Georgia sports for Friday, October 12th

There was a seismic change at the top of the Atlanta Braves management structure. The team announced John Schuerholz is stepping-aside from his long-time job as general manager. However, he gets a better office with the team, taking the reigns as team president. Assistant general manager Frank Wren now assumes full G-M duties. He’s worked with Schuerholz in Atlanta for eight years. The announcement marks the end of a record era of success in pro sports. Schuerholz was general manager 17 years—in that time the Braves won 14-straight division titles, five National League pennants, and one World Series championship.

From pro hockey, the Atlanta Thrashers have now lost 4-straight games to start the season. Last night, the team was blanked at Buffalo 6-nothing. The Thrashers are off to their worst start in 5 years. They've scored only 4 goals in 4 games.

Setting the schedule for college football Saturday ahead: Georgia's Bulldogs take their 4-2 record on the road to Vanderbilt. Ga Tech travels to Miami to face the Hurricanes--the Yellow Jackets a record of 3-3. The Eagles of Ga Southern are on the road with their 4-1 mark, facing Elon.

High school football has another full schedule of games tonight around the state.

Bad news for the Georgia men's basketball team--the school has suspended three players multiple games for violation of the athletic department's new class attendance and academic policies. Starting guard Mike Mercer will miss at least 15 games. Leading scorer Takais Brown will sit-out a minimum of 9 games, while backup center Albert Jackson will miss 6 games.

End of an era in Braves baseball

The architect of the Braves’ record success for a decade-and-a-half has stepped aside from his long-time role, but assumes a new position in the organization.

After 17 years as general manager of the Braves, John Schuerholz now takes the reigns as team president. Moving into the G-M role is Frank Wren, who has served as assistant to Schuerholz for eight years.

Perhaps one of the most successful general managers of a team in any sport, the Schuerholz-resume in Atlanta includes 14-straight division titles, five National League pennants, and one World Series championship. Schuerholz has been in baseball 42 years--26 of which he's served in the G-M role.

Schuerholz at Thursday's press conference outlined that as Braves’ president, he will oversee all operations of the franchise.

"This opportunity really lifts my spirits...encourages me...makes me enthusiastic towards what we have in this organization, and what we can continue to build upon".

Schuerholz says this new arrangement with him and Frank Wren, is the "more perfect plan" for the Braves to move forward.

The idea of a transition of upper management roles came from team chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk, who broached the topic with Schuerholz about six months ago. It was his opinion that this change would make the Braves stronger on the management level. Wren says he knew nothing of this possibility until just Tuesday of this week.

Wren's close association with Schuerholz the past eight years in all aspects of roster decisions is hoped to make this a smooth transition. Wren on Thursday compared the styles of he and his predecessor.

"Our styles are going to be different, but our philosophies and the way we see an organization being run and the type players we like are very similar". Wren added "...down the hall I'm going to have a Hall of Fame general manager that I can go bounce things off of, and down in this clubhouse I'm going to have a Hall of Fame manager that runs the game as well as anyone. It's a pretty good position to be in".

Schuerholz did admit it will be hard for him initially to separate himself from the off-season drive of fashioning a new roster for the next season. The last decision Schuerholz made as general manager was just over a week ago, when he informed veteran centerfielder Andruw Jones the team could not afford to sign him to a new contract.

Braves' GM steps aside

Atlanta Braves General Manager John Schuerholz is stepping aside. Schuerholz announced today he will become team president. The 67-year-old assembled teams that won a record 14 straight division titles and the 1995 World Series championship. Assistant general manager Frank Wren replaced Schuerholz as the executive as the one who oversees trades, free-agent signings and other roster decisions. Schuerholz was baseball's longest-serving general manager with one team.