Archive for September, 2012

Three storylines for tonight’s game between Georgia State and UTSA

1. Can Georgia State’s offense finish a drive? The offense has one touchdown this season, and that came on its last drive against Tennessee on Saturday, a drive that was helped by the pass-interference calls against the Volunteers. However, the Panthers had chances, notably a first-and-goal on its first drive and reaching the 14 in the second quarter. Both resulted in field goals. The team has a running back capable of driving through the line in Donald Russell. It remains to be seen if they can get close enough to use him.

2. Can the defense post a sack? In eight quarters, the team hasn’t posted a sack. It’s a slightly misleading stat because the Panthers were trying to keep South Carolina State quarterback Richard Cue in the pocket in the opener, and simply couldn’t get around Tennessee’s mammoth offensive line in the second. The sooner they can start applying pressure, the less difficult it should be for the …

Continue reading Gameday: GSU vs. UTSA »

Of Georgia State’s eight losses last season, perhaps none was more demoralizing than the 17-14 defeat in overtime at Texas-San Antonio.

“It was devastating,” coach Bill Curry said.

The hangover from that “unnecessary loss,” as Curry described it, carried over in losses in the next games to St. Francis, an NAIA school, and West Alabama, a Division II school.

The Panthers will get a chance to make amends and show their new mental fortitude when they host the Roadrunners at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Georgia Dome.

“It’s not so much that we owe UTSA, we owe ourselves to play our best and be impressive and make the right calls in a game like this,” Curry said.

The Panthers seemed to start the season still mourning that loss. They were beaten handily by South Carolina State in the opener and were hammered 51-13 by Tennessee. But don’t expect a demoralized effort Saturday similar to last year’s. The difference in how the Panthers are reacting illustrates how the team has matured.

The …

Continue reading Georgia State learning lessons it hopes to apply to UTSA »

Defensive tackle David Huey will miss the remainder of Georgia State’s season after injuring his hand in the season-opening game against South Carolina State. Huey, a redshirt freshman, played last week against Tennessee.

Wide receiver Jordan Giles (shoulder) will miss today’s game against Texas-San Antonio after injuring his shoulder last week against the Vols. He has two receptions for 34 yards this season.

The loss of Huey and the NCAA’s decision that Nermin Delic can’t play this year leaves the Panthers thin at defensive tackle. Look for freshman Joe Lockley to move into the starting role.

Other headlines for you

Georgia State learning lessons it hopes to apply to UTSA

Gameday: GSU vs. UTSA

– Doug Roberson, AJC. Please follow me on twitter @ajcgsu

Continue reading Giles, Huey out for Georgia State against UTSA »

If Georgia State’s men’s basketball team were to have the best season in school history on and off the court, which would include a national championship, coach Ron Hunter could receive more than $1.6 million in compensation in 2013-14. The total would change in subsequent years.

That total is the sum of salary, allowances and bonuses noted in the new contract signed last week. A copy of the contract, which expires April 30, 2018, was obtained by the AJC through an Open Records Request.

Here is a breakdown of that total, with other details from the contract:

$400,000 base salary (the salary increases from $350,ooo to $400,000 on May 1, 2013. After April 30, 2014, a new base salary shall be negotiated for the remaining four years.

$6,000 automobile allowance

$4,000 apparel allowance

$2,000 club membership in Commerce Club

$50,000 Appearance agreement for radio/TV/internet shows

$462,000 in annual salary, allowance …

Continue reading Hunter’s new contract rich with incentives … including a national championship bonus »

The video was shot on Monday.

Dave Cohen, the voice of the Panthers, was going to be the face until Curry stepped in.

Curry, who will turn 70 years old later this year, wasn’t familiar with the song first made famous by Corey Hart, but pulled it off in one take.

Georgia State is going to give away the same sunglasses to the first 3,000 fans 18 years of age and older who come to the Georgia Dome for Saturday’s 6 p.m. game against Texas-San Antonio.

Reaction has been positive, according to Allison George, sports information director for GSU.

– Doug Roberson, AJC. Please follow me on twitter @ajcgsu

Continue reading If you haven’t seen this video… »

Georgia State’s basketball schedule for the coming season is complete and features the opener against Duke and ends with a home game against Northeastern on Feb. 27.

The Panthers aren’t eligible to compete in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, whose winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, because they are moving to the Sun Belt Conference next year.

If they hope to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, they will have to earn a high enough RPI in a schedule that features not only the game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, but trips to Old Dominion (Jan. 19), 2011 conference champ Drexel (Jan. 26) and George Mason (Feb. 16), three of the top four teams in the CAA last year.

The Panthers’ goal of receiving that at-large may be made more complicated by the fact that the conference schedule isn’t as hard as it could be: the Panthers don’t get a chance to host George Mason (24-9 last year) or  play at Delaware (18-14). Victories in those games might be …

Continue reading Georgia State’s basketball schedule is complete »

Georgia State’s practice on Wednesday was one of the most spirited this year, which may be a good sign for the team for the rest of the year. The Panthers (0-2) will host Texas-San Antonio (2-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Georgia Dome.

On one play, a defensive end slammed into the ball-carrier, prompting his defensive teammates to cheer.

A few plays later,  a wide receiver on a crossing route was interfered with, but still caught the ball as he was falling down, prompting his offensive teammates to cheer.

“There’s a lot of energy every day, it’s just a matter of getting them to expend it,” coach Bill Curry said. “We are improving and that (the energy) will be fine as long as we do it in the game.”

Practices before the season-opening loss to South Carolina State and last week’s to the Volunteers didn’t have the positive vibe that has been building this week.

“I’ve never had a poor team develop into a really good team without this,” Curry said.

Fumbles

Quarterback Ben McLane has …

Continue reading GSU’s Wednesday practice full of expended energy, which Curry says may be a good sign »

Georgia State has yet to sack the quarterback this season, an eight-quarter stretch of frustration that surprises coaches and players.

Georgia State is also allowing an average of 337 passing yards per game.

The two are directly related. When the line gets to the quarterback, the secondary usually doesn’t have to cover as long. When the secondary covers well, the line usually has more time to get to the quarterback.

“All sacks are a function of all 11,” Georgia State coach Bill Curry said. “Most breakdowns are a function of  all 11. We’ve got to do a better job of all of them.”

A combination of inexperience, strategy and the opponent’s plan and skill have prevented Georgia State from getting to the quarterback, according to defensive coordinator Anthony Midget. Surprisingly poor play from experienced players are affecting the secondary.

As one goes, so does the other.

“It does go hand in hand,” Midget said.

But he said just because the line isn’t getting sacks and the …

Continue reading Better pass rush will help GSU’s secondary, and better secondary will help GSU’s pass rush »

Georgia State coach Bill Curry met with the media for his weekly press conference. The Panthers (0-2) are preparing to play Texas-San Antonio (2-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Georgia Dome.

Here’s a paraphrased transcript of what he and tackle Grant King said.

Curry: Ben McLane continues to improve. He has to take better care of the football, that’s an obvious thing. Coach [John] Bond promised me that we will get center-quarterback exchange fixed. We’ve had seasons where we’ve gone through the center-quarterback exchange without missing one. Our goal for the rest of the year is to not see that.

Both lines have provided good leadership and blocking for Donald Russell and our other backs, Rosevelt Watson, Travis Evans and Parris Lee. Russell is making a big difference for us right now.

Defensively, we’ve got to improve our pass defense, that’s very clear, and our overall pass defense.

As long as we continue to do that [effort], we will get better.

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Injury updates on Jordan Giles …

Continue reading What did Curry say at today’s Georgia State press conference »

Georgia State’s Nermin Delic said the NCAA didn’t give a reason for rejecting his request to be allowed to play at Georgia State this year.

Delic, a defensive tackle who transferred from Kentucky, said he submitted three, three-page letters to the NCAA the first week of August. He was told he would receive a reply by Aug. 17. He received the decision on Monday. An NCAA official said the organization doesn’t comment on waiver requests. Georgia State can appeal, but only if there’s new documentation (i.e. new information) that can be submitted.

Delic said he thinks the NCAA assumed that he was trying to move from one FBS school to another and play immediately, which would violate the rules. Players that transfer from one FBS school to another are required to sit out a year, though there are exceptions. Players that transfer from one FBS school to an FCS are usually immediately eligible.

Georgia State announced they were moving up to FBS in April and are in the first year of a …

Continue reading Delic: NCAA didn’t give me a reason for denying request — updated »