Georgia Sports Edition
The Great Casper
By: Rich Syles
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Now, I have had a privilege to interview some of the greats in professional
Golf; Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Fred Couples, Tom Kite, Davis Love III, Billy Casper and a few more.
I have interviewed some of the great architects of some of the outstanding courses in the world. I would like to share with you one of my favorite interviews and why.
I had the opportunity to sit with PGA Tour legend, Billy Casper, one on one, for an hour and half at a friend’s house in Raleigh, NC.
Casper was funny, down to earth and humble. He was a man with a strong faith and did not have the notoriety that the others did.
Yet, Billy Casper’s winning percentage was third behind Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. He was ahead of everyone else; Palmer, Player, Trevino, etc. The statistic was figured upon number of PGA tournaments entered and number of wins.
That is a fact not many people realize about Billy Casper. He did not have a big public relations team behind him. He had his talent and his faith. Casper was a gentleman’s gentleman who loved people, his family, which included many adopted children.
I asked him specifically who was his biggest rival…..he said, “whoever I was playing at the time.” I asked him about his U.S. Open win at the Olympic Club. On the tenth
tee, he was 7 shots behind Arnold Palmer with nine holes to play. He told me about every hole, not only what he hit, but how he hit it and what Arnold got on those holes.
At the end, he tied Palmer and won in a playoff.
This was one of my favorite interviews and people. RIP Billy. To steal a line from Bob Hope…..thanks for the memories.
College Football Top 10 Week 2
NFC South
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NFL season has officially kicked off and there were some great games.
All 32 teams (even Cleveland) believe they have a chance for a winning season at this point. Well maybe not Buffalo but you get my drift. We’re going to take a look around the NFC South to see what we learned.
New Orleans and Tampa Bay played a great, high scoring game. The Buccaneers won 48-40 on the road. The first thing that jumps out is the lack of defense from both teams.
Jameis Winston is currently serving a three-game suspension, so journeyman QB Ryan Fitzpatrick played. Surprisingly, Fitzpatrick threw for 417 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions and completed 75% of his passes.
He played amazing but he has been inconsistent his entire career. I believe if he wins another game, he will take the starting job from Winston.
The Saints have been known for elite offense since Sean Payton and Drew Brees came to town in 2006 and they did not disappoint.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas had a monster game with 16 catches, 180 yards and a TD. He also had a costly fumble that Tampa Bay recovered.
Alvin Kamara showed that he would not have a sophomore slump. He scored 3 total touchdowns, a 2-point conversion and had over one hundred yards receiving.
Carolina beat Dallas 16-8. The Panthers defense looked good, holding Ezekiel Elliot to 69 yards rushing. Cam Newton lived up to his Super Man nickname, leading the team in rushing yards. He scored a TD on the ground and he looked better as a passer by completing 65% of his attempts.
We have to take into consideration this was against the Cowboys and their offense is not very good. Dallas has been elite at running the ball but they do not have any playmakers other than Elliott.
I think Carolina’s defense is good but we need to see them against better offenses.
Linebacker Luke Kuechly left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury so that is something to monitor.
Atlanta opened on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles won 18-12 and it was a sloppy game that was delayed to due lightning.
If you recall in last season’s playoff game it came down to the final play and the Falcons could not score the winning touchdown.
The Red Zone woes continued for the Falcons and that is troubling. They had five trips to the Red Zone and scored once.
On the final play of the game Atlanta was inside the Eagles 10-yard line and of course, they have to throw to Julio Jones. Unfortunately, Ryan did not throw him a catchable ball, just like the playoff loss.
I’ve always been a big Matty Ice fan but his expectations were raised when he signed his new $150 million contract. He’s under much more scrutiny and I feel this is a Super Bowl or bust year for the Falcons.
We have 15 more games left so I do not want to overreact after week 1.
The NFC South looks like it will be the most competitive division in the league again. I believe if one of the teams can get home field advantage in the playoffs they will get to the Super Bowl.
I’m A Believer
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It took to the end of last season before I could finally allow myself to believe the Georgia Bulldogs were a national champion caliber team.
I mean it was literally halftime of the championship game when I thought “Damn, they may actually pull this off.”
I know we’re only a few weeks into the season but I don’t plan on making the same mistake again.
Normally, I would be doubling down on how we need to wait and see what happens over the next few weeks before anointing the Bulldogs as national title contenders; make sure that last year wasn’t some sort of aberration.
I’d mention all the accolades they’re currently receiving are just people being prisoners of the moment and the rest of this column would be spent bringing up all their areas of weakness.
However, this year, I just don’t feel that this way.
For one, despite the reputation, they play in an extremely weak division. I don’t mean it as a backhanded compliment, it’s just the truth.
The difference between Georgia and the rest of the division is like the difference between Guns N’ Roses and a GN’R cover band. The cover band may look the part but they’re not the real thing.
To be honest, the school I went to- Appalachian State- would have just as good a shot to finish 2nd in the SEC East and I truly don’t believe that’s hyperbole.
Even if their schedule was more difficult, I still think I’d feel the same way about Georgia’s potential for this season.
Kirby Smart, in a much shorter time period than I thought possible, has turned Georgia into an extremely solid team, from top to bottom.
Their defense is one of the best the country and the ground game isn’t that far behind. Jake Fromm, one of the main reasons I was hesitant to buy in last year, may never be a Heisman winning quarterback but it doesn’t look like he will suffer from any type of “Sophomore Slump”. (I get the coaching staff wants to get Justin Fields on the field, and I completely understand why. But, unless something drastic happens, this is Fromm’s team and it should be.)
I’m not putting them in the same category as Alabama but I feel like if everything is equal Georgia should be the best team on the field in every game they play, leading up to the SEC Championship game.
It’s not something I’ve ever said about the Bulldogs before and I feel a little uncomfortable saying it now. It basically goes against everything I’ve ever felt about the Georgia program.
Obviously, there are unforeseen circumstances that could happen, mainly injuries, that would change the trajectory of the season.
If you happen to be a superstitious person and blame my sudden confidence in Georgia’s ability last year as the reason for their second half swoon against Alabama, I can understand; it is a bit coincidental.
All I can say is if that is the case, at least I’m expressing that confidence in them early in the season. That way, if I am a jinx, it’s better to happen during the regular season and not when you’re 30 minutes away from a championship, right?
Of course, the kicker is this year I don’t mean to be a jinx. I truly believe Georgia is one of the four best teams in college football and anything less than a playoff appearance should be considered a disappointment. No pressure.
Eagles Talon UMass
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia Southern did much more than avenge a blowout loss from last season on Saturday night at Paulson Stadium.
The Eagles dealt out a beating of their own.
Georgia Southern racked up 488 yards of offense and scored 24 of the game’s final 27 points as it avenged a 2017 loss to Massachusetts with a 34-13 victory to move to 2-0 on the season.
“We preached it throughout the week,” Georgia Southern coach Chad Lunsford said. “We’re a blue-collar team. We’re not sexy. We need to play a lot of guys and have them fill a lot of roles to win games, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter after a Mike Caggiano 32-yard field goal put the Minutemen up in the first period, Eagle quarterback Shai Werts hit Cam Brown for a 5-yard touchdown strike that put Georgia Southern up. The touchdown and catch were career firsts for Brown.
The Eagles kept the momentum rolling as Tyler Bass connected on a 41-yard field goal. UMass answered with a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Jordan Fredericks.
Primarily a rushing team, Werts got the Paulson Stadium crowd jumping with consecutive completions to Wesley Kennedy III for 25 and 28 yards, respectively. Werts skipped into the end zone from 3 yards out with 35 seconds to spare in the half, giving Georgia Southern a 17-10 lead that it never relinquished.
“It was a lot of fun out there,” Werts said. “(Fields) and all of our running backs were doing their thing all night. Once (UMass) had to respect the run, it really opened up what we could do passing.”
Tyler Bass kicked a career-long 50-yard field goal to begin the second half for the Eagles. The Minutemen answered as Caggiano split the uprights from 41 yards out, but the Eagles took full control after that, racing down the field on a five-play, 70-yard drive capped by a 17-yard play-action toss from Werts to Colby Ransom.
With just over two minutes to play, UMass had all but waived the white flag but the Eagles dealt a knockout blow. Georgia Southern ate up over five minutes of clock and Monteo Garrett plowed in from five yards out to make it a laugher.
“One of the things about being a blue-collar team is that you have to know how to finish games,” Lunsford said. “We missed a few chances to do that earlier in the game, but at the end we were able to step up and finish it.”
Werts followed up a 163-yard rushing performance in the opener with 154 passing yards and two touchdowns on a 6-of-9 performance Saturday.
He also chipped in 83 yards on the ground while Garrett ran for 90 to combine with Fields for the bulk of the Eagles’ effectiveness on the ground.
Massachusetts starting quarterback Andrew Ford completed 22 of his 33 attempts but a swarming Eagle secondary limited Ford to just 190 yards through the air.
The window finally shut for good on Ford’s final pass of the night as Eagle linebacker Benz Josue perfectly read a receiver settling into a hole in the GS zone and recorded his first career interception.
Georgia Southern is riding high and quickly putting the ghosts of 2017 behind it but the Eagles will face their toughest test of the year next week as they hit the road to take on No. 2 Clemson.
College Football Fallout Week 2
By: Jason Bishop
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Week two of the college football season is now in the books and some great outcomes and storylines arose from the “Saturday that was”.
I wonder what it will take for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to consider moving in a different direction, away from Paul Johnson.
A loss to non-Power 5 South Florida has Tech fans groaning again about Johnson and that Triple Option. However, the problem isn’t the triple option or even Paul Johnson’s coaching, the problem is recruiting.
Georgia Tech was considerably outmanned against South Florida, which had athletes all over the field and that ultimately reflected on the scoreboard.
Also, currently, South Florida and UCF are the best 2 non-Power 5 teams in the country. Thus, there should not be a lot of outrage amongst the Yellow Jacket faithful about losing to the Bulls. They are currently better.
Speaking of better, I think it is pretty safe to say the Georgia Bulldogs are better than the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Dawgs went to half up by 10 and then Kirby Smart “let the Dawgs off the chain” in the second half and South Carolina had no answers.
In my opinion, Georgia and Alabama are the two best teams in the country, again.
A team that is not among the best 2 in the country is Florida. The Gators had beaten Kentucky 31 straight time and had not lost to the Wildcats since 1986.
That streak is over. Kentucky took advantage of a bad Florida offense and came away with a 27-16 win in Gainesville. Yes, in the swamp.
Long gone are the days where no one won in the Swamp except for Florida.
One thing that truly amazes me is how the University of Florida cannot find a decent QB when they are the flagship school for one of the four most talent rich states in the country.
Especially, when you thing about the great QB’s that have played there in the last 30 years. One thing is for sure, Feleipe Franks has a lot to work on.
One last thing, for people who are not paying attention, LSU is better than you think.
Next week the Bayou Bengals will have a chance to prove this to the country as they will take on the Tigers from the plains in Auburn.
The winner will have the inside shot of dethroning Alabama in the SEC West.
Jousting Match
By: Rich Bontrager
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For the second straight week the Frederica Knights would score more than 60 points and control all sides of the ball as they defeated Bethlehem Christian 60-21.
Seven different Frederica players would score, including 3 more touchdowns for senior running back Isaiah Jackson. All three of his TD’s would be in the first quarter of play and help make it 27-0 at the end of that quarter. By half-time the GISA offensive player of the past week would have over 150 yards rushing.
Other teammates that contributed to the lopsided win included Jashawn Sheffield (two TD’s), QB Denver Anthony, (two TD’s), Harry Veal, JT Elliot, and freshman QB Thomas Veal late in the fourth quarter.
At half-time the Frederica Knights lead 41-7 and limited the Knights of Bethlehem Christian with less than 50 yards of offense and one score off of a 55-yard bomb.
The defense set the tone of the game when Josh Meadows (So.) intercepted Jacob Adams’ pass down field and help set up Frederica to get the second score of the game with 5:35 left in the first quarter.
With such a lopsided victory for Frederica, you must give credit to the coaching staff and head coach Brandon Derek.
Despite having several key players still out due to injury, the coaching staff has figured out how to assemble a winning team. The play calling in this game was made up of a never-ending rotation of players and plays.
This coaching scheme kept the Knights of Bethlehem guessing who might actually get the ball. Every series in the first half was a totally different package of players on offense.
Frederica takes their 2-2 record and will make their longest road trip of the season next week as the travel to face Augusta Prep.
Preseason predictors have said Frederica could win by 30 points or more. Will the Knights advance to 3-2 and break 60 points for the third straight week before getting a much-needed break?
To Coach Brandon Derek, that would be the ideal situation for his team that has battled extremely hard and suffered tough injuries the first two games.
Not So Fast
By: Josh Aubrey
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Statesboro Blue Devils have made great strides over the past two weeks, starting the season 2-0.
Friday night the Warhawks showed the Blue Devils they still have a ways to go, holding Statesboro to only 34 yards rushing and shutting them out 21-0.
“Everybody in our community – which we love and appreciate their support – was telling our kids and each other that Statesboro is back,” Statesboro coach Jeff Kaiser said. “Statesboro is not back, this is a journey and a process of getting to where we want to be. We are a lot further along than we have been in a while, but we aren’t where we want to be.”
The Warhawks defense stacked the line and shut Statesboro’s rushing attack down. Davardrion Lipsey managed only 30 yards on 14 carries, while Jaylen Roberson was held to just one yard on 14 carries.
“They are by far the most physical defensive line we have seen,” Kaiser said. “What really disappoints me is that instead of biting down on the bit and getting after it physically up front, we did not execute and were not physical.”
With the rushing game ineffective the Blue Devils were forced to do something they had only done once in the first two games, throw the ball. Quarterback Drake Horton completed 5 of 17 passes for 70 yards and had 3 interceptions.
“They forced us into doing what we don’t do and that’s throwing the ball,” Kaiser said. “We had a few good spots there but we threw too many interceptions and we have to do a better job keeping the ball.”
Statesboro managed two first downs on their opening drive but were forced to punt. The Warhawks then marched downfield on an 11 play 75-yard drive that culminated in a 12-yard Sebastian Verger touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
The Blue Devil defense held strong through the rest of the half. Veterans tried a fake punt that the Blue Devils stopped and Statesboro also recorded a fumble recovery at midfield by Flip Dixon.
The Blue Devil offense was unable to take advantage of field position on a couple occasions in the first half, having one drive end on an interception and another on an unsuccessful fourth down attempt.
In the third quarter the Warhawks busted free for a big play, as Verger kept it on an option right and streaked down the sidelines for a 47-yard touchdown and a 14-0 Veterans lead.
Horton was picked off twice in the third quarter, the first interception was returned 33 yards inside the Statesboro 20-yard line.
That would set up the final score of the night as Cyrus Zuell busted up the middle for an 8-yard touchdown, and a 21-0 lead.
“We need to get things ironed out, and get our heads straight and understand what we need to do to get better,’ Kaiser said. “I have one hundred percent faith that our kids will come in Sunday afternoon and watch film, and come Monday ready to get better.”
The win improves Veterans record to 4-0 on the season, while the Blue Devils drop to 2-1. Up next Statesboro travels to Effingham County Friday for a 7:30 start.
NFL Nostradamus
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s that time of year again where men retreat to their man caves and marriages get put on hold for football season.
College football kicked off in force this past weekend and now the NFL kicks this week.
My fantasy team is set with Aaron Rogers as my QB and Julio Jones is my top WR. I should be in contention for my 4th Brunswick Fat Boys League Championship. Did I mention that I have won my fantasy league three times in its’ 12-year existence?
The Atlanta Falcons are poised to have the best offense in the NFL. Can Matt Ryan get back to MVP form? Is Julio about to become the NFL’s first $200 million man? If the Falcons play enough defense they may capture the AFC South.
My NFL Predictions.
AFC East:
New England: This division is garbage and Brady even at 41 years of age will lead the Patriots to another AFC East title
Miami: QB is an issue in Miami. Decent defense, but can they score points?
NY Jets: Rookie Sam Darnold will be the youngest QB in the NFL.
Buffalo: From playoffs to the cellar in 12 months.
AFC North:
Pittsburgh: Big Ben’s last chance?
Baltimore: QB controversy may be brewing in Baltimore.
Cincinnati: I hope AJ Green gets traded to a winner before his skills start to deteriorate
Cleveland: Hue Jackson needs to go. Baker Mayfield will find out quickly that the Big 12 was like playing recreation ball in Glynn County.
AFC South:
Jacksonville: This team is a Super Bowl contender. Can you know who not mess it up?
Houston: How do Watson and Watt bounce back from injuries?
Tennessee: Could Colin Kaepernick help the Titans at QB?
Indianapolis: All this team has is Andrew Luck and he is coming off a shoulder injury.
AFC West:
San Diego Chargers: I’m not calling them Los Angeles. Philip Rivers and a very good defense.
KC: Andy Reid teams are always in contention.
Denver: Will get Broncos get good enough QB play to make playoffs?
Oakland: You pay a coach $100 million who won a SB with Tony Dungy’s players and you can’t find money to pay Khalil Mack? Really Oakland?
Playoffs: Jaguars, Steelers, Patriots, Chargers, Ravens, Chiefs
AFC Champ: Jaguars
NFC East:
Philadelphia: The champs need Carson Wentz back healthy because Nick Foles is like fool’s gold.
Dallas: if Zeke stays healthy the Cowboys will push the Eagles.
NY Giants: This team is in rebuild mode
Washington: I don’t think the Redskins are very good.
NFC North:
Minnesota: Vikings have a better defense than Green Bay.
Green Bay: Aaron Rogers is the best QB in football.
Detroit: Where is the pass rush? Will contend for a wild card.
Chicago: The pieces are being put into place for 2019 and beyond.
NFC South:
New Orleans: The Saints have the most overall talent in the NFC and they have Drew Brees.
Atlanta: Falcons will make playoffs as a wild card.
Carolina: Can they protect Cam in 2018?
Tampa Bay: Could start 0-3 without Jameis, and not get much better when he returns.
NFC West:
Los Angeles: The Rams are a Super Bowl contender
Seattle: Big drop from Rams to Seahawks.
San Francisco: I’m not drinking the 49er Kool-Aid.
Arizona: Long season in the desert.
Playoffs: Eagles, Vikings, Saints, Rams, Packers, Falcons.
NFC Champ: Saints
Super Bowl: New Orleans vs. Jacksonville
Super Bowl Champ: Jacksonville Jaguars
Positive Launch For Eagles
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia Southern took a step in the right direction Saturday night, defeating South Carolina State 37-6 in the 2018 season opener.
The Eagles (1-0) weren’t quite the explosive offensive force of years past but they were drastically improved from last fall’s 2-10 campaign as they racked up a 348-151 advantage in yardage gained and controlled the momentum throughout all four quarters.
It wasn’t quite a blowout but that’s not what the Eagles needed most. “Getting the ‘W’ is what’s important for us,” GS coach Chad Lunsford said. “Our fans want a blowout and we want to give it to them, but the important part is getting the win.”
Throughout fall camp and preseason scrimmages, it was the defense that stole many of the headlines. The Eagles are in a new 3-4 alignment this season but a depth chart that is stacked with veteran experience seems to have shifted seamlessly into its new role.
The Eagles allowed just 2.9 yards per carry to the Bulldogs (0-1) and a trio of S.C. State quarterbacks combined to go just 2-for-10 through the air, including allowing the first career interception for Georgia Southern linebacker Tomarcio Reese.
Offensively, Eagle quarterback Shai Werts looked as if his sophomore season might be primed for a breakout showing.
Heading up the Georgia Southern attack for a second season, Werts began 2018 with a career high 163 rushing yards. He also rushed for multiple touchdowns for the first time in his career.
In fact, he found the end zone three times, extending an early lead in the final moments of the first quarter before capping off the Eagles’ big night with a pair of fourth quarter scoring runs.
Monteo Garrett put the first points of the season on the board for the Eagles as he powered in from a yard out in the first quarter. Those six points were all for Georgia Southern initially as kicker Tyler Bass couldn’t connect on a two-point pass attempt.
Bass performed perfectly in his intended role in the second quarter, splitting the uprights on a 19-yard field goal to send Georgia Southern into halftime up 19-0.
Wesley Kennedy III set up Georgia Southern with good field position on the opening kickoff of the second half. Werts directed an eight-play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by a 1-yard Wesley Fields touchdown run to make it 26-0.
The Eagles were wary of taking to the air, yet they were efficient when they chose to throw.
Werts connected on five of his seven pass attempts for 29 yards. Werts led the Eagles’ rushing efforts, with Matt LaRoche (39 yards), Wesley Fields (36), Monteo Garrett (30), Logan Wright (23) and Kennedy (22) all added at least 20 yards of rushing.
Georgia Southern will try to keep up the momentum through the week before hosting Massachusetts next week and trying to avenge a 55-20 loss from last season.
