Archive for July, 2012

Quotes from Georgia State’s media day:
Jordan Giles, wide receiver:
On not being able to establish any rivalries in the CAA since it will only be in the league one season: “We’ve noticed that, but we can only play the games that are on our schedule. Every game that we step on the field we look to win, and I think our record will show that we’re ready to play. Rivalries will come when they come, but right now we’re just going to go out there every Saturday and play our hardest.”

On being picked to finish last in the conference: “Actually, I didn’t know that until you told me, but we don’t really worry about what outsiders say. Our record last year wasn’t up to our standard, but we’re looking to prove them wrong. We’ll use that as motivation.”

On whether that prediction was based on other CAA members not liking the Panthers “one-year” layover: “It hurts to say it, but we went 3-8 [in 2011]. We have to own up to that. I’m sure that we’re going to prove to those that picked us …

Continue reading Quotes from GSU’s media day »

Georgia State’s football team entered the 2011 season with many questions that never got answered.

After a 3-8 record punctuated by another offseason of disciplinary problems, those questions haven’t gone away as the Panthers begin practice on Wednesday. They have less than four weeks before they open the season hosting S.C. State on Aug. 30 at the Georgia Dome. They will then dive into their first and last Colonial Athletic Association in a schedule that should be much more difficult than last year’s. The Panthers are joining the Sun Belt next year.

Will the offensive line come together?

Another group hurt by injuries, the line must now replace four starters who graduated. The injuries did allow the line to build depth, but it will need to improve chemistry. Grant King, who has started 22 consecutive games, Michael Davis, who missed the last eight games because of a broken ankle, and Ulrick John will anchor the unit. There are a few true freshmen who could push for …

Continue reading GSU’s 5 things to watch in football, part 4 »

Georgia State’s football team entered the 2011 season with many questions that never got answered.

After a 3-8 record punctuated by another offseason of disciplinary problems, those questions haven’t gone away as the Panthers begin practice on Wednesday. They have less than four weeks before they open the season hosting S.C. State on Aug. 30 at the Georgia Dome. They will then dive into their first and last Colonial Athletic Association in a schedule that should be much more difficult than last year’s. The Panthers are joining the Sun Belt next year.

Here’s the next part in the five-part look at August’s practices:

Can the defense improve?

Last year’s unit gave up 31.2 points and 403.3 yards per game. It had trouble stopping the run — 180.5 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns – and trouble finishing games – 123 points allowed in the fourth quarter, the worst of any quarter. Defensive coordinator John Thompson, who tried many schemes, resigned to accept the same …

Continue reading GSU’s 5 things to watch in football, part 3 »

Georgia State’s individual sports will compete in the Sun Belt Conference this fall, while its team sports will play in the Colonial Athletic Association during the upcoming athletic season. The decision seemingly finalizes Georgia State’s athletics future until all of its teams move to the Sun Belt in 2013-14.

“It’s a good resolution in a transitional year,” athletic director Cheryl Levick said.

The individual sports that can play in the Sun Belt tournaments are: men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis.

Levick said she didn’t ask for the Sun Belt to consider the team sports because of scheduling issues.

The Panthers announced in April they were leaving the CAA for the Sun Belt, effective July 1, 2013. Citing its bylaws, the CAA ruled in June that Georgia State would not be allowed to compete for conference …

Continue reading GSU team sports will be in CAA, individual sports will be in Sun Belt this fall »

Georgia State’s football team entered the 2011 season with many questions that never got answered.

After a 3-8 record punctuated by another offseason of disciplinary problems, those questions haven’t gone away as the Panthers begin practice on Wednesday. They have less than four weeks before they open the season hosting S.C. State on Aug. 30 at the Georgia Dome. They will then dive into their first and last Colonial Athletic Association in a schedule that should be much more difficult than last year’s. The Panthers are joining the Sun Belt next year.

Here’s the next part in the five-part look at August’s practices (parts, 3, 4 and 5 will come out Monday-Wed.):

Will there be any improvement in special teams?

The Panthers were worse than their opponents in kick returns, punt returns, punt coverage and field goals last year. They committed penalties in all areas that affected field position. Coach Bill Curry said the team has been working to make the players understand …

Continue reading GSU’s 5 things to watch in football, part 2 »

Georgia State’s football team entered the 2011 season with many questions that never got answered.

After a 3-8 record punctuated by another offseason of disciplinary problems, those questions haven’t gone away as the Panthers begin practice on Wednesday. They have less than four weeks before they open the season hosting S.C. State on Aug. 30 at the Georgia Dome. They will then dive into their first and last Colonial Athletic Association in a schedule that should be much more difficult than last year’s. The Panthers are joining the Sun Belt next year.

Here’s the first part in the five-part look at August’s practices:

Will focus be an issue considering this is the last year of the CAA, and coach Bill Curry hasn’t announced if he will lead the team into the Sun Belt next year?

Curry said focus shouldn’t be an issue for several reasons:

First, every season has been unusual so this one shouldn’t be any different. The program played its first season three years ago. The …

Continue reading GSU’s 5 things to watch in football, part 1 »

File this one in the “irrelevant predictions” file: Georgia State was picked to finish last in football in the Colonial Athletic Association today.

GSU is leaving the CAA to join the Sun Belt Conference next year. That move resulted in:

• The Panthers not being eligible to play for the conference title, according to CAA bylaws;
• The Panthers not being eligible to for the FCS playoffs, according to NCAA bylaws;

Georgia State also didn’t have any players selected to the preseason all-conference team, which it was eligible for.

Personally, I’m surprised wide receiver Albert Wilson (37 catches, 772 yards) didn’t make the preseason team.

If you’re curious, Towson was picked to win the league and Tigers running back Terrance West was picked as the preseason player of the year. I’m not sure where GSU would have been picked had this been a normal year. The Panthers went 3-8 last year and during the offseason lost their defensive coordinator, dismissed a few more starters on defense, …

Continue reading Georgia State predicted to finish last in CAA football, and other notes »

Here is the latest in the question-and-answer sessions with Georgia State football players.

Today: wide receiver Jordan Giles, who caught 16 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore last season.

Don’t forget that football practice starts Aug. 1 an d I’d like to hear your thoughts about the team.

Q: How has the team looked in 7 on 7 drills?

A: The team has been looking great. Everyone from the quarterbacks, to the running backs, to the DBs to the receivers are running well. The competition is great.

Q: The question everyone wants to know: how has projected starting quarterback Ben McLane looked?

A: Ben is doing great, along with every other quarterback that came into this offseason. All are competing well, which is why it’s going to be a great competition.

Q: Quarterbacks and wide receivers usually develop a relationship. Have you and Ben developed a relationship yet?

A: Me and Ben, he’s been here since last year. We’ve had a lot of time. We’ve …

Continue reading Q&A with GSU wide receiver Jordan Giles »

Georgia State will begin the fall football campaign in less than two weeks, hoping to improve upon last year’s 3-8 record as it writes the final chapter that is its short Colonial Athletic Association history.

I’m working on a story that will run the day practice starts about 5 things to watch during the next few weeks before the season-opening game against S.C. State.

Here are the 5 things I think are the most important, but hoped you would be kind enough to list your top five.

1. Will there be stability at quarterback?

2. Will the offensive line, which will feature several new starters, come together?

3. How quickly can the defense learn new coordinator Anthony Midget’s  4-2-5 scheme?

4. Will there be any improvement in special teams, which were disappointing in almost every area last season?

5. How effective will coach Bill Curry be in keeping the team focused, considering the schedule will be much tougher, he hasn’t announced his plan, and the move to the Sun Belt …

Continue reading GSU football practice begins in less than two weeks »

Joerg Barthel was named Georgia State’s men’s tennis coach on Thursday.

Barthel was formerly the associate head coach at Nebraska, which made the NCAA tournament in 2010 and ‘11 and the ITA’s team indoor championship the same years.

Barthel is a Nebraska graduate (international studies). He is a native of Friedrichsdorf, Germany.

“Joerg is a charismatic young coach with an outstanding ability to recruit,” athletic director Cheryl Levick said in a release to the media. “He is well-connected and highly-respected in the tennis community, both in the U.S. and abroad. He will build upon the strong tennis foundation we have at Georgia State and develop a championship-caliber program.”

Barthel takes over for Chase  Hodges, who resigned to accept a similar position at Georgia Gwinnett College.

–

Former GSU golfer Steven Tiley birdied the 18th hole to shoot a 2-over 72 in the first round of the British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club on Thursday.

-

Q&A with GSU …

Continue reading Georgia State hires men’s tennis coach »