Georgia sports for Thursday, June 12th

Atlanta Braves--

The struggles continue for the Atlanta Braves, as they lost in Chicago again last night to the Cubs, 7-2. The Braves were sent to their 5th straight loss. Jeff Bennett was called upon for an emergency pitching start, allowing 7 runs in 2-plus innings. Bennett was starting in place of Jair Jurrjens, who suffered a twisted ankle the night before walking down the dugout steps at Wrigley Field. The Braves and Cubs wrap their 3-game series this afternoon.

Georgia State-football coach--

Georgia State University is set to announce its first-ever head football coach, and it will be a high profile name. Bill Curry will be introduced later today on the downtown Atlanta campus. Curry has a 17-year head coaching resume—with Ga Tech from 1980-86, later 3 years with Alabama, and then another 7 seasons with Kentucky. He played for Ga Tech, and had a pro playing career in the NFL. Most recently, he’s been a television analyst for ESPN. Georgia State will play its first football season in the fall of 2010.

Georgia sports for Tuesday, October 30th

The first major trade of baseball’s offseason was made by the Braves and their new general manager Frank Wren. Veteran shortstop Edgar Renteria has been sent to the Detroit Tigers, in return for 2 top prospects. 21-year-old rookie righthanded pitcher Jair Jurrjens comes to Atlanta, along with young 19-year-old centerfielder Gorkys Hernandez. Renteria leaves the Braves after 2 solid seasons. He hit .332 with 12 homers and 57 RBI’s this past season. The money saved in the trade of Renteria and his contract opens up more options for the Braves in reshaping their roster.

Georgia Bulldogs' football coach Mark Richt has sent a letter of apology to the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, Mike Slive. The letter apologizes for his team's bench-clearing and excessive celebrating penalty in the win over Florida last Saturday. Richt admitted he told his team in practice leading to the game, that in order to manufacture energy, his players should celebrate after scoring the first touchdown to the point of receiving a celebration penalty. Richt in his letter said "I admit this was inappropriate". An official with the SEC says the letter will stand as the conference's statement on the issue, and that no sanctions are planned.

Georgia State has given athletics director Mary McElroy a new 4-year contract. The deal replaces the remaining 2 years on her orignial contract, signed in July of 2005. McElroy in just over 2 years with the Panthers' athletics program has increased fund raising, hired a new men's head basketball coach, and has completed a feasibility study on the possibility of bringing football to Georgia State.

Georgia sports for Thursday, May 24th

The Braves lost to the Mets 3-0 at Turner Field in Atlanta last night. Once again, the Braves were not able to solve Mets-starter Oliver Perez: he allowed only 4 hits in 7 scoreless innings of work, and beat Atlanta for a third time this season. Chuck James took the pitching loss for the Braves.

The teams have split the first 2 games of the series, with the finale tonight. Again, it will be a battle of former teammates likely headed to the Hall of Fame: John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. The Braves won both previous games this season in matchups of the two. Smoltz is going for career win number-200. Glavine is 5 wins away from hitting 300 for his career.


From the college baseball conference tournaments on Wednesday, it was victory for Georgia Tech, while Georgia Southern and Georgia State lost their games.

Georgia Tech's Yellow Jackets beat North Carolina 8-4 in the ACC Tournament in Jacksonville. Tech will face Virginia today at 4pm. From the Southern Conference tourney in Charleston, a loss for Georgia Southern's Eagles to Elon on Wednesday, 14-7. The Eagles take-on Western Carolina today at 12:45, needing a win to move on.
Georgia State's Panthers fell to Old Dominion at the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, 5-2. State faces George Mason today at noon.