Georgia sports for Thursday, October 18th

The Atlanta Thrashers have fired their head coach. Bob Hartley is out, as the team opened its pro hockey season losing the first 6 games on the schedule. Hartley just last season led the Thrashers to their first-ever playoff appearance—which ended in an opening-round series loss. General manager Don Waddell will coach the team in the interim while a search for a permanent replacement gets underway. The Thrashers tonight host the Rangers in Atlanta.

The NFL’s Atlanta Falcons are struggling themselves with a 1-5 start. To that end, coach Bobby Petrino has made a change at quarterback, installing Byron Leftwich as the new starter for the remainder of the season. Joey Harrington goes to the bench to serve as the number-2 quarterback.

Georgia sports for Tuesday, October 9th

The sniping has begun, and a quarterback controversy has been stirred within the Atlanta Falcons' camp. A 1-4 start to the season has prompted some veterans to speak-out. Tight end Alge Crumpler has questioned new head coach Bobby Petrino's play-calling. He's also accused the coaching staff of favoring younger players over veterans. Coach Petrino annonced Monday that Joey Harrington will remain as starting quarterback, despite the entrance of Byron Leftwich early in the 4th quarter Sunday, in the Falcons' loss at Tennesee.

From pro basketball, the preseason opener for the Atlanta Hawks was a success, as they beat the Magic in Orlando 94-93. Josh Smith scored 22 points to go along with 11 rebounds.

Georgia sports for Monday, October 1st

The Braves on Sunday were 3-0 losers to the Astros in Houston--the final game of the 2007 season for Atlanta. After a surge of 8 wins in 9 games, the Braves within the last week lost 4-of-5 to get knocked out of the playoff race. Atlanta finished with a record of 84-78 for the season. Chipper Jones was hitless at the plate Sunday to finish with a .337 batting average. In his quest for the batting title, he is 2nd to Colorado’s Matt Holiday, who is hitting .340, and has a 1-game playoff game to play today which will count in the statistics. Off-season questions for the Braves to answer include whether to re-sign centerfielder Andruw Jones, who will become a free agent.

From the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons posted their 1st win of the 2007 season, knocking-off the Houston Texans in the Ga Dome, 26-16. Joey Harrington threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Morten Anderson kicked 4 field goals in the victory. The Falcons beat their former backup quarterback, Matt Schaub. The Falcons improve to 1--3 on the season, and its the first win for new head coach Bobby Petrino.

Wrapping up the college football weekend, victories across the board for Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State. In Athens Saturday, the Bulldogs ran all over Ole Miss 45-17. Georgia running back Thomas Brown rushed for a career-high of 180 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Bulldogs are now 12th in the new Associated Press rankings, a record of 4-1, 2-1 SEC. For Georgia Tech, it was sweet revenge for a blowout loss at Clemson last season. The Yellow Jackets at home Saturday used great defense to turn-back the Tigers 13-3. Tech running back Tashard Choice piled up 145 yards and a touchdown--despite nursing a nagging hamstring injury. The Jackets snapped a 2-game skid, upping their record to 3-2, and 1-2 ACC. In Statesboro Saturday, Georgia Southern scored the 50-21 blowout of Western Carolina. Senior quarterback Jayson Foster threw for 147 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 96 yards and a score. G-Southern is now 3-1, and 1-1 in the Soutnern Conference. For Valdosta State at home, they dismantled Ouachita Baptist 31-3. Running back Michael Terry ran for 181 yards and 2 scores. VSU is now 4-0 for the season.

Georgia sports for Wednesday, September 19th

The Braves have won 4 of their last 5 games in their final gasp attempt to try and make the postseason. For a second straight night, they topped the Florida Marlins--Tuesday's final of 4-3. The Braves got run-scoring singles from four different players. On the mound, rookie starter Jo-Jo Reyes earned his first major league victory. He allowed 3 hits and a run in 5 innings of work. With 11 games to go, Atlanta is 5-and-a-half games back in both the race for the NL-East division crown, and the wild card.

The Falcons continue to re-tool their roster, only 2 games into the season. One day after signing 47-year-old placekicker Morten Anderson, the team has gone for quarterback help. Former Jacksonville Jaguar QB Byron Leftwich was signed to a 2-year/7-million dollar contract. He will be a backup--perhaps only for now--to starter Joey Harrington. The Falcons are 0-2 on the young NFL season, and play their home opener this Sunday.