Bulldogs' SEC title run shocks prognosticators

ATLANTA - The Georgia Bulldogs were supposed to be rebuilding. They had to replace the winningest quarterback in major-college history along with three stalwarts on the defensive side. Most forecasts called for a third-place division finish in the Southeastern Conference.

But, as the year came to a close, the Bulldogs were preparing for the Sugar Bowl - the reward for winning their second SEC championship in four seasons.

Georgia's unexpected SEC title was one of the top sports stories in the state this year, along with the Atlanta Falcons coming up just short of the Super Bowl, the Atlanta Braves winning their 14th consecutive division title with a rookie-dominated lineup, and Tiger Woods winning another Masters Tournament.

Georgia Tech had a memorable year, too - but not for all the right reasons.

Football coach Chan Gailey survived a mild heart attack in the spring and received a new five-year contract as his fourth season in Atlanta was winding down.

On the basketball court, Georgia Tech returned nearly everyone from the team that made it to the national championship game in 2004. This time, the season ended with a 22-point loss to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Most troubling for the Yellow Jackets: The first NCAA probation in school history, brought on by the use of academically ineligible players in four sports.

Georgia lost defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder to the pros in January. But he didn't stay away from the state for long, returning in early December as Georgia Southern's new head coach.

Steve Belkin also got the boot, forced out of the Atlanta Hawks' ownership group after he tried to block the signing of Phoenix guard Joe Johnson.

The Atlanta Thrashers returned to the ice along with the rest of the NHL after a yearlong lockout.

The Braves never seem to have any trouble making the playoffs. They won their 14th division title in a row with a rookie-laden roster that included budding star Jeff Francoeur, Brian McCann and Ryan Langerhans.

Woods was good enough to have another blockbuster year on the PGA Tour, sparked by his thrilling victory at Augusta National. He did something very un-Tiger-like - squandering a Sunday lead on the back nine, even with a memorable chip-in from behind the 16th green - but bounced back to defeat gutsy Chris DiMarco on the first playoff hole.

Before the summer was done, Woods tacked on the 10th major title of his career at the British Open, an appropriate bit of timing since it coincided with Jack Nicklaus' farewell to competitive golf.

The Golden Bear bid adieu to the Masters in April, matter-of-factly announcing he was done after failing to make the cut.