Jackets' staff changes sports

As general manager of a minor league baseball team in Augusta, Nick Brown can only partly enjoy the irony he's seen this past week.

After a summer's worth of GreenJackets rainouts, interrupted only by oppressive heat, the atmosphere has taken a positive turn just in time for football.

"Now that baseball season is over, the temperature has dropped and there's suddenly no threat of rain," he said. "I haven't seen this since May."

The GreenJackets have no home games left, and college football begins tonight with South Carolina playing host to Southern Mississippi on ESPN.

The minor detail of the changing sports seasons won't stop Brown and his staff from putting Lake Olmstead Stadium to good use one last time this year.

"It's football season now. The weather is good," he said. "Why not have one more Thirsty Thursday?"

The team announced this week that Lake Olmstead Stadium's party deck down the right-field line will open for up to 500 fans to enjoy discounted beverages, tailgating games and televisions tuned to the South Carolina season opener.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the stadium's box office, but Lake Olmstead Stadium won't be the only public place to watch the college football season kickoff.

"This time of year we focus on football," said John Fiske, a manager at Somewhere in Augusta Bar & Grill.

"We'll be expecting a full house (tonight). In fact, last year showed us Thursday nights are better than Friday nights during college football season."

In addition to the usual line up of sports bars, fans will have two new choices this season in Augusta: Carolina Ale House, on Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway; and Stadium Grille, on Wheeler Road.