Albany Herald | Paul Newberry

Newton returns home as NFL star

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will be looking to beat a Falcons team that he was a fan of while growing up in College Park, which is south of downtown Atlanta.

Georgia starting linebacker Gilliard shining for Bulldogs

Bulldogs linebacker Mike Gilliard was thrust into the starting role after injuries to those in front of him, and so far he's made the most of his chances.

Ga. Tech ready for back-to-back road tests

The No. 12 Yellow Jackets get ready for back-to-back road, and ACC, games starting this weekend at Virginia and continuing next week at Miami.

Matty Ice melting

Matt Ryan was once seen as the answer for the Atlanta Falcons, but after a 2-3 start, he's seen now as part of a very big problem.

Fallen Falcons: Atlanta deals with disappointing start

The Falcons, who had high expectations, are now 2-3 and -- along with the Eagles and Jets -- are one the biggest disappointments in the NFL this year.

Falcons thinking payback vs. Pack? You had better believe it

The Falcons want to put last year's embarrassing home playoff loss to the Packers behind them, and they know the only way to do that is to exact revenge on Green Bay by handing it its first loss today on Sunday Night Football.

Murray shrugs off stats as long as Bulldogs win

Aaron Murray isn't putting up big numbers individually this season, but as long as UGA keeps winning, he doesn't mind.

As NHL season opens Thursday, Atlanta replaces Thrashers with minor-league team

The Gwinnett Gladiators become the new draw for ice hockey fans in Georgia as the NHL season began Thursday night without the Thrashers, who bolted for Winnepeg and marked the second time in the modern era Atlanta has lost a professional hockey team.

Dawgs savoring 3-way tie for 1st in SEC East

The Bulldogs, winners of three games in a row, are in a three-way tie for first place in the SEC East with Florida and South Carolina.

Despite win, Falcons have plenty of lingering questions

After narrowly beating the lowly Seahawks on Sunday, Atlanta knows it has lots to work on before hosting the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers next on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

Braves reverse course, dump hitting coach Parrish

After one of the worst collapses in MLB history, the Braves are starting to shake things up, starting with Friday's firing of hitting coach Larry Parrish.

One day after collapse, Braves look for anwers, try to cope with disappointment

There are far more questions than answers for the Braves organization following September's historic collapse in the weeks and months ahead.

Wrong kind of history

The Atlanta Braves complete a historic collapse late Wednesday night after a 4-3 loss to the Phillies in extra innings, becoming the first team in major league history to squander a lead of at least eight games for a playoff spot in September. (UPDATES: quotes, reaction)

End of the road

In one of the worst collapses in MLB history, the Braves choke again Wednesday against the Phillies, who ended Atlanta’s season.

Georgia Tech looks to build on 4-0 start

The Yellow Jackets' undefeated record and recent come-from-behind win against North Carolina has them ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press poll.

Lowe pounded again, Braves routed by Phillies, 7-1; Cardinals win, tie for wild card lead

The Braves fall to the Phillies late Tuesday night, then Atlanta watches as the Cardinals rout the Astros, 13-6, to even the wild card race with one game left today.

Braves are hanging on

The Braves lose again, falling to the Phillies, 4-2, on Monday, but they keep their slim one game lead over St. Louis as the Cardinals lose to the Astros in extra innings.

Georgia Tech looking for bigger crowds

Despite having their best start since 2005, the Yellow Jackets are having trouble filling the 55,000-seat Bobby Dodd Stadium -- something AD Dan Radakovich wants to change for Saturday's game against North Carolina.

Falcons host Vick, Eagles under bright lights of SNF tonight

Atlanta is Matt Ryan's team these days, and the Falcons signal caller says he has no reason to be intimidated by the return of the town's former superstar tonight when Michael Vick leads the Eagles into the Georgia Dome for a Sunday Night Football showdown.

Tech piles it on Kansas, 66-24,

Georgia Tech rolls up 768 yards and sets a school record with 604 yards on the ground while pounding Kansas, 66-24, to improve to 3-0.

Welcome home: Vick returns to Atlanta

Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick, who has seen his career soar in the past year, returns to Atlanta on Sunday to face his former team, the Falcons -- this time as a starter and a star.

Air Johnson? Georgia Tech improves through the air

Even though Georgia Tech has just passed the ball on 26 percent of its offensive plays, the Yellow Jackets have more passing yards than they did in their first six games last season.

Braves bomb Marlins with homers from Uggla, McCann to win 7-1, but stay just 4 1/2 ahead of Cardinals in wild card race

Brian McCann and Dan Uggla each hit three-run homers as the Braves snap a four-game losing streak with a 7-1 win against the Marlins, but can't add to their lead in the wild card race as St. Louis also win.

Georgia suffers heartbreak in shootout loss to South Carolina

The future of Georgia football -- and head coach Mark Richt -- is now very much in doubt after Saturday's tough, 45-42, loss to SEC rival South Carolina as the Bulldogs start 0-2 for the first time in 15 years.

FALCONS 2011 SEASON PREVIEW: Ryan, Atlanta still searching for elusive postseason success

The wins have come, just not in the playoffs for the Atlanta Falcons, who enter this season hungrier than ever to prove their one of the NFL's elite franchises as they kick off the season today at Chicago.

Georgia looks to bounce back against a South Carolina team looking for an SEC title this season

Georgia will try to bounce back from the 35-21 loss to Boise State with a win in its SEC opener with No. 12 South Carolina todaywhile the Gamecocks have their eyes set on winning their first SEC title this season.

LB Lofton the key to Atlanta's defensive success?

Atlanta linebacker Curtis Lofton says he's OK with having the pressure of the Falcons' defense succeding on his shoulders.

Falcons bolster secondary with Sanders, Hayden

The recent addition of two defensive backs for the Falcons -- Kelvin Hayden and James Sanders -- could be just what Atlanta's defense needs to start the regular season stronger than they finished the preseason.

Gordon holds on at Atlanta for 85th career win, moves to third all-time

Veteran driver Jeff Gordon picks up his 85th career win Tuesday holding off teammate Jimmie Johnson at the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Atlanta, which was delayed two full days by bad weather.

Quite the rude awakening: UGA loses to Boise St. -- then loses star LB Ogletree to broken foot

Georgia's 0-1 start after losing to Boise State on Saturday night was already bad enough for the team and its fans, but then Bulldog Nation finds out Sunday their showdown next week against South Carolina will be without the services of starting linebacker Alec Ogletree, who has a broken foot. (ADDS: graph about former Seminole County star Bacarri Rambo being suspended for opener, but returning vs. S.C.)

Rain postpones NASCAR's Atlanta race until Tuesday

Rain from Tropical Storm Lee delays Sunday's NASCAR race in North Georgia until Tuesday after more bad weather is expected today.

Boise St. bashes Georgia, 35-21

The No. 5 Broncos are unaffected by the pro-Bulldogs crowd in Atlanta as they take a 14-7 halftime lead and turn it into a 35-21 rout of No. 19 UGA in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic.

UGA vs. Boise State: Should be a 'Classic'

This year’s Chick-fil-A Classic in Atlanta is as intriguing as it gets this early in the season when No. 19 Georgia faces No. 5 Boise St. tonight.

Boise State's Moore vs. UGA's Murray: Champ vs. challenger

As Georgia prepares for Saturday's showdown with fifth-ranked Boise State, UGA quarterback Aaron Murray says he wants to be a winner in his career -- just like Boise State QB Kellen Moore.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Bulldogs looks to redeem themselves -- and their coach

The Bulldogs have vowed to quiet any and all talk about their head coach's job being on the line as they set out to redeem the program after last year's very un-Georgia-like 6-7 season.

Sophomore slump?

That's the question Braves fans have when it comes to Jason Heyward, who went from can't-miss rookie a year ago to being demoted from the starting lineup in 2011.

Jurrjens struggles in return from disabled list as Braves fall to Giants

Fresh off the 15-day disabled list, Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens is hit hard by the Giants, who win their first game in the series with the Braves to gain back ground in the NL Wild Card race.

2011 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Hot-Lanta about to heat up even more

Between the sweltering heat, the boiling feud between Tiger Woods and his ex-caddie and the fact this will be the year's final major, all of the golf world's attention is about to be turned on the Atlanta Athletic Club for the 2011 PGA Championship, which begins Thursday.

One down, one to go

The owners meet in Atlanta on Thursday and approve the new collective bargaining agreement, but now it's on the players to vote before the NFL lockout can end. (ADDS: breakout with new terms of CBA).

Indy celebrates 100 years, hopes for better future

While the Indy 500 is celebrating its 100th anniversary of today's race, a new era of the IndyCar series is starting to flourish.

Whispers everywhere that Thrashers leaving Atlanta, heading to Winnipeg

If you believe the reports, the financially-struggling, NHL cellar dweller Atlanta Thrashers have one foot out the door of the Peach State.

2011 MASTERS PREVIEW: Caddie Jackson set to work staggering 50th year at Augusta

Caddie and Georgia native Carl Jackson is set to work his record 50th Masters this week when the tournament kicks off Thursday in Augusta.

Change in the air for Jackets football after losing season

A 6-7 season didn't cut it in 2010, and Tech coach Paul Johnson is making some changes during spring practice.

New man on campus

Despite a rough season at Dayton in 2010, Brian Gregory is tapped to take over at Georgia Tech, saddled with the task of trying to rebuild the Yellow Jackets' once proud men's program.

Falcons still in shock over stunning end to season

The No. 1 seed in the NFC, Atlanta still can't believe it lost to Green Bay by 27 points on Saturday.

Georgia superstar Green opts for NFL

As expected, A.J. Green says he'll enter the NFL Draft next season as a junior and forgo his final season in Athens. (ADDS: breakout on source saying LSU star DB Peteron declaring for NFL late Sunday).

Georgia 42, Georgia Tech 34: Blair's blunder costs Jackets vs. Bulldogs

Georgia Tech scores what appears to be the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter against Georgia late Saturday night, but after Jackets kicker Scott Blair stunningly misses the extra point, Tech unravels and goes on to lose, 42-34, in the annual in-state rivalry game.

Paul Newberry

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