Where is AJCsportstalk?
AJCsportstalk has moved…to a new blogging platform.
Don’t freak out, though. You’ll still be able to voice your opinion on all the latest breaking news dealing with UGA, Georgia Tech, the Falcons, Braves, Hawks, Thrashers and the rest of the sports world right here.
We’ll see you there.
Home > ajcsportstalk > Archives > 2006 > November
November 2006
Vick’s gesture
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Michael Vick exchanged words with fans after the Falcons’ loss to New Orleans and made an obscene gesture, for which he later apologized. Should Vick be punished beyond the NFL’s standard fine for such behavior?
Bobo handles playcalling
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia coach Mark Richt has temporarily handed over playcalling duties to quarterback coach Mike Bobo and the move may be permanent.
According to Richt, Bobo called the plays in Saturday’s victory over Georgia Tech and the head coach said the assistant “did a masterful job on that last drive” that resulted in the Bulldogs scoring the game-winning TD.
What do you think of Richt’s decision? Do you feel Bobo can handle the job or would you rather Richt handled it?
What kind of playcalling would you like to see from Bobo? If Bobo keeps the playcalling job next season, what kind of offense do you expect? Will Georgia utilize freshman Matthew Stafford’s throwing arm more? Is letting Bobo, a former Georgia QB, run the offense a good decision?
Permalink | Comments (126) | Categories: UGA
You write the headline
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, Tech and Georgia fans. The game is over — a 15-12 win for the Bulldogs, their sixth in a row over the Yellow Jackets.
Give us you short and succinct headlines on this blog to describe what transpired in Athens. And check post-game blogs by AJC staff writers Matt Winkeljohn (Tech) and Chip Towers (UGA) to discuss the game in more detail.
Blank speaks out about Falcons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said the entire organization is under evaluation and that finishing out of the playoffs and with an 8-8 record or worse, “is definitely not good enough, from any perspective.”
Blank refrained from offering a vote of confidence for coach Jim Mora.
What moves could be made to improve the team now? What moves would you make if the team doesn’t make the playoffs?
Would you keep Mora? How about Michael Vick? If this is not a playoff team with him as quarterback, would you consider having someone else behind center next season? Can you ever imagine the Falcons trading Vick?
Can the season be saved?
Are you glad Blank has spoken out?
Permalink | Comments (102) | Categories: Falcons
Your take on price increases
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What do you think about the Braves’ increasing ticket prices (read the story here) despite finishing with a losing record last season? Do you think it’s a given that prices for pro sports teams will rise most years, even incrementally?
Do you think Tech is closing the gap?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By most accounts, Tech is putting together its best football recruiting class in years.
Do you think the Jackets have closed the gap on Georgia, which perennially has top classes? If so, do you think Tech can do it consistently, or is this just a one-year blip on the radar?
Two schools that love to hate each other
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia and Georgia Tech square off again Saturday in a rivalry that has been described as clean old-fashioned hate.
The Jackets are headed to the ACC championship game while the Bulldogs are coming off an upset win over Auburn and trying to salvage a better season.
If you’re a Tech fan, how sweet would a win over the Dogs be? How depressing would a defeat be? Would it ruin a great season?
If you’re a Georgia fan, what would a win over Tech mean? How about a loss?
Lastly, why do Bulldogs and Jackets fans dislike each other? How deep does it go? Among families? Among co-workers at your job?
Permalink | Comments (305) | Categories: Georgia Tech, UGA
Bring on the Bulldogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech didn’t have to exert itself too much Saturday in a 49-21 rout of winless Duke in the last home game of the season for the Yellow Jackets.
Reggie Ball, Calvin Johnson and other Tech regulars got the second half off on Senior Day. Coming up Saturday: Another date with the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens.
Do you think the Jackets are ready, given the weak opposition they’ve faced the last two weeks? What areas concern you the most? What does Tech have to do to beat Georgia and gain momentum for the ACC championship game in two weeks’ time?
Permalink | Comments (115) | Categories: Georgia Tech
Caleb King says it’s UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greater Atlanta Christian star running back Caleb King says he’ll attend Georgia.
The Bulldogs are likely to return three veteran running backs next year — Kregg Lumpkin, Danny Ware and Thomas Brown — in addition to redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno.
Where will King fit in? Should he start? Redshirt? Have your say …
Caleb King to announce
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greater Atlanta Christian running back Caleb King will announce his college decision Friday morning.
The injured star, who transferred to GAC after playing last season at Parkview, is choosing from among UGA, Florida, LSU, Auburn and Virginia Tech.
Which school do you think will win out? Will King become a big-time player in the SEC or ACC?
Right to redshirt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Eighteen of Georgia’s 25 enrolled recruits redshirted this season. Meanwhile, the defending SEC champs have struggled on the field, losing to teams they were used to beating like Vandy and Kentucky.
Georgia coach Mark Richt says redshirting the players has preserved the team’s future. “The assistant coaches were wanting to let some of these guys play and allow them to work on special teams and get reps and that kind of thing,” Richt said. “I tried to look at the big picture and see if we could hold off from doing it. There are certainly guys that could be helping us right now, there is no doubt.”
Has Richt done the right thing by redshirting so many players? Could the Bulldogs have had a better season if they’d used more of the talented freshmen? If so, who should they have played?
Gailey’s deal: Agree or disagree?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s been exactly one year since Georgia Tech’s athletics board approved a new contract for Chan Gailey. Some 12 months later, has your opinion about that decision changed, for better or worse?
Dogs beat Auburn: You write the headline
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia fans have had to read plenty of disappointing headlines this season, but the Bulldogs’ victory over Auburn is worthy of a lot of praise. Here’s your chance to express the significance of this win. Give us your headline on the game.
Permalink | Comments (30) | Categories: UGA
Bulldogs trample Tigers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What Georgia team was that that put a 37-15 hurting on No. 5 Auburn Saturday?
The Bulldogs said they were playing for pride, but was this effort more than that?
Matthew Stafford looked strong, and so did the UGA defense in setting the tone early. What do you think about this game, and about the Dogs’ chances in two weeks against Georgia Tech, which is bound for the ACC title game?
And how much did UGA improve its chances for going to a decent bowl game? Which one could the Dogs be headed to based on this performance?
Permalink | Comments (296) | Categories: UGA
Jackets ACC Coastal champs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech is headed to the ACC championship game by virtue of a gritty 7-0 win at North Carolina Saturday.
It wasn’t pretty, and the Yellow Jackets sputtered offensively after Tashard Choice’s early second quarter touchdown, but the defense did the job against a Tar Heels team that falls to 1-9.
What are your thoughts on the game? Should Tech have done better, given the opposition? Or is a win a win, especially one that punches its ticket to Jacksonville?
Which Tech players stood out the most? What issues or concerns do you have as the Jackets close out against Duke next week, followed by Georgia, before preparing for the ACC title game?
Permalink | Comments (120) | Categories: Georgia Tech
Hall threatened by Lions player
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall is irate over a physical threat made earlier this week by Detroit center Dominic Raiola.
“I ain’t said two words to this chump,” Hall said of Raiola. “If he wants to see me, he can come see me and tell him to bring his homeboys with him.”
Raiola was upset over a hands-to-the-head hit by Hall to quarterback John Kitna in the Lions’ victory over the Falcons Sunday.
“I wish I had been closer to the play because I would have loved to take DeAngelo Hall’s head off,” Raiola told reporters. “I promise that if I see him on the field again, I’ll take his head off. I don’t care if it is 10 or 15 years from now and we’re playing for different teams I’ll try to get him.”
What do you think about the controversy? Was Hall’s hit dirty? Was it intentional? If Raiola was upset, do you think he should have done something Sunday during the game instead of talking about it later?
Lastly, whether he’s squabbling with the Bengals’ Chad Johnson or in a dispute with the Lions, has Hall become the face and voice of the Falcons? If so, is that a bad thing? Is Hall craving attention like former Falcon Deion Sanders?
Permalink | Comments (177) | Categories: Falcons
Wanted: Tech vs. UGA game monikers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They call the battle for Alabama “The Iron Bowl.” The SEC’s two Mississippi schools meet every year in “The Egg Bowl.” And all of Oregon watches the Ducks and Beavers meet each year in “The Civil War.”
Which got us to thinking: Why no catchy nickname for Georgia-Georgia Tech?
With the big name just more than two weeks away, we’re taking submissions for what the Peach State showdown should be called.
Cast your vote below. We’ll run the most creative submissions in the AJC in the days to come.
Jackets hang on
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets knew they would have a tough test at N.C. State Saturday and they got it, then James Johnson’s late fourth-quarter TD pass finally put the Wolfpack away in a 31-23 marathon.
The Jackets now need just one win in their two remaining ACC games against lowly North Carolina or Duke to secure a spot in the league title game.
What did you think of Tech’s effort Saturday night? Was it the game you expected? Are the Jackets worthy of playing for the ACC championship? What issues about the team concern you the most?
Who was your star of the game at N.C. State?
And how should Tech approach next week’s game against the Tar Heels? Can this be a dangerous game?
Permalink | Comments (112) | Categories: Georgia Tech
Leaving Lexington a loser
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s struggles worsened on Saturday when Kentucky rallied late for a 24-20 victory in Lexington, exploiting the Bulldogs’ propensity for turnovers.
They capitalized on two second-half turnovers to stay in the contest, then pull ahead for good inside the final two minutes. Matthew Stafford’s third interception of the game was converted into the decisive drive for Kentucky, which is above .500 (5-4) at this juncture of the season for the first time in a long while.
Meanwhile, the Dogs dropped to 6-4, with games looming at Auburn next Saturday and against Georgia Tech.
What made the difference in Saturday’s game? Was it turnovers? Or coaching and preparation? Or is Georgia just not as talented a team as some thought? Were the Wildcats better than expected?
And what about the rest of the season? Do you see any hope of an upset in the final two games, or does a 6-6 slate seem the most realistic outcome of what has been a very disappointing season?
What about Georgia’s bowl chances? Does this team deserve a bid? Could you even get excited about a third- or fourth-tier invitation at this point?
Permalink | Comments (429) | Categories: UGA
Services »
