Newspaper Page Text
Sports
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1989
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More buzz,
and less fuzz
If you’re waiting for a more confusing
moment than what happened on Satur
day you’d better not wait.
University of Georgia recruiters had
waited for Saturday. A big win would
obviously boost the Bulldogs in the
state’s annual recruiting war.
Earlier this fall Peach Bowl officials
had waited to make their selections.
Then, instead of making a selection all
could live with, they asked Georgia to
join Syracuse.
And then there was Georgia Tech.
There was the team that had waited a
long time for a chance to make a
statement.
You can now bet the Yellow Jacket’s
33-22 win on Saturday said it all.
It says that Tech, now 7-4, deserved a
better fate than staying home in
December.
Furthermore it clouds the once-cer
tain smug feeling that Bulldog backers
had on signing day.
And then last, but certainly not least,
are the suddenly frustrated Peach Bowl
officials. You can tell who they are be
cause Tech’s Saturday victory did some
thing other than what the fellows had
anticipated.
All fall those bowl representatives had
been hawking their games, in much the
same fashion those door-to-door barkers
do. They did the only thing they knew
how pitching the Peach.
Georgia had listened while Tech,
which struggled early, drew only deaf
ears.
Well, last Saturday the Peach got
pitched.
Only problem was it went out the back
door to Bobby Dodd Stadium.
If local bowl boosters were already
concerned about bringing the Bulldogs
to Atlanta, they’re cringing now.
If only they’d waited to make their of
fer.
Fans had talked long into the night. If
the Peach had to invite a local team then
why not wait and take the Tech-Georgia
winner. That way at least half the
game’s fans would be satisfied.
And it wasn’t as if Georgia was going
anywhere else.
I know, I know. There was talk of other
bowls being interested.
And then there was a bid. Some play
ers talked about it being an offer they
couldn’t refuse. That’s the kind of lan
guage you hear around used car lots.
Reportedly there were all sorts of
perks offered to get the Bulldogs. There
was talk of a train trip from Athens to
Atlanta.
I’ve heard of being rail roaded before.
Once the trip is over what’s next. What
other big deals were offered.
I wonder ?wy anybody living in Athens
would want to vacation in Atlanta. What
could be offered to get someone from
Athens to stay in Atlanta. Even ShreJifls,
port or Biringham look better.
The big difference in the game was
Tech needed a win. And Georgia expect
ed it. And on top of the heap was the
Peach Bowl.
And that may have been the bottom
line, the only advantage Tech needed.
The week before Tech had wallowed
all over Dodd Stadium before kicking
Boston College 13-12. That had to make
bowl recruiters feel smug about their
early decision. Now you wonder if the
Yellow Jackets weren’t guilty of looking
past the fellows from New England.
This week the Peach Bowl is looking
down the pike at having a 6-5 team serve
as host. And all the while a 7-4 team is
staying home for the holidays.
This may be one Christmas that Tech,
even without a bowl, will enjoy more
than Georgia.
Peach Bowl officials wanted Georgia
to be the fruits of successful labor. Now
all they’ve got is a mouthful of pits.
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Tech’s Shawn Jones led win
Pickens County slims down South Forsyth
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During a timeout Jerry Smith talks to
team, but the girls ended up losing
to the Lady Dragons from Pickens
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Home stretch
South Forsyth’s Russell David goes high in the air while playing
defense against Lovett last Friday at home. Despite the strong
defensive efforts from David, his War Eagles dropped a 47-34
B-team roundup
Central’s girls roll over Pace
By Mike Webber
Sports Editor
Forsyth Central’s Lady Bulldog (1-0) junior varsity head
lined a list of weekend B-team games as they dealt host Pace
Academy a 35-15 loss on Friday.
In other junior varsity games South F orsyth dropped a pair
of Friday/Saturday games to Lovett and Pickens County.
It was the first game of the season for Ronnie Bennett and
his Forsyth Central girls. They will return to action this Fri
day at Cedar Shoals.
The Lady Bulldogs displayed a strong defense, limiting
Pace Academy to two points in each of the first, third and
fourth quarters. The Lady Knights scored nine in the second.
Forsyth Central’s girls, opening with seven in the first, to
talled 10 in the second, 10 in the third and eight in the fourth.
“It was a big win for us,” said Bennett. “It was a good way
to start the season.”
Forsyth Central didn’t waste any time, jumping to a 7-2 lead
after the first quarter. The Lady Bulldogs were up 17-11 at
indistinct print
Forsvth County News
By Mike Webber
Sports Editor
South Forsyth High School’s boys (0-2) and girl (0-2) came
away from Jasper, Ga. on Saturday night with a doublehead
er loss against Pickens County.
The South Lady War Eagles, coached by Jerry Smith,
dropped a 67-23 decision to the Lady Dragons. Richard Gill’s
South Forsyth boys, which had earlier dropped a season-open
ing 101-45 decision at Loganville, appeared to be much im
proved in a 76-43 loss to Pickens County.
The teams are scheduled to play again on Jan. 5 at South
Forsyth.
South Forsyth did have some good news this weekend. It
has been learned that both varsity teams will participate in a
Christmas basketball tournament on Dec. 22 and 23 at Lump
kin County. The tournament will involve boys and girls teams
from South Forsyth, Lumpkin County, Dawson County and
Jackson County.
Seedings for the tournament will be selected according to
team records in games played prior to Dec. 16. There will be
decision to the visiting Lions. It was a busy weekend for South
as they traveled to Pickens County on Saturday.
halftime and held a 27-13 advantage entering the fourth
period.
Kris Adams and Melanie Gault led Central with eight points
each. Julie Carnes and Jessica Martin scored five and four
respectively while Ali Streetman had three. Liz Eichler
(two), Christy Vaughan (two), Christie Watson (two) and
Amber Smith (one) rounded out the Lady Bulldog’s scoring.
Tony Mitchell’s South Forsyth boys weren’t as fortunate,
opening the season with a pair of losses.
Lovett jumped to a 11-5 lead after the first quarter. The
Lions were up 23-16 at halftime and 34-27 after three periods.
Nathan Fox led South with 11 points. Jason Pindley and
Russell David scored nine and seven points respectively while
Bradley Fowler had six more.
“I was pleased with how hard we played,” said Mitchell. “It
gave us an opportunity to see what we need to work on.”
Oh Saturday South trailed Pickens 19-8 after one quarter
and 35-15 at halftime.
Please see B-TEAM, page 2B
Staff photo - Mike Webber
four games played on both days. Times for those games are at
4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
“We’re excited about the prospects of playing in a tourna
ment like this,” said Gill. “This is our first year as a school
and we’re pleased that somebody thought enough to invite us
to play.”
In last Saturday’s game the South Forsyth boys, trailing 47-
19 at halftime, made a strong second half comeback. The War
Eagles outscored Pickens County 11-7 in the third quarter.
During that time they reduced the 28-point deficit to 16.
“After that rough beginning we seemed to settle down and
play basketball,” said South Forsyth’s Gill. “We worked hard
after that opening loss. While we lost on Saturday it was easy
to see that the players improved. We’re looking forward to
playing them again.”
South’s girls had come close in their a season opener
against Loganville, dropping a 47-45 contest. Saturday night it
Pickens County which took the early advantage, leading 20-3
Please see SOUTH, page 2B
Georgia DNR
helps ducks,
other wildlife
By Bill Vanderford
Special lo the Forsyth County News
A recent study on some declining waterfowl has re
vealed some interesting facts.
A preliminary report by both Canadian and United
States biologists involved in research on the subject, it
was found that reports acidification in the wetland
breeding grounds of declining Black Duck populations
has reduced the diversity and abundance of inverte
brate populations that are necessary to provide the nu
tritional needs of laying hens and growing young. With
out this proper nutrition, females lay fewer eggs and
brood losses increase.
Though often overlooked in Georgia’s fast-paced life
style, wildlife is important to the quality of life enjoyed
in the Peach State. However, 27 animals and 66 plants
are currently listed as threatened or endangered.
Concern for vanishing wildlife and most Georgians'
desire to both protect and enjoy outdoor resources re
sulted in the creation of the Nongame Wildlife Fund in
1985. In fact, Governor Joe Frank Harris proposed leg
islation creating the Nongame Wildlife Conservation
and Habitat Acquisition Fund, and the legislation was
passed by the General Assembly.
/ Georgia’s Nongame Wildlife Program is adminis
tered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
and has the goal of preserving, protecting and effective
ly managing nongame (non hunted) wildlife and their
habitat.
The need for the Nongame Program is critical As
human population grows and lands are developed for
housing and agriculture, wildlife habitat is lost, which
caused many populations of wildlife to disappear. Ex
perts have predicted that by the year 2000, over two
million acres of prime habitat for wildlife will be con
verted to agriculture use or swallowed up by urban
development. Therefore, the DNR, through the non
game program, has implemented a nongame wildlife
conservation plan for Georgia. This plan should insure
that those natural resources remain here for future
generations to share and enjoy.
Since its introduction by the DNR in 1987, the non
game program has accomplished many of the preset
goals.
•Raptor Restoration Project. The DNR has reared
and released 58 bald eagles, 13 osprey, 60 golden eagles,
and 10 peregrine falcons, the latter a cooperative pro-
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reffiy seven Dam owls' are in hack boxes ana wiu De
released when they are able to fend for themselves.
•Bring the Bluebirds Back. This nongame project has
been a tremendous success. Over 12,000 bluebird boxes
have been sold throughout the state. Wildlife biologists
estimate that over 350,000 baby bluebirds were hatched
this spring from the boxes. Currently, the DNR is plac
ing bluebird nest boxes at rest areas along interstate
highways.
•Project WILD. Many school systems have adopted
this project as part of their curriculum. New textbooks
have been purchased for the project and workshops are
being held to train teachers how to incorporate environ
mental education in their classroom.
•Nongame Facilities at State Parks. Many nongame
trails and observation platforms have been built at
state parks and wildlife management areas (WMA).
Some of these include a Gopher Tortoise Trail at Semi
nole State Park, a canoe trail a Grand Bay WMA, an
outcrop nature trail at Panola Mountain, and an over
look at Watson Mill Bridge.
•Coastal Resources Nongame Projects. The DNR is
concerned about nongame wildlife and endangered spe
cies living along the coast. To help manage these re
sources, several projects have been implemented:
Georgia Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network,
ongoing right whale and manatee surveys, and a Log
gerhead Sea Turtle Nest Protection project on Geor
gia’s barrier islands.
•Education Material. Educational material concern
ing all aspects of nongame wildlife and the nongame
program are being produced. These include pamphlets
about eagles in Georgia, purple martins, manatees,
hummingbirds, bluebirds, wood storks, and other non
game wildlife.
•Give Wildlife A Chance. A 22-minute documentary
has been released. The video discusses the diverse ani
mal and plant life in Georgia and the importance of
supporting nongame wildlife. “Give Wildlife A Chance”
will air on Georgia Public Television and commercial
television stations throughout the state and is available
to the public on a free-loan basis. Interested individuals
should contact the DNR.
The Georgia Nongame Wildlife Program, unlike oth
er state programs, depends entirely on the contribu
tions of private individuals and industries. Since 1987,
over $750,000 has been raised to support the program.
For more information about the Nongame Wildlife
Program, contact the Department of Natural Re
sources, 205 Butler St., S.E., Suite 1258, Atlanta, Geor
gia 30034 or call (404) 6564)772.
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