Football coming to Kennesaw State University?

With Arthur Blank’s bid to bring a Major League Soccer team announced yesterday, students at Kennesaw State University may have more than one reason to cheer.

The Marietta Daily Journal is reporting that Blank’s management and investment services company, AMB Group LLC, has been looking for venue locations in Cobb for over a year. And according to Cobb Chairman Sam Olens, one possibility is a “synergy with KSU.”

With a new, 20,000-seat facility possibly coming near Kennesaw State, the chances of the Owls starting a football team are looking up.

Funding and land acquisition are the major hurdles Kennesaw State faces in starting a team. But with a possible public-private partnership with the AMB Group, KSU may score a victory after all.

(The Marietta Daily Journal)

Falcons' brass vent over Petrino resignation

One day after their head coach abruptly quit the team after only 13 games, top officials with the Atlanta Falcons vented their anger over the situation.

Team owner Arthur Blank used the words "betrayed", "let-down", and "abused" to describe how he felt in the wake of Bobby Petrino’s sudden departure late Tuesday afternoon. By late last night, Petrino had been introduced as head coach at the University of Arkansas.

Over the weekend, Petrino gave Blank some issues of concern with the team. On Monday afternoon, the two were joined by general manager Rich McKay to hash-out the issues. Blank said it appeared there was resolution of Petrino's concerns. At the end of the meeting, Petrino shook Blank’s hand and said "I’m your coach". Monday night the Falcons lost at home to New Orleans to fall to a record of 3-10 on the season.

Petrino quit 24 hours later.

Blank today spoke of broken commitments.

"My issue is not that he elected to go back to coaching in college. That is not my issue. My issue is timing, my issue is responsibility, my issue is commitment that was made to this organization, and made to everyone connected to this organization. That is my issue".

The Falcons’ season has been marred by star quarterback Michael Vick’s conviction and resulting prison sentence for dogfighting.

The team’s defensive backs coach, Emmitt Thomas, will serve as interim head coach the final three games.

Forbes ranks 5 richest Georgians

Forbes Magazine has published its list of the 400 Richest Americans, and five Georgians are on the list. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports Cox Enterprises heiress Anne Cox Chambers is the richest person in the state. The 87-year-old is worth 12.6-billion dollars and ranks 24th. Her nephew James Kennedy ranks 50th, worth $6.3-billion. Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus ranks 239th worth $2-billion. Home Depot’s other founder and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank ranks 317th worth $1.3 billion. The fifth richest Georgian according to Forbes is Chick Fil-A founder Truett Cathy, who ranks 380th and is worth 1.3-billion dollars.

Georgia sports for Tuesday, August 28th

The Braves opened their series in Florida last night, pounding the Marlins 13-2. Brian McCann ripped a grand slam, and Matt Diaz added 4 hits, including a pair of doubles and a home run. The offense supported pitcher Lance Cormier, who threw 7 strong innings for the pitching win. It represented the first victory in 3 weeks for a Braves-starter not named John Smoltz or Tim Hudson. With the win, the Braves drew a game closer to the Mets in the NL-East, now 6 games behind. Atlanta remains 4 back in the wild card race.

Amid all the off-the-field news created by Michael Vick on Monday, the Falcons played their first home game of the preseason last night, scoring the 24-19 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. With Vick banished from the team, Joey Harrington is the starting quarterback this season. He posted good numbers last night, completing 13 of 21 passes for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Falcons play their final exhibition game of the preseason Friday night.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank in a Monday press conference expressed his feelings following Vick's guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge. Blank said Vick "has let down his fans and his team--he's damaged the reputation of our club and the entire National Football League, and betrayed the trust of many people". Blank also said the team will not cut Vick from the roster right now for purely business reasons. The Falcons are trying to recoup some or all of 22 million dollars in signing bonus money from Vick's contract.

Falcons' reaction to Vick plea deal

Falcons owner Arthur Blank said last Friday before the team’s second preseason game in Buffalo that he would act decisively once a resolution came-in concerning Michael Vick. However, he has been asked by the NFL to hold-off on any action, until the league makes its decision on their action. Blank did speak to the NFL Network yesterday after news came down that Vick would plead guilty next week:

"From a personal standpoint I think he's doing the right thing, and that's been my counsel to him quite some while ago and publicly as well to get this behind as quickly as he can and take responsibility for whatever he did".

There was reaction from a teammate of Vick's. Wide receiver Joe Horn joined the Falcons in the off-season, but has known Vick for longer. He spoke to ESPN Monday:

"Mike is a friend of mine, and he’s going through some stuff right now in his life. People make mistakes. Was it wrong to fight dogs?...I don’t agree with that at all, but I love Michael Vick as a friend, and I’m always going to be his friend. People go through things in life".

The Falcons will play their 1st home game of the year next Monday, a preseason game at the Georgia Dome. It will be the same day Vick enters his plea in Virginia federal court.

Falcons will speak on Vick today

Atlanta Falcon’s owner Arthur Blank is holding a news conference at 4 this afternoon about quarterback Michael Vick. Vick was indicted last week on federal dog fighting charges. The NFL has told him not to report for practice until the league reviews the case. Falcon's training camp starts Thursday. That's also the day Vick is scheduled to appear in federal court in Virginia. If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison.