ESPNU)
3 p.m.: Men’s basketball, FVSU at Claflin
3:30 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Francis Marion at Georgia College
4 p.m.: Men’s basketball: The Citadel at Mercer
4:30 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Agnes Scott at Wesleyan
Sunday
1 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Virginia at Georgia Tech
6 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Clemson at Georgia Tech (ESPNU)
College baseball is here
Middle Georgia State gets the area college season going today at 1 p.m. against visiting Thomas University.
Georgia College opens on Feb. 2 at home against Paine, and then welcomes North Greenville and Paine the next two days.
Mercer, owner of preseason top-25 votes, is at home for its first eight games, starting with a series against Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 16.
Georgia starts off on Feb. 16 against Georgia Southern, while Georgia Tech hosts Minnesota the same day. Kennesaw State hosts Connecticut on Feb. 16, and then Minnesota for a doubleheader a day later and then Bradley.
Georgia Southern's home opener is Feb. 20 against Georgia Tech.
Friday, Jan 26, 2018
In The Sports Report
This is the September version of a pennant race for high school hoops as teams battled for region tournament seeding, and with many locations to be determined. Baldwin has a big home doubleheader, among the top games in Central Georgia. Check that out and Friday’s schedule in This Week’s Coverage.
And there’s plenty more on Chipper Jones’ Hall of Fame selection in Reading/Viewing Material, along with some NBA, some Super Bowl, and the league you’ve yearned for it’s return.
Plus, Mercer’s women rocked and rolled again, story in Reading Material.
Weather
More of the same, daytime with the high in the low 60s, warmer low near 50. Rain starting our way, to hit Friday night or Saturday morning.
Reading/Viewing Material
Mercer women keep on truckin', and truck ETSU
NY fans must appreciate Chipper
Chipper follows idol into Hall
Just the latest Braves legend to join
LeBron picks Irving for all-star game
Irving set to 'sit out' if Cavs didn't trade him
Quite the condundrum if you hate the Eagles and Pats, and many do
Some FYIs on the Super Bowl
More FYIs
Your long wait for the return of the XFL is nearing an end
* * * * *
Thursday, Jan. 25, 2017
In The Sports Report
Day 4 of a fractured finger has slowed the flow a little, so enjoy Reading Material today and yesterday on Chipper’s cruise into the Baseball Hall of Fame. More will be added, and check out the N.Y. Daily News tribute.
Also more coming on hoops, plus Friday’s prep hoops schedule.
Weather
Another nice one, high of 60, low in mid-30s. Same Friday, warmer at night. Rain comes Thursday.
Chipper's in, like there was much doubt
NY Daily News pays tribute
Chipper speaks
Mercer football schedule for 2018 set
Five home games and trips to Memphis and Yale highlight Mercer's 2018 football schedule, the prorgam's sixth season.
In conjunction with the release of the schedule, season-ticket renewal packages for the the five home games will hit mailboxes starting next week. Season-ticket holders are also currently able to renew their tickets online using their existing account information to log in.
Jelks' milestone not enough as Mercer loses on the road
* * * * *
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2017
In The Sports Report
In search of more Central Georgia high school basketball scores and info than anywhere in Central Georgia? You have come to the right place. Details on some games delayed by a compound fracture of a finger. And more Reading Material to come as well.
Update, 8:30 p.m.: Hoops have been updated, and there's some Chipper-related Hall Reading Material added to the buffet. College hoops coming Thursday.
Weather
Nice day, sunny and high near 60, low in low 30s.
Chipper's in, officially
Chipper's call
His phone rings.
Reading/Viewing Material
GHSA basketball reversal upsets Peach County
College football coaching carousel still spins
More calls for resignations at Michigan State
Nassar's victims supported
* * * * *
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018
In The Sports Report
Only place in Central Georgia – from Lamar County to Dodge County, Upson-Lee to Dublin, Dooly County to Putnam County - to find out where Central Georgia teams – from Taylor County to Hancock Central, Milledgeville and Hawkinsville - are playing? Right here. Tuesday’s prep basketball slate is up with a look at some of the bigger games as we hit the final few weeks of region play.
Take a look at Monday’s menu for the only place to find the area’s college hoops – and spring sports are upon us – schedule.
Weather
The high is in the low 60s and partly cloudy, low drops to the mid 30 and partly cloudy, humidity is in the 6os. Highs the rest of the rest of the week between 57-64, lows between 32-53, some rain Wednesday, more Saturday.
Who won Monday?
Columbus State’s women got control in the first half and dealt the knockout with a 30-point fourth quarter to beat Georgia College 82-56 in Peach Belt play.
The Bobcats fell to 10-7 and 7-4 while CSU improved to 9-6 and 7-4.
The Cougars outshot the Bobcats only 48.3-46.2 percent, but got 27 more points on turnovers.
Brianna Davis led GC with 17 points, going 5-for-9 on 3s, while Ta’Asia Wright had 14 points and 9 boards.
The men's (8-9, 4-7 PBC) outscored Columbus State (5-9, 5-6 PBC) in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome a 22-point halftime deficit as the Bobcats fell at the Cougars 89-75.
*****
Monday, Jan. 22, 2018
In The Sports Report
One of the best weekends of the year is that of the conference championship weekend, although the week before is better.
The Patriots won, the refs will get tremendous scrutiny, and the Eagles piledrove the Vikings. So there is the feel-good story of Nick Foles, to be countered by the perception of favoritism to the Patriots.
Plenty to talk about, plenty to peruse. So catch up on the NFL action in NFL-only Reading/Viewing Material.
And there’s pretty hefty collection of Reading/Viewing Material from the week that’s worth a look.
Weather
Warmer, sunny, just past 70, low in 40s. Several days to decrease one’s investment in one’s local power company.
It was quite the NFL weekend/Reading/Viewing Material
Jacksonville became a Georgia city/team for a day
And the Patriots broke everybody else's hearts again
There are some concerns about the, well, officiating
Things got frisky in Philly long before kickoff
But the Eagles came through in a big way
Foles becomes the two-week feel-good Super Bowl story
Social media fun
An early FYI on the Super Bowl
College action this week
Monday
5:30 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Georgia College at Columbus State
7:30 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Georgia College at Columbus State
Tuesday
6 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Trinity Baptist at Wesleyan
6:30 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Arkansas at Georgia (SECN)
Wednesday
5:30 p.m.: Women’s basketball, FVSU at Miles; Young Harris at Georgia College
7 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Mercer at ETSU; Georgia Tech at Florida State
7:30 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Young Harris at Georgia College
Thursday
6 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Wesleyan at LaGrange
6:30 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Middle Ga. State at Blue Mountain
7 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Mercer at ETSU; Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech
8:30 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Middle Ga. State at Blue Mountain
Friday
7 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Missouri at Georgia
Saturday
1 p.m.: Baseball, Thomas at Middle Ga. State (DH)
1 p.m.: Women’s basketball, FVSU at Claflin
1:30 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Francis Marion at Georgia College
2 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Mercer at Chattanooga
2 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Georgia at Kansas State (ESPNU)
3 p.m.: Men’s basketball, FVSU at Claflin
3:30 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Francis Marion at Georgia College
4 p.m.: Men’s basketball: The Citadel at Mercer
4:30 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Agnes Scott at Wesleyan
Sunday
1 p.m.: Women’s basketball, Virginia at Georgia Tech
6 p.m.: Men’s basketball, Clemson at Georgia Tech (ESPNU)
* * * * *
Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018
In The Sports Report
Saturday’s high school basketball scoreboard –missing the reporting of too many games – includes who won his 150th game at his alma mater, and up in This Week’s Coverage.
Weather
Ready for pregame yard work? High of 69, low of 45. Don’t much care why, do we?
Weekend college hoops
Mercer women roll again, MP alum Calloway gets 1,000th point
Undermanned Mercer men lose on the road
Georgia College men fall in close road game
Buzzer-beater breaks Georgia College women’s hearts
FVSU men snap losing streak, top Albany State
West, Franklin lead FVSU women to upset at Albany State
Middle Ga. State men hold off Martin Methodist, women lose by 7
Martin Methodist women take road win at Middle Ga. State
Georgia Tech men fall at No. 15 North Carolina
Second half dooms Georgia at Auburn
In the battle of the GSUs ...
Georgia women visit Auburn on four-game winning streak
Gameday (3:05 p.m., 6:40 p.m.)
Case vs. Nick in conference final: who picked that one?
Good day, Jacksonville, America’s new team – at least for a day
Reading/Viewing Material
Mayhem storm back to stun Pensacola
How did Jacksonville's Marrone get here?
NCAA tables talk on reducing football staff sizes
Departed Alabama LB left on his own
*****
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018
In The Sports Report
Upson-Lee and Mary Persons had a pretty nifty game going. For about the first quarter. Then Upson-Lee took over, and turned a highly anticipated showdown into a rout.
That leads Central Georgia’s most comprehensive high school basketball scoreboard and roundup, in This Week’s Coverage, along with Saturday’s schedule, the only place around to find one.
Check out the good news – hopefully – for some area hoops teams with the GHSA’s announcement of the basketball semifinal locations.
And the Class A power ratings are a few days old.
For a blood pressure spike, there’s a column in Opinion on that, that, that offensive coordinator in Atlanta.
Weather
A good Saturday all the way around. Sunny with a high in the low 60s, dropping down to mid-upper 30s, and warmer day and night on Sunday. And so starts several days of highs in the 60s and lows from mid-30s to mid-40s, slight chance of something Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. There, saved you time.
Today's area/state college hoops schedule
1 p.m.: Women's basketball, S. Ga. Tech at Central Ga. Tech, Warner Robins (faculty/staff appreciation)
2 p.m.: Women's basketball, Western Carolina at Mercer
2 p.m.: Women's basketball, Martin Methodist at Middle Ga. State
3 p.m.: Men's basketball, S. Ga. Tech at Central Ga. Tech, Warner Robins (faculty/staff appreciation)
4 p.m.: Women's basketball, FVSU at Albany State
4 p.m.: Men's basketball, Martin Methodist at Middle Ga. State
6 p.m.: Men's basketball, FVSU at Albany State
College baseball around the corner
The weather is getting closer to spring, and closer to college baseball weather.
The season openers for Mercer, Georgia College and Middle Georgia State are approaching, starting with MGSU's Jan. 27 opener against visiting Thomas University.
The Knights are at home for all of February.
Georgia College opens on Feb. 2 at home against Paine, and then welcomes North Greenville and Paine the next two days.
Mercer is at home for its first eight games, starting with a series against Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 16.
Georgia starts off on Feb. 16 against Georgia Southern, while Georgia Tech hosts Minnesota the same day. Kennesaw State hosts Connecticut on Feb. 16, and then Minnesota for a doubleheader a day later and then Bradley.
Georgia Southern's home opener is Feb. 20 against Georgia Tech.
Reading/Viewing Material
And now we have Handgate for the NFL playoffs
Braves minor-leaguer socked with suspension
Tech getting plenty from Abdoulaye Gueye
The ACC's football schedule for 2018 is out
* * * * *
Friday, Jan 19, 2018
In The Sports Report
Focus in class for many at Mary Persons and Upson-Lee won’t be optimum as they prepare for the big boys hoops showdown in Thomaston, with one loss between them. A look at that game and other good matchups in Central Georgia in This Week’s Coverage.
And the only full schedule in Central Georgia is there, too, Friday and Saturday.
Take a look at the GHSA Class A power ratings, who’s hosting the GHSA basketball semifinals, and re-check Tuesday night’s prep basketball scores.
ICYMI: Sark is back at OC for the Falcons. Happy or sad with that? Either way, there were plenty of issues for Atlanta not involving Steve Sarkisian. See the column in Opinion.
Big nights for Mercer
A nice second-half comeback lifted Mercer’s men to a road win at VMI, and gave head coach Bob Hoffman a milestone career win.
At home, Kahlia Lawrence cracked 2,000 points for her career in the Mercer women’s 14th straight win, a romp over UNCG.
Weather
More of the same daytime with the high in the 50s, but the low in the 30s. Saturday gets better, cracking 60, sunshine all the way.
Thursday, Jan. 18, 2017
In The Sports Report
The bandwagon against Atlanta offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian only picked up riders over the weekend. And while it’s been a roller coaster year, Sarkisian isn’t the reason for fans’ queasy feelings, as per a column – and sidebar on the apparently blameless quarterback – is up in Opinion.
Also, coming Thursday afternoon is Friday’s high school basketball schedule for your planning, with a preview of the action set for Friday morning (there’s a desperate need for many teams to fix their Maxpreps schedule and results).
Weather
It gets warmer. Not short-sleeve warmer, but your teeth will stop chattering. High near 50, with sunshine, and no precip. Low falls into the mid-20s, life gets a little warmer on Friday.
Moore’s high school days are done
Khavon Moore was having a normal head-turning game Tuesday night, one in which he reportedly passed the 2,000-point mark for his career.
And then came an injury, what turned out to be a broken tibia and fibia, followed Wednesday morning by surgery, according to WGXA-TV.
To which Moore tweeted Wednesday morning: “I’ll be back real soon stronger.”
The 6-foot-8 senior was averaging about 23 points, 4.5 assists, and 9 rebounds a game.
Westside is 10-8 overall, 6-0 in Region 4-AAA. The Seminoles are at Kendrick on Friday.
Social media condolences came from near – like Upson-Lee two-sport standout Travon Walker – and far.
Reading/Viewing Material
Georgia College road doubleheader changed, again
http://www.gcbobcats.com/news/2017-18_News/bkb011718
Macon Mayhem make a loan
http://pointstreaksites.com/view/maconmayhem/news/news_498246
ESPN's grades for Falcons' 2017 offseason
http://www.ajc.com/sports/espn-grades-falcons-2017-offseason/n3QETXeID4ujOBI8GerZSN/
Bleacher Report's midseason Hawks' report card
http://www.ajc.com/sports/hawks-earn-midseason-report-card/v9pEraGKiXOZCDBV7fMigK/
That, that, that quarterback goes and is charitable again, with help
Want a non-championship "championship" license plate? UCF, not from around here
Gymnastics coach's abuse was enabled, but enablers escape punishment
http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/22046031
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2017
In The Sports Report
In search of more Central Georgia high school basketball scores and info than anywhere in Central Georgia? You have come to the right place.
Big night for Jada Clowers at Central, Upson-Lee’s boys rolled again, and we’ll check on Khavon Moore of Westside, taken to the hospital Tuesday night with a leg injury. In This Week’s Coverage.
Coming Wednesday morning (finally): The column you don’t want to read about the Falcons’ problems (the offensive coordinator is not atop the list) and some wondering about the quarterback (there are things to wonder about). Posting around lunchtime.
Weather
Schoooool’s out, for snowdays (think the old song “School’s Out” for summer, by Alice Cooper). Cold in the daytime, high in the 30s, 90 percent chance of stuff falling, dropping to 20s overnight. See, saved you all that time and didn’t need four maps, 20 minutes and five “models” to show more than the average person needs.
Reading/Viewing Material
Washington State QB commits suicide
Steelers higher ups interested in dumping Tomlin
Is that the right move?
Fans embrace Saints’ rookie after playoff gaffe
Things getting hot in the NBA
* * * * *
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018
In The Sports Report
The coaching carousel seems always busy, everywhere. At East Laurens, it certainly is, and the Falcons hired their latest coach last week. That, and a roundup of coaching moves is at This Week’s Coverage.
Coming Tuesday: The night’s high school hoops schedule, and the column Falcons fans don’t want to read about who should or shouldn’t be fired, and why, and how two people keep getting a freebie when things go bad (hint: not the OC).
We have the statements from Roquan Smith on him leaving for the NFL, and Kirby Smart’s response. And some Monday hoops scores.
Weather
The high nears 60, 10 percent chance of something, and a drop to 26. And then for 36 hours, it’s cold, and a chance of white stuff.
Who won Monday?
Mercer’s men did
So did Georgia College’s women
But the Bobcats’ men lost a tough one
FVSU’s men lost to hot CAU
As did FVSU’s women
Reading/Viewing Material
Coaching carousel: Buffalo swipes the OC from Alabama
About those West Coast hires
What does 2018 look like in college football?
Coaching carousel: Navy's Niumatalolo not heading to Arizona
Coaching carousel: But Sumlin is - shoutout to Macon County's K'Hari Lane
Cliff Avril comes from one of those bleephole countries
The Keith Jackson bio that wasn't quite done
Fulmer eyes stability at Tennessee
As for that fourth down call in Philly ...
A city is talking about building a minor league stadium
* * * * *
Monday, Jan. 15, 2018
In The Sports Report
One of the best weekends of the year is that of the divisional playoffs in the NFL. And if the Falcons are involved, even better.
Three of the four games were mighty interesting, if not downright fascinating. We'll not soon forget New Orleans-Minnesota, aka "Blewdat" or "Purple Pain."
It's enough for a special NFL Reading/Viewing Material section, and there's was sooooo much. Coming later Monday, the normal R/V Material, and it's been a busy non-NFL weekend.
There are some notable high school basketball games on Monday, taking advantage of Martin Luther King Jr. day, plus some college games. The schedule will be up this morning in This Week's Coverage, and note the week's college slate below.
Coming Monday is the latest on the newest high school football coach in Central Georgia, and a roundup of some other changes. Pushed back a day because of all that phenomenal football.
Weather
Warmer, sunny, just past 50, low around 30. Warmer daytime Tuesday, colder at night.
It was quite the NFL weekend
Nobody will forget Vikes-Saints ending
Pretty much nobody
Case Keenum's legacy is fairly cemented
Play was called "Seven Heaven"
It made Atlanta feel better
Saints' Williams steps up after whiffed tackle and talks about it after handling emotions
Happy birthday, Drew Brees?
Does Brees plan to be back?
Steelers talked the talk, but the walk? Not so much
Ben R. will return, would've been OK with a rare QB sneak
Change coming to the Burgh?
There is joy in Sacksonville
Oh, so very much joy
And, wow, fans were ready for the Jags to come home
Some N.O.-Minnesota front pages
Falconswise, it was much more than Sark
Loss leads to immediate speculation
Oh, that final Falcons play
Local college action this week
Monday
1:3o p.m.: Women's basketball, USC Aiken at Georgia College
3:30 p.m.: Men's basketball, USC Aiken at Georgia College
6 p.m.: Women's basketball, Clark-Atlanta at FVSU
7 p.m.: Men's basketball, Chattanooga at Mercer
8 p.m.: Men's basketball, Clark-Atlanta at FVSU
Wednesday
5:30 p.m.: Women's basketball, Georgia College at Columbus State
5:30 p.m.: Women's basketball, East Ga. State at Central Ga. Tech (Cancer Awareness Night)
6 p.m.: Women's basketball, LaGrange at Wesleyan
7:30 p.m.: Men's basketball, Georgia College at Columbus State
7:3o p.m.: Men's basketball, East Ga. State at Central Ga. Tech (Cancer Awareness Night)
Thursday
5:30 p.m.: Women's basketball, Bethel at Middle Ga. State
7 p.m.: Women's basketball, UNCG at Mercer
7:30 p.m.: Bethel at Middle Ga. State
Saturday
1 p.m.: Women's basketball, S. Ga. Tech at Central Ga. Tech, Warner Robins (faculty/staff appreciation)
2 p.m.: Women's basketball, Martin Methodist at Middle Ga. State
3 p.m.: Men's basketball, S. Ga. Tech at Central Ga. Tech, Warner Robins (faculty/staff appreciation)
4 p.m.: Women's basketball, FVSU at Albany State
4 p.m.: Men's basketball, Martin Methodist at Middle Ga. State
6 p.m.: Men's basketball, FVSU at Albany State
College baseball around the corner
The weather is getting closer to spring, and closer to college baseball weather.
The season openers for Mercer, Georgia College and Middle Georgia State are approaching, starting with MGSU's Jan. 27 opener against visiting Thomas University.
The Knights are at home for all of February.
Georgia College opens on Feb. 2 at home against Paine, and then welcomes North Greenville and Paine the next two days.
Mercer is at home for its first eight games, starting with a series against Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 16.
Georgia starts off on Feb. 16 against Georgia Southern, while Georgia Tech hosts Minnesota the same day. Kennesaw State hosts Connecticut on Feb. 16, and then Minnesota for a doubleheader a day later and then Bradley.
Georgia Southern's home opener is Feb. 20 against Georgia Tech.
*****
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018
In The Sports Report
Saturday’s high school basketball scoreboard –missing the reporting of too many games – is up in This Week’s Coverage.
One Central Georgia team took home third place in the GHSA dual wrestling state meet. In This Week’s Coverage.
Veterans’ new football boss likes being part of taking over challenges, and has the resume to back it up. In This Week’s Coverage.
Coming Monday: Another Central Georgia team has a new coach, the latest move in the coaching carousel around here and around the state.
Weather
High of 45 and sunny, low of 30.
Philly, Philly
Atlanta didn’t click in any phase – Matt Bryant’s 1-for-1 FG night aside – in a depressing loss at Philadelphia.
The Pats had much less drama
*****
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018
In The Sports Report
The area’s most comprehensive high school basketball scoreboard is up, along with Saturday’s schedule – only place around to find one.
Four area teams are back Saturday for more action in the GHSA dual state wrestling meet at the Coliseum, although all are in the consolation round.
Veterans’ new head coach is rejuvenated, confident in the program he’s taking over because of the former coworker he’s succeeding, and brings a stellar resume to the Warhawks.
All in This Week’s Coverage, along with plenty of stuff to take a look back at for the week, from colleges to high schools.
Weather
High of 46, sunny, and low of 21, and a rerun coming Sunday.
Reading/Viewing Material
Mayhem hammer Huntsville
Falcons writer gives 3 reasons why the Falcons will lose
Skepticism abounds with Foles, Eagles O
The Saints are pretty good on D
Joe Hamilton, Whack Hyder into Atlanta Sports HOF
So, who is really interested in the NFL in Europe?
Jones dozed through is alma mater's title game
Fourth concussion is enough for UNC lineman
South Carolina brings back disciplined player
Friday, Jan 12, 2018
In The Sports Report
Day 2 of the GHSA state dual wrestling championships get underway at the Coliseum with one Central Georgia team still in the winner’s bracket, and a few more in the consolations. And Friday is the first action for a few other area teams. In This Week’s Coverage. To be updated as the night goes on.
Coming Friday afternoon: Veterans new head football coach and AD is likely to be at the home basketball doubleheader, and fans will get a look at a man who has been around building and rebuilding programs as a head coach and assistant, with six trips to a state title game at five different schools. To be in This Week’s Coverage.
And speaking of hoops and who’s playing where, the schedule – the only compiled schedule in Central Georgia – is up in This Week’s Coverage.
Also, Friday or Saturday, what area players are in the latest all-star football game, Saturday at Fort Valley State.
Weather
More of the same daytime with the high in the 60s, but the low in the 30s. There will be rain. Saturday’s high is in the upper 40s, but sunny.
Thursday, Jan. 11, 2017
In The Sports Report
You read it here first in Central Georgia: Veterans has its second head football coach and AD, and his resume is pretty nifty. Plus, he worked for his predecessor. In This Week’s Coverage.
Also, coming Thursday afternoon is Friday’s high school basketball schedule for your planning, with a preview of the action set for Friday morning (there’s a desperate need for many teams to fix their Maxpreps schedule and results).
ICYMI: An in-depth column on Monday’s loaded-with-action-and-second-guessing title game with a history lesson nobody wants, in Opinion; notes, quotes, and numbers on The Game, and a social media look at the game from media and civilian posts, in This Week’s Coverage.
Weather
Full-blown spring football weather continues (it was still 60 at 1 a.m.). The high is to hit 70, with a 60 pct. chance of rain.
Hoops around here
Mercer men lose a close one on the road
Georgia College women hold off Clayton State
But Clayton State's men top Georgia College men
FVSU men lose tough OT game on the road
But FVSU women shoot their way to win
Middle Georgia men get big OT game from Bleckley County alum, Knights go 20-0 in OT
Georgia Tech knocks off Notre Dame
Missouri topples Georgia with strong second half
Reading/Viewing Material
Falcons giving Eagles 'material'?
Alshon Jeffery + Nick Foles = exactly what?
This Eagle and Falcon were Tiger roomies
What if Georgia had won? Those stories were allllmost done
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Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2017
In The Sports Report
Most complete high school scoreboard in Central Georgia is up. Big nights for Mary Persons’ Cam Holden and Peach County’s Brice Paster, nice wins for Washington County and Bleckley County girls.
Coming Wednesday: Monday night’s game still sinking in for many, but don’t rush to cement Georgia’s future without recalling the recent past – which most aren’t doing.
Take a look at Monday night’s game through Twitter world, with some funny and informative observations. Plus notes, quotes and numbers, both in This Week’s Coverage.
Update, 6 p.m.: Less than two days have passed, and 26-23 in OT isn't any clearer, and there's still plenty to debate - and frown about. Column in Opinion.
Weather
Unseasonably pleasant, especially considering last week. High again in the mid-60s, 20 percent chance of rain, low of 56. Same for Thursday.
Reading/Viewing Material
(More to come)
Saban's unforgettable win
https://collegefootball.ap.org/article/alabamas-saban-will-be-game-ill-never-forget
Is this the beginning of Georgia vs. Alabama?
https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-alabamas-long-term-foil-015533617.html
Jake Fromm talks
https://twitter.com/FOX5Sports/status/950619235239149568
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Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018
In The Sports Report
Welcome to Terrible Tuesday, the day after Georgia had a 20-10 lead with nine-plus minutes left in the fourth quarter and, well …
More on the national championship game after lunchtime, from analysis to quotes to numbers.
And Tuesday’s prep hoops schedule.
Also, a full collection of Reading/Viewing Material, for the masochists and Bama fans, in the early afternoon.
Update, 2:15 p.m.: A review of assorted social media offerings, including some non-media types, from Monday night's footballpalooza. More coming throughout the afternoon.
Weather
The high should pass 60 degrees, and the low drops to 49, a chance of some rain.
Reading/Viewing Material
(early edition)
Forgettably unforgettable
Well, it was a freshman quarterback, just not ...
Saban, Tagovailoa talk
Final AP poll
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Monday, Jan. 8, 2018
In The Sports Report
Kickoff is a little after 8 p.m. A full look at Georgia and Alabama coming after lunchtime, from expanded Reading Material to a history lesson and more. Good after-school and after-work primer.
Weather
Not as good as it looked several days ago. High of 46, 50 percent chance of precip, low of 41. Worse in Atlanta, colder and chance of wintry mixish stuff.
Reading/Viewing Material
It wasn’t pretty, but it was a Jacksonville win
Buffalo fans showed out in Jacksonville
http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2018/01/07/bills-fans-dedication-appreciated/
New Orleans can’t run the ball, but holds off Carolina
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article193468644.html
Matt Ryan talks about the Falcons’ win over the Rams
http://www.ajc.com/news/video-matt-ryan-the-win-over-the-rams/gSC4XYkxasJbbNZ9JFtEuM/
Stage too big for Rams’ young head coach?
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/rams-coach-sean-mcvay-deer-in-headlights-espn-randy-moss-falcons-playoffs/1gom71zetcqlu137tljjp57z8v
A dozen lessons from the wild-card weekend
And guess who’s favored in Philly
Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018
In The Sports Report
Saturday’s high school basketball scoreboard –missing the reporting of too many games – is up in This Week’s Coverage.
The football stage for Central Georgia products is full, Saturday and beyond. In This Week’s Coverage. More content coming Sunday on NFL and colleges.
Weather
High of 45 and mostly sunny, low of 31.
Falcons roll on road
Atlanta got ahead and stayed ahead and topped the L.A. Rams.
http://www.ajc.com/news/falcons-hitting-road-back-super-bowl-with-win/ZWkZDXZiPDODYpDDjZDZGN/
Reading/Viewing Material
Coming Monday morning and afternoon.
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018
In The Sports Report
Which area girls basketball coach got win No. 500? Good news is nearly 30 scores from Friday night. Bad news: loads of games were unreported. Saturday’s schedule is with hoops in This Week’s Coverage.
Reminder: Houston County’s Trey Hill is in all-star game action today. See story a few days ago in This Week’s Coverage.
And check out the past few days of all sorts of stuff, including reliving UGA-OU, Loughdmouthings, Rose Bowl column in Opinion.
Weather
High of 46, sunny, and low of 21. Mostly cloudy Sunday, same daytime temps and warmer nights. Title Day? Around 50, some rain, low of 44.
Reading/Viewing Material
O'Showen Williams fitting in, filling need for Appalachian State men's basketball
“Mama is giving up her shoes to go to this ballgame"
The Decade of Alabama-Georgia Games That Built Toward a National Championship Meeting
Tony Dungy on retirement
http://www.allprodad.com/dungy/how-ive-satisfied-my-competitive-nature-since-retirement/
Friday, Jan 5, 2018
In The Sports Report
It’s the first Friday of the month and year, and of the return of a full slate of high school basketball. The schedule is up, and short advance is to come, as is another edition of Loughdmouthings, including items on a team claiming a championship – ahem – local hoops, a worn UGA-Alabama storyline, absurd Grudenmania continues, hyperbolic UGA media love, and more.
Two Central Georgia high school football players were chosen to represent the 478 in two national all-star games, one Thursday and one Saturday. In This Week’s Coverage.
Note a quality selection of Reading/Viewing Material.
Weather
More of the same, a hair warmer with a high in the mid 40s and less wind, low in the mid-20s.
Mayhem, Mercer women win
The Mayhem got a quality night in the net from Troy Passingham to beat Roanoke 3-1.
All the action came in the first two periods.
Mercer’s women took control early and won every quarter in hammering host Wofford 71-46 behind a career high of 34 points from Mary Persons alum KeKe Calloway.
The Bears won their 11th straight, and opened the Southern Conference slate with the win.
Reading/Viewing Material
Roquan doesn't miss tackles, but backs and WRs knew that
Did Georgia take away Mayfield's strengths?
Guess who breaks down The Game? Nick's fave ex-OC
Malzahn, next month's Macon TD Club speaker, is quite optimistic
The Arizona-Rodriguez divorce is messy already
Don't expect changes to the playoff system for awhile
A new playoff plan to ponder
Thursday, Jan. 4, 2017
In The Sports Report
There was some midweek high school hoops action, and scores and Friday’s schedule are up in This Week’s Coverage.
Later Thursday, an Alumni Update, with some football and basketball, and a column or Loughdmouthings are possible. A look at Friday's hoops action is coming, too.
Update 4 p.m.: Who from Central Georgia is playing in this week’s national high school all-star games? Go to This Week’s Coverage.
Weather
Full-blown football weather, if you’re in the north. The high will be around 42, sunny, low humidity keeps it cold, nighttime low around 20.
Reading/Viewing Material
Georgia Tech's men get the home upset
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=400986183
OU's Riley was quite a rookie
https://collegefootball.ap.org/article/oklahomas-riley-proves-capable-first-year-head-coach
NFL coaching carousel keeps spinning
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000900272/article/nfl-coaching-tracker-latest-news-developments
On that college carousel ...
http://www.espn.com/college-football/insider/story/_/id/21943365
Georgia Southern adds to football staff
Calvin Johnson has always been more than 'Megatron'
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/calvin-johnson-nfl-in-retirement/
Wofford has a new football coach
*****
Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018
In The Sports Report
Putnam County girls were upset, and Westside’s boys won a city rivalry game. Central Georgia’s most complete list of scores and schedules is up at This Week’s Coverage.
As if anybody else is living under the 24-hour rule, check out the collection of videos, tweets and pictures from Monday’s Georgia-Oklahoma classic, This Week’s Coverage.
Reading/Viewing Material covers games, firings, returns, and postseason.
And in Opinion, a column looks back at the UGA-OU game, along with a gathering of other interesting nuggets from the game you might’ve missed (one penalty? 13 punts? And how many kickoffs?)
ICYMI: In Loughdmouthings, an extensive pregame look at Georgia-Oklahoma, plus wishing UGA and Auburn could play again, and Georgia has been here before and not that long ago, plus Mouthings.
Weather
It warms up – hah – a bit to the mid-40s and partly sunny, another low in the mid-20s. And about the same Thursday, but sunnier.
Reading/Viewing Material
Auburn's Johnson heading to NFL
Ryan set to lead Falcons in postseason
Bama-UGA about players, not coaches
Many enjoyed the epic Rose Bowl
Bama's defense big in payback
Snyder back to Kansas State, again
Things getting antsy in Ann Arbor with Harbaugh
The Rodriguez Era is quite over at Arizona
* * * * *
Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2017
In The Sports Report
Millions of Georgians, and adopted Georgians, will forever remember where they were when Lorenzo Carter reached out and blocked a field goal try, and then a minute or two later when Sony Michel took a snap around the left side for a stunningly easy 27-yard touchdown that lifted Georgia past Oklahoma in a double-overtime epic Rose Bowl and into the national championship.
Look for a more expansive collection of Reading/Viewing Material in the early afternoon and a follow-up column. Until then, there’s a Loughdmouthings column posted 75 minutes before kickoff that had some prescient offerings.
Weather
After an overnight when the temps dipped into the teens, the first day of Georgia’s life as a finalist will reach about 40 for a high and into the low 20s at night.
Reading/Viewing Material
(early edition)
https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-classic-georgia-outlasts-oklahoma-rose-bowl-ages-030745301.html
There was, remember, another game
Monday, Jan. 1, 2017
In The Sports Report
Well, the Falcons won and are in the playoffs, which you can read about below in Reading/Viewing Material.
Dylan Fromm and Bo Lawson earned offensive player of the year honors in the respective classes in the Georgia Sports Writers Association all-state team. A link to all the teams is joined by the list of Central Georgia honorees along with a review of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Recruit Georgia – which just added honorable mentions on Sunday, but didn't identify the schools with the hundreds of names, so that will be updated here later Monday with hopefully no omissions – teams previously released. In This Week’s Coverage.
Coming in the early afternoon, a look at the college football playoffs.
Keep an eye out for some all-region football teams starting soon.
ICYMI: Pregame column Sunday on the Falcons being the Falcons, which isn’t like the Falcons of 2016, and blaming Steve Sarkisian is predictable and way off-base.
Update, 3:45 p.m.: Loughdmouthings on OU-UGA game, revisiting Auburn-UGA, Georgia's better-than-remembered recent history, and Mouthings.
Weather
It got cold on the last day of 2017 and won't get much warmer on the first day of 2018, up to around 40. It'll be highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s all week, until warming up on Sunday. No precip - thus, thankfully, no wintry mixes - for a week, and it'll be simple rain.
Reading/Viewing Material (special edition)
So, need some UGA-OU stuff? Try here
More? OK, here ya go
Still not enough? Of course not
Column: Yes, for the love of God, it very much is time to play and stop talking
Mayfield motivated by more than just football (warning: a Tom Rinaldi story)
Will Dabo "unseat" Saban? Hmmm.
Dabo foresees more Bama-Clemson coming
Chaney's trip to the mountaintop has taken longer than many second-guessers have been alive
Dual QBs lead the way for Alabama and Clemson
Reading/Viewing Material
Atlanta methodically gets past Carolina and a way-off-target Newton
One Panther wasn’t happy with a Falcon
The Panthers were off target all day
How close to 100 percent will Mayfield be?
Column: Racial stereotypes diminish Renfrow-Fitzpatrick battle
Nick and Sony, like peas and carrots
How ya like that Georgia offensive line?
* * * * *