Author: jacklittle

I interviewed and wrote this feature article about ex-Premier League and then Mansfield Town midfielder Stephen Quinn for the club’s pre-season magazine during my internship with Mansfield Town’s media department in the summer of 2024.

By Jack Little

Carmical Sports Media

Atlanta United and striker Georgios Giakoumakis have been dominant in Mercedes-Benz Stadium early this season. Giakoumakis notched his fifth home goal of the season in his third home appearance while Atlanta United made it three wins from three games in the Benz with a 3-0 victory over Chicago Fire.

Atlanta United is unbeaten in its last seven matches at home, with its last loss coming in August of 2023. Atlanta defender Noah Cobb believes that the fans, which normally amount to around 55,000 and the 14th largest home attendance in the world per transfermarkt.com, have a lot to do with it.

“The fans do a really good job of making the opponents feel like they can’t breathe,” said Cobb. “When we’re attacking, we hear them getting louder and louder and louder.”

Giakoumakis’ 45th-minute goal fired Atlanta United ahead just before halftime and drew a loud roar from the 42,525 United fans in the crowd. Atlanta controlled over 50% of the possession and had a substantial advantage in shots taken but didn’t have anything to show for it before Giakoumakis found the back of Chicago’s net.

“The timing of that goal is a big thing,” said Atlanta United assistant coach Rob Valentino. “He scores the goal and the game looks a little bit different for [Atlanta’s players] in terms of their mentality.”

Valentino said that the game opened up a little bit in the second half, despite a start that he felt was a “little bit sluggish.” He said there was another shift following the introduction of Jamal Thiaré and his first goal coming seconds later.

“Goals change games,” said Valentino. “I think having Jamal come on ended up changing the game.”

Thiaré, celebrating his 31st birthday today, scored twice for United in the second half. The first was with his first touch of the match in the 64th minute mere seconds after entering the game for Giakoumakis. His second came in the 95th minute.

Atlanta United (3-0-2) rises to 6th in the Eastern Conference. It will begin its April slate at New York City FC (1-1-4) next Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Chicago Fire (1-2-3) remains 12th in the Eastern Conference. It will attempt to return to winning ways with Houston Dynamo (3-1-1) visiting Soldier Field at 8:30 p.m. on the same day.

 

Athens-Clarke County and Mayor Kelly Girtz are relying on the people of Athens to determine the next 20 years of its infrastructure and growth in preparation for a roughly 30,000-person population boom, but they may be missing out on feedback from one major Athens demographic: college students.

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz addressed Athens-Clarke County’s Future Land Use Plan, which details the ACC government plans for development over the next 20 years, in a press conference on Friday morning at the University of Georgia. The plan addresses where development will occur, as well as solutions for more affordable housing in Athens with population growth.

Girtz has been actively involving the public over the past few months with a series of presentations and public input sessions as opportunities for locals to provide feedback and suggestions. In those meetings, Girtz said that the public values Athens’ tree canopy, access to green space and rural preservation, as well as having a variety of modes of transportation and a mixed-use environment where people can walk to stores, restaurants and other businesses.

None of the community suggestions listed by Girtz referenced concerns from students at the University of Georgia, a demographic that makes up over 30% of Athens’ population. When asked how he was incorporating student feedback into the Future Land Use Plan, Girtz said that students were encouraged to show up at the public input sessions to give input, but did not mention any way that he was specifically incorporating students.

Zach Barberio, a third-year sports management student at UGA who rents a house off of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, never heard about the public input session, but said that he wishes he had more college neighbors. The development of college-specific housing is an issue that would fall under the purview of the Future Land Use Plan.

Girtz did, however, address some concerns regarding UGA’s growth when prompted by reporters.

“If UGA is going to add another 10,000 students over the next 20 years, we want to make sure that there are places not only for the students, but for everybody else to live, as well,” said Girtz. “So does that come with challenges? Absolutely. But do we believe we can build accommodations around that? Also yes.”

If UGA students have other concerns they would like the ACC government to be aware of, they may contact the government at 706-613-3795 or at info@accgov.com. Students may also complete a Future Land Use Plan survey on accgov.com.

Mayor Kelly Girtz explained Athens-Clarke County’s Future Land Use Plan in a press conference at the University of Georgia’s Instructional Plaza South Auditorium on Friday, April 19. The plan will address Athens-Clarke County’s development over the next 20 years. (Photo/Jack Little)

 

Why I wrote this story:

I wrote this story to gain skills in press conference coverage and preparation. I learned how to properly research for a story, how to develop a storyline from a press conference, how to ask a question in a press conference that garners a good response and how to take a picture properly during a press conference. I plan to use the skills that I acquired in future coverage of press conferences and other live events.

By Jack Little

Carmical Sports Media

Alabama’s offense has been elite this year in large part due to the play of senior guard Mark Sears. Sears puts up 20 points per game for the nation’s highest-scoring team and shoots a blazing 43.7% from behind the arc. Containing Sears will be key to a Georgia victory.

“He’s their engine,” Georgia guard Noah Thomasson said. “We have to contain him. If we let him come in and do what he’s been doing, it’s going to be a tough night for us.”

Sears leads Alabama into Stegeman Coliseum to take on Georgia on Wednesday night. The Crimson Tide are back in the top 25 after defeating Auburn and LSU in Tuscaloosa last week. A win over the Bulldogs would extend their winning streak to three.

Wins in Stegeman Coliseum have not come easily for visitors this year, though. Georgia is 11-1 at home with its only loss coming to fifth-ranked Tennessee. Georgia forward Frank Anselem-Ibe went as far as to call the Bulldogs’ home court a “fortress.”

This matchup represents a rare opportunity for Georgia to get a top-tier NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) victory at home. These victories significantly benefit a team’s chance to make the NCAA tournament. Georgia only has one more of these opportunities in Stegeman Coliseum this season.

The Bulldogs have not been to the NCAA tournament since the 2014-15 season and are currently projected to miss the tournament by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. Defeating Alabama, currently ranked seventh in the NET, would provide a boost to Georgia’s tournament resume.

Knocking off the Crimson Tide will be a challenge for the Bulldogs. Alabama is one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the SEC with four players inside the top 10 for 3-point shooting percentage in the conference.

“It starts with their ability to really space you out and shoot threes from multiple positions,” Georgia head coach Mike White said. “They offensive rebound, too, which leads to more dagger threes.”

Georgia will also have to stop Sears. “Sears is having as good a year as anyone,” said White. “Both offensively and defensively.” White pointed out the importance of defensive rebounding, urgency in transition, and finishing defensive possessions in stopping Sears and the Alabama offense.

Georgia (14-6, 4-3 SEC) and Alabama (14-6, 6-1 SEC) will tip off at 6:30 p.m. in Athens, Georgia. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

Magennis dons the Athens FC badge and the USL logo prior to a practice at Holland Park on Thursday, April 18. He will lead Athens FC onto the pitch for the first time on May 22 at 4:30 p.m. against Birmingham Legion FC at Athens Academy’s Slaughter Field. (Photo/Jack Little)

By Jack Little

Carmical Sports Media Institute

Stephen “Steo” Magennis will lead Athens’ new USL League Two side, Athens FC, in its first-ever season this summer as head coach. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Magennis brings over a decade of coaching experience at the college level and beyond. He is now faced with the challenge of building a pre-professional roster and fan base from scratch and will rely heavily on the Athens community to do so. Comments are trimmed for length and clarity. 

Q: Coach, you were recently named Athens FC’s head coach in its first ever season. What does that mean to you?

A: Thank you Jack. It’s a super awesome time for myself and for the club. To be part of something from the grassroots is something very special. Special to not only myself but also the players that we’ve got involved. [The owners] had a chat with us a couple of weeks ago and told me about the project, and it just got me excited, got my juices flowing. I’ve been in what would be considered a kind of rebuild or start from scratch before with the Georgia Revolution, and we did a pretty decent job there. I’m looking to do the same and better with this. It’s exciting times for myself, for the players, for the staff and, to be honest, on a bigger part, the community. We want to connect with the community, get them out here, get them excited, get them on the edge of their seats and give them something they’re proud of to watch and call their own.

Q: As of right now, what point is the club at in terms of stages of development?

A: In terms of development, I wouldn’t necessarily say we’re developing. I’d like to call us the finished product. What I mean by that is, all we need is the white lines and to set out a field. I’ve got the players. There’s very, very strong talent here locally, from Athens and then also from my strong network that I’ve built over 20 years now at this point. Between the collaboration of the two, it allows us to bring in the very best homegrown talent, what [Athens United] has here locally, and then also from the surrounding areas, not only Atlanta and Georgia, but also stretching out to the West Coast and then guys internationally. They’re all excited about this project. So this is definitely not developmental nor do I consider grassroots. We’re ready to go. We’re ready to compete and we’re excited for the first season. Just know our intention is to come in and compete and win.

Q: You mentioned a few places that you are going to get players from, but obviously you have had your work cut out for you in creating a roster from scratch. Where all are these players coming from?

A: The very first and foremost guys, the heart and the soul of the team, are from Athens. That’s important to us. One, to show that the quality is already here. Two, to connect with the local fan base. And then yes, of course, I have that strong connection with [Georgia Gwinnett College]. The players that have played for me in the past and present are all excited about this project. In fact, we have some future Grizzlies coming in as well. I am so excited about those. But then once I sent the bat signal out to some of the ex-pros or guys that I’ve worked with in the past that I know can really perform at that level. They were all in on that unless they’d already signed elsewhere, of course. The guys that were still waiting were ready and wanting to compete and bring this franchise to the next level. They were just waiting on the call. So we’re excited. It’s exciting for the locals, but also for the folks from the surrounding areas. We’re all excited about it.

Q: Heading into the first season, what are the goals for the team?

A: It is very simple: win. I’m not going to start measuring with ‘you gotta win every single game with a clean sheet.’ The objective is to win. I’m going to give clear structure and tangible goals that, game by game, we can constantly turn up and try to achieve because the one thing for us is, yes, we want to win, but we also want to do it in an attractive manner. We’re not just going to sit back and defend and because we’re a first-year program. We are interested and we’re eager to push forward and compete in every single game. At the end of game one, boom it’s a brand new reset and you come out and get ready for game two. Every week is gonna have a brand new chapter. We will set up to impose our system, our style of play, our principles, etcetera as a group and, after that, let’s see where the chips fall. We’re excited about it.

Q: What kind of style of play to plan to bring to the team?

A: It’s all subjective. It’s relative because for me, it’s all about winning at the end of the day. That’s what the folks brought me in here to do. Three points on the board. That’s all that matters. And whether you want to be cutesy like Barcelona or whether you want to be direct like a UK level style, we’ll be able to mix it in both styles. The main thing is that our core tenet is always winning. That is the key thing I’m pushing for. That’s our core tenet. After that, whether we have 90% possession or whatever, it’s how we do it. We want to win, that is the main thing. That’s all that’s important to us.

Q: You mentioned the Athens community being important to you guys. How are you going to get them involved with this club?

A: Well, we’re out here tonight [at Holland Park] and there’s probably 300-400 people just playing and watching youth soccer. Obviously there will be some of their own homegrown guys that are literally out in the field for us. So, one is word of mouth, two is by us doing a good job [on the field], and three is by the incredible job that the guys have done with their social media, their platforms. I know we can fill crowds, but it will come week by week. It’s not going to be all day one with 5000 people out here. Now, we would love that and that’s the goal and our guys will be ready to play in front of that, but it’ll be week by week. We’ll push. We’re going to try to do as best we can to drum up excitement, both on and off the field. And then like I said, again, we’re gonna do our very best to be successful from game one.

Q: You said that the opportunity to coach this club ‘got your juices flowing.’ What got you excited about the opportunity to coach Athens FC?

A: Well, one because there isn’t a franchise nor a team near here in this proximity so it’s unique. Next, is being at the genesis of a new program. Being able to build something from the foundations all the way up. You know, it’s new, it’s vibrant, it’s fresh. People in the surrounding areas are going to be excited and wanting to hear and know about that project. Then you have the mix of the guys that are locals that are already incredible who needed a platform to play on and be excited for and the guys that I’m bringing in that we’re blending in. It’s going to be a beautiful mix of talent, technique, skill, speed, so I knew what I knew what I could bring. And then when I came for the tryouts and I saw a local talent here, I was like, ‘fantastic.’ So yeah, man, just overall excitement. I know that there’s so much potential here. The big thing is the potential.

Q: If you had to give a sales pitch to the community of Athens on why they should come out and support you guys, what would it be?

A: One, get behind your local folks. Soccer is getting bigger and bigger every year. We are your billboard. This is what we have to represent you right now. We are working hard to get the very best locals, and, trust me, we are uncovering every single stone to get the best players from Athens and put them on the field at the highest level that is not full professional. We will be playing against a lot of ex-pros or soon-to-be pros. So it will be exciting for the locals, and then with the blend of the guys from the West Coast, here, and internationals, we are going to have a really exciting team. We’re going to have an exciting team with exciting locals and exciting internationals and we expect to win.