Georgia sports for Monday, September 8th

Atlanta Falcons--

The Falcons began their new era with a bang in posting a 34-21 season-opening victory over the Detroit Lions inside the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon. The win marked a successful debut for new head coach Mike Smith, and spotlighted strong performances from new Falcons. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's first pass of his career was a 62-yard strike to receiver Michael Jenkins on Atlanta's first offensive series and thrid play. Ryan was 9-of-13 passing for 161 yards and the touchdown. The bigger headline however, probably came from offseason signee Michael Turner--he rolled up 220 rushing yards, setting a new team record. The mark passed the old record held by Gerald Riggs--202 yards in a 1984 game. The Falcons' 318 rushing yards was a team record for a single game. The Falcons next week travel to Tampa Bay.

Atlanta Braves--

The Braves were 7-4 losers in 14 innings to the Washington Nationals Sunday afternoon in Atlanta.

Georgia sports for Friday, January 25th

The Atlanta Falcons officially introduced their new head coach in a Thursday afternoon news conference at team headquarters in Flowery Branch. The team also announced two additional appointments for the coaching staff. Emmitt Thomas will stay with the club and serve the role of assistant head coach. Thomas filled-in as interim head coach for 3 games to close last season, following the resignation of Bobby Petrino. The Falcons also hired Brian Van Gorder as new defensive coordinator. He leaves a job he had taken with South Carolina only 4 weeks ago. Van Gorder served as the Falcons' linebackers coach last season. Van Gorder is also a former Georgia Bulldogs' defensive coordinator, and served one season as head coach at Georgia Southern.

From the Atlanta Braves' offseason, the team has signed closer Rafael Soriano to a 2-year, 9-million dollar contract. Soriano was eligible for arbritration.

Women's college basketball action from last night included 17th-ranked Georgia scoring the 82-55 win over Florida. It was win number-700 in the coaching career of Andy Landers.

Out of pro hockey, the Atlanta Thrashers lost in a shootout to the Rangers in New York, 2-1.

Falcons to introduce new head coach today

The Atlanta Falcons will introduce their new head coach this afternoon in a news conference.

He's Mike Smith, who comes from the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he served as their defensive coordinator since 2003. The 48-year-old Smith is a 26-year coaching veteran. He replaces Bobby Petrino, who quit the Falcons in mid-December, only 13 games into his first season as the team's head coach.