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2B
♦ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006
Georgia shakes op receiver lineup
After a handful of drops in
the season opener, Georgia’s
depth chart at wide receiver
has received
a major
shake up
heading into
Saturday’s
game at
South
Carolina.
Split end
Mohamed
Massaquoi,
who had a
NOTEBOOK
By MARC
WEISZER
Morris News
Service
breakout freshman season
but had a career low one
catch for 2 yards against
Western Kentucky, and flank
er Kenneth Harris have been
replaced as starters in the
Bulldogs’ two-receiver set.
Wide receivers coach John
Eason said Tuesday that
senior Mario Raley will be the
starting split end and junior
A.J. Bryant will become the
starting flanker. Massaquoi
will still start in a three
receiver set at split end with
Raley moving to the inside
receiver position.
Eason said that he was
sending a “little bit of a mes
sage,” to Massaquoi, who led
Georgia receivers with 38
catches for 505 yards and
two touchdowns last season.
“He’s picked it up a little
bit,” Eason said of practice
this week. “In terms of effort,
he’s probably the best effort
guy I’ve got of all the receiv
ers. It’s just a matter of doing
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From page iB
one-out error in the fifth. Ling got down the
sacrifice bunt, but the Demonettes had their
SERSEY
From page iB
Alas, like Judas, I’ve
accepted 30 pieces of silver
(more like 15) and lived to
regret it.
Imperious Leader has
informed me that freedom of
the press is a myth and any
opinions I wish to express
from now on will come from
him.
He’s made it clear that if I
have anymore thoughts, he’ll
tell me.
That means I can’t bad
mouth the Braves. They’re
a wonderful team and the
umpires must be cheating for
them to give up 16 runs to the
Phillies.
I can dis NASCAR - but
only out of love.
So, I love the way they
make those cars go in cir
cles offering mind-numbing
proof that you can end up
where you started and still
be a winner.
Exalted One has suggested
that I retract my Tennessee
bashing. They soundly
defeated ninth ranked
California.
One game doesn’t make a
season, and the Volunteers
haven’t played any teams in
GSGA
From page iB
for golf-related events and
items as well as other sport
ing events across Georgia
Additionally, GSGA mem
bership helps support pro
grams that benefit all golfers
in Georgia, including course
rating and measuring, schol
arships for club employees
and future superintendents,
tournament and rules assis
tance to clubs, and industry
advocacy efforts to protect
the game.
An individual’s GSGA
membership is maintained
at one of over 360 GSGA
Member Clubs across the
state of Georgia.
The three-step application
the little things that we both
felt that he needed to do.”
Georgia coach Mark
Richt mentioned this week
that Massaquoi and Harris
each should have caught
passes that Joe Tereshinski
threw Saturday. Richt said
Massaquoi should have
caught a ball even though
it was high and that Harris
should have caught a pass “if
he had run his route prop
erly.”
Raley caught his first col
lege touchdown Saturday
on an 18-yard catch in the
first quarter. “Now I’m get
ting the opportunity to show
people what I can really do,”
Raley said.
101 T BRACES FOR QB
CONTROVERSY: Tereshinski
is taking all the Matthew
Stafford chatter in stride.
The fifth-year senior from
Athens completed 7 of 17
passes for 90 yards and a
touchdown in the 48-12 win
over Western Kentucky and
ranks 77th in the nation in
pass efficiency.
“The quarterback con
troversy, I realize that’s
going to be the entire year,”
Tereshinski said. “I’ve kind
of put that in the back of
my head and not really wor
ried about that. I can only
control so much. That’s not
really one of the things I
can control - who fans think
should be in there. I’m going
to go out there and play like
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eye on the runner at second and caught her
away from the base.
Both Warner Robins and Houston County
are set to travel to the Augusta area this
weekend for a tournament hosted by Evans
High.
the SEC yet.
But since He Who Must
Be Obeyed insists, I pick
Tennessee to win the SEC.
My former principal called
that sarcasm, but I prefer
the term verbal irony, and I
use it a lot.
I also must rethink
Warner Robins’ chances in 1-
AAAAA. The Demons hand
ily defeated quint-A power
house Park(something), so I
must avail myself of a higher
power’s ability to prognosti
cate.
He says I’m better off
when he does the thinking.
I must confess that I was
not alone in my belief that
Warner Robins would have
a tough year. Long-time
Demons fans have expressed
doubt. Some of them even
uttered the blasphemy of a
5-5 season.
They’ve paid me hand
somely to keep their names
out of the paper. I can be
bought and evidently, I come
cheap.
For my 15 shekels, I now
like soccer. That’s the most
painful cut of all. By that
I mean, when I signed the
check, I got a paper cut
when I handed it to the bank
teller.
The managing editor likes
process for joining GSGA
online is as follows: Log on
to www.gsga.org and click
the “Join GSGA Now!” but
ton. The first step provides
information and instruc
tions which should answer
any initial questions.
In the second step, appli
cants can view a map of
Georgia showing the loca
tions of participating
Member Clubs, along with
contact information and
web site links to those
clubs.
After selecting a “home”
club, applicants complete the
third and final step - a brief
application and credit card
payment (VISA, Mastercard
or American Express accept
ed).
Dues for 2007 calendar-
I know I can and hopefully
we’ll come out with the vic
tory.”
PALI WATCHING: Georgia
jumped three spots in both
the USA Today coaches’ poll
and The Associated Press
media poll on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs moved from
14th to 11th in the coach
es’ poll and from 15th to
12th in the AP poll. In the
coaches’ poll, Georgia moved
past Miami, California
and Louisville, which beat
Kentucky 59-28 victory but
lost Michael Bush for the
season to a broken leg. In
the AP poll, Oklahoma fell
from 10th to 15 after it lost
to UAB, 24-17.
GETTING IN THE BACKFIELD:
Georgia was credited with
12 tackles for loss against
Western Kentucky. The
Bulldogs are tied with Penn
State for third nationally in
the category and trail only
Arizona State and Ohio
State.
Defensive ends Quentin
Moses (2.5 tackles for loss)
and Charles Johnson (2) led
the way.
“We hope to do it game in
and game out,” Richt said.
“They had some nice blitzes
that penetrated and got some
pressure and we just flat out
got good pass rushes. We had
some guys playing hard and
playing low. We did get a lot
of push into the backfield,
which was great.”
soccer; therefore, I love soc
cer. He can’t explain the
pleasure he derives from
the sport, but his joy is my
despair.
The only positive I see in
the sport is that children
have a reason to run without
the police chasing them.
So, as you can read, any
future thoughts I may have
and wish to express in my
column will be cleared first.
We both agree on certain
things. We both like cheer
leaders. At our ages, they
are like beautiful paintings,
but we’re too old to be art
thieves.
To be honest, it’s nice to
sacrifice my personal beliefs
on the alter of corporate
power. I check in each week;
and I’m told what I think for
those seven days.
He’s ambivalent about the
Falcons, and I’m waiting for
him to decide how he feels
about their chances.
I’ve already voiced my
opinion about Atlanta’s sea
son, and Big Bossman has
not corrected me. But like
the wind after a bean burri
to, his opinion could change.
When it does, I’ll let you
know. But please, if I ever
think Barney Fife is funny,
shoot me.
year memberships (including
the remaining 2006 bonus)
are just $35.
Once the process is com
plete, applicants will receive
a confirmation e-mail with
information detailing when
they can start posting scores
and expect to receive their
USGA Handicap Index.
For more information or
questions regarding GSGA
membership, please con
tact the Member Services
department at 770-955-4272
or 800-949-4742 or e-mail
membership(S)gsga.org.
All-You-Can-Eat
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SPORTS
Braves will play another DH
NEW YORK -- Because
of a July rainout in
Philadelphia, the Braves
were set to play seven
games in six days when
they left Atlanta this past
Thursday.
They certainly weren’t
expecting what’s trans
pired. How could you?
The postponement of
Tuesday’s game against the
Mets at Shea Stadium was
the second rainout of the
week. And it’ll set up the
team’s third doubleheader
since Saturday, a tradition
al twinbill here beginning
at 1:15 p.m.
The Braves are going to
wind up playing six games
in three days - and seven in
four. Atlanta split the four
games Saturday and Sunday
against the Phillies.
“It’s been a very strange
road trip,” said John
Smoltz, Tuesday’s sched
uled starter who will go in
Game 1 today against Mets
left-hander Dave Williams.
Kyle Davies will pitch in
the second game against
New York lefty Oliver
Perez.
For the Braves, it’s about
as winnable of a double
header as you could ask for
considering you’re playing
a team that has 84 wins,
the'most in the National
League.
Still without All-Star
Carlos Beltran (bruised
knee) the Mets will send
out two stopgap starters
who began the year in other
organizations.
Williams, dumped earlier
in the season by Cincinnati,
is 4-3 with a 6.10 ERA.
Perez has been even worse.
Combined with his horren
dous Pittsburgh numbers,
the once highly thought-of
prospect is 2-11 with a 7.29
Jackets to red-shirt injured players
ATLANTA - Georgia
Tech players Cohn Peek and
Travis Chambers will red
shirt this season because of
injury, coach Chan Gailey
said Tuesday.
Peek, a sophomore tight
end, suffered an undis
closed injury last week in
practice. The injury is one
that often lingers, Gailey
said, prompting the deci
sion to red-shirt him.
Chambers, a junior line
backer, has struggled with
a foot injury dating back
to spring practice.
Both Peek and Chambers
sat out Saturday’s season
opening loss to No. 2 Notre
Dame and will retain a year
of eligibility. Under NCAA
rules, student-athletes have
a five-year window to play
four years of football.
Defensive end Michael
Johnson will miss this
Saturday’s game against
Samford because of an
undisclosed injury. Johnson
got hurt midway through
preseason camp and is heal
ing slowly.
Gailey did not give a date
for Johnson’s return.
NOTRE DAME LOSS
BUILDS CONFIDENCE:
Georgia Tech is too veteran
a team and has beaten too
many ranked opponents to
consider its narrow loss to
Notre Dame a moral vic
Clark ‘raises the bar’ at cornerback for GT
By Adam Van Brimmer
Morris News Service
ATLANTA - Georgia
Tech’s Pat Clark brought
modest expectations to his
new cornerback role.
“I just wanted to do what
ever I had to do to get on
the field,” said Clark, who
moved from wide receiver
to defensive back in the
spring.
Playing time won’t be an
issue for Clark this sea
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So, while it’s not ideal,
it could wind up being a
momentum-shifter in the
wild card chase if Atlanta
can take two games from
the Mets in one day.
The Braves (66-71) were
five games behind San
Diego entering Tuesday.
“It doesn’t
last long,”
manager
Bobby Cox
said of a dou
bleheader.
“And some
times, it can
be very, very
good.”
It’s good,
Cox said,
Mk
NOTEBOOK
R. TRAVIS
HANEY
B|ii,,l. 11 null
wiorns WvWjj
Service
for Bob Wickman and
Macay Mcßride, a couple
of Atlanta relievers who
were happy to get the night
off after working overtime
in Philadelphia. Mcßride
struck out the side in the
ninth Monday to finish
the one-hitter against New
York that Chuck James car
ried eight innings.
SMOLTZIE UPDATE:
Smoltz said he was fine
with Tuesday’s game being
moved back a day. The
Shea Stadium playing sur
face had been soaked with
steady rains all day, and
Smoltz (12-7, 3.60) wasn’t
looking forward to taking a
slick mound.
“I wasn’t in the mood to
pitch in the slop,” Smoltz
said.
The 39-year-old veter
an opted to take Game 1
because he said he doesn’t
like sitting around. He said
the first game also provides
an opportunity to set the
afternoon’s tone.
“There’s nothing • better
than a doubleheader if we.
win the first game,” Smoltz
tory.
Yet Saturday’s 14-10
defeat helped the Yellow
Jackets’ confidence.
“We showed we can
play with anybody in the
nation,” line
backer Philip
Wheeler
said.
The Yellow
Jackets
dominated
the Irish for
much of the
first half.
The defense
rattled quar-
NOTEBOOK
By ADAM VAN
BRIMMER
Morris News
Service
terback Brady Quinn, a
Heisman candidate, and the
offense totaled 188 yards.
But the Irish swung the
momentum with a scoring
drive just before the half.
They made several adjust
ments at halftime to coun
ter Georgia Tech’s schemes
and held on for victory.
Cornerback Kenny Scott
said the Jackets put the loss
in perspective quickly.
“We lost to a pretty good
Notre Dame team, ranked
No. 2 in the nation,” he
said. “Hopefully, we come
back the next 11 and we’re
able to run the table.”
NO RECOURSE FOR
CONTROVERSIAL
PENALTY: Any other
Monday, Georgia Tech’s
Gailey would have shipped
son. He “raised the bar”
of expectations, according
to head coach Chan Gailey,
by winning the starting
job in the preseason and
making eight tackles in his
cornerback debut Saturday
against No. 2 Notre Dame.
He struggled at times
against the Irish’s lanky
receivers - Clark is half
a-foot shorter than
Rhema McKnight and Jeff
Samardzija - but gave up
just one big play, a 44-yard
THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
said.
If the Braves do, it’ll be
up to Davies (2-4, 7.20) to
claim the sweep. He’ll need
a far better performance
than Saturday’s outing in
the doubleheader nightcap.
He gave up seven earned
runs on 10 hits in 2 1/3
innings in his first start
back from groin surgery in
May. The 22-year-old was
“too amped up,” pitching
coach Roger McDowell
said.
“He wanted to do too
much to help us and he
wound up overdoing every
thing,” McDowell said.
SEEN IT BEFORE:
When asked if he remem
bered playing so many dou
bleheaders in such a short
span, Cox thought about it
for a second and remem
bered one comparable occa
sion.
He was managing Double-
A West Haven in the 1972
Eastern League. It was
Cox’s second season as a
manager.
“There was some flood
ing up in Elmira (N.Y.), and
we had to play a bunch
of them,” he said. “I don’t
know how many, but there
was a bunch.”
CLIMBING THE
LADDER: With his 2,158 th
victory Monday, Cox leap
frogged Hall of Famer
Bucky Harris for fifth on
the all-time wins list. He’s
now 36 victories behind
longtime Detroit manager
Sparky Anderson for fourth
on the list.
The 65-year-old trails
only Cardinals manager
Tony La Russa (2,287 wins)
on the active list.
Per usual, Cox down
played his climb.
“Do spring training wins
count?” he joked.
video clips of controversial
penalty calls to the Atlantic
Coast Conference’s director
of officials.
But an ACC crew was not
responsibility for flagging
the Yellow Jackets’ Wheeler
for a helmet-to-helmet hit
on Notre Dame’s Quinn in
Saturday’s game.
Big 10 officials were. And
Gailey decided not to waste
his time prepping and ship
ping the tape.
“You know what happens
when they get it? It goes in
the garbage can,” he said.
The penalty nullified the
Jackets’ stop of the Notre
Dame offense on a third
down play and extended
the drive. The Irish scored
the eventual game-win
ning touchdown three plays
later
SAMFORD STARTS
SEASON WITH WIN:
Georgia Tech’s next oppo
nent, Samford, visits Atlanta
at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with
a 1-0 record. The Bulldogs,
who compete at the Division
I-AA level, defeated Miles
College 37-7 last Thursday
in Birmingham, Ala.
Saturday’s meeting is
the second in three years
between Georgia Tech and
Samford.
The Yellow Jackets defeat
ed the Bulldogs 28-7 in the
2004 season opener.
bomb to McKnight.
“It was a big challenge for
him, and I thought that he
stood up to the challenge
very well,” Gailey said.
“But he can get better.”
Clark is already “near the
high end” of where Gailey
and defensive coordinator
Jon Tenuta had hoped he
would be. They moved him
to defense in the spring
despite the promise he
showed catching passes last
season.