7 Georgia sports dates to mark on your 2016 calendar
Mark your calendars. You won't want to miss these moments in 2016.
Feb. 3
Jacob Eason (above) kept his commitment, but all eyes will be on new head coach Kirby Smart to see who else he can bring to Athens ... and who follows Mark Richt to Coral Gables.
Feb. 28
Boogity boogity boogity! NASCAR's second race of the season comes to Atlanta Motorspeedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.
April 7-10
Will Tiger Woods return to lush grounds of Augusta National for the 80th edition of the Masters Tournament? Jordan Spieth will attempt to defend his green jacket. There hasn't been a repeat winner in Augusta since Tiger in 2001 and '02.
April 28-30
Forget the Super Bowl. Football's pageantry goes on display for three days of hope and disappointment in the NFL Draft (location to be determined). The Falcons will be selecting in the high teens, that is, unless they manage to wheel and deal.
Aug. 5-21
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, takes center stage as athletes - count on a few from Georgia - participate in 306 events in 28 sports for a chance at glory for pride and country.
Sept. 3
Georgia Tech opens the college football season against Boston College in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, where not too long ago a Notre Dame squad put the hurt on Navy.
Sept. 3
Kirby Smart returns to the Georgia Dome, this time as the Bulldogs' head coach to open the season against North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game.
Oct. 2
The Braves close out the regular season, and perhaps their final game at Turner Field - their home of the last 20 years - against the Detroit Tigers.
