Georgia

Georgia football vs. South Carolina hits pause in SEC. ‘Going to be weird not playing’

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2024

Press Room

Georgia football vs. South Carolina hits pause in SEC. ‘Going to be weird not playing’

DALLAS—Hanging on light posts near the Omni Dallas hotel where SEC Media Days opened Monday are two banners.

The quite familiar “It Just Means More,” and a sign of the times: “Now 16 Strong.”

Ushering in Texas and Oklahoma is a focal point of the four days of football chatter with more than 1,200 media members.

The Sooners hit the stage Tuesday and Longhorns on Wednesday.

Their additions meant the end of divisions and some familiar annual matchups taking a pause.

Like Georgia-South Carolina.

The teams won’t play this season or next—barring an SEC championship or playoff matchup—for the first time since 1992. That’s when the Gamecocks joined the SEC.

Not playing the beast that is Georgia could be looked at as a welcome break.

That’s not what the Gamecocks said.

“I always looked forward to playing Georgia every year,” said redshirt senior Luke Doty, who has played in four games against the Bulldogs including throwing for 190 yards in his first career start at quarterback against Georgia in 2020 and starting last season at wide receiver in the game. “It’s definitely going to be weird not playing them, Tennessee or Florida this year just because we’ve played them for so long.”

The Gamecocks led Georgia 14-3 at halftime in a week 3 game last season, but lost 24-14, their eighth defeat in the series in the last nine games.

South Carolina delivered Georgia their last home loss in the 2019 season.

Alex Huntley was there on a recruiting visit to Georgia. He’s now a fifth-year Gamecocks defensive tackle and would prefer to get a shot at what could be the preseason No. 1 ranked Bulldogs.

“I actually wasn’t a fan of it,” Huntley said. “I looked forward to playing Georgia. …I was there when South Carolina beat Georgia. I was at that game. So I kind of wanted that opportunity as well. Last year we had that opportunity. We came up short. I kind of wanted another shot.”

Georgia also won’t play Missouri or Vanderbilt the next two regular seasons. The Tigers are a tougher test now entering their fifth season under Eli Drinkwitz whose team went 11-2 and won the Cotton Bowl last season.

Georgia won its 10^th straight against Missouri last season, but the teams were tied at 10 in their Nov. 4 game in Athens before the Bulldogs pulled out a 30-21 win after Nazir Stackhouse’s interception return set up a fourth-quarter field goal.

In Shane Beamer’s fourth season as South Carolina coach, the Gamecocks also avoid Texas, but play at Alabama and Ole Miss in back-to-back weeks in October.

“You want to compete against the best, you want to coach against the best,” Beamer said. “We ain’t far off. We’ve had some fantastic wins over the last three seasons…There’s teams to be considered to be in the mix for that playoff that we have beaten.”

South Carolina went 5-7 last season and the Gamecocks aren’t expected to rise this season.

“I really like our football team, most of you don’t,” Beamer said.

He said he expects his team t be picked 13^th or 14^th.

The Gamecocks were picked 13^th in the USA Today Sports predicted order of finish ahead of only Arkansas, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

Georgia was picked first, getting all but one vote to win the SEC title. The other went to Texas.

South Carolina lost quarterback Spencer Rattler. Redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers is in line to replace him.

“We’re young, we’re talented as an offense, but the question is how fast we can come together?” Beamer said.

Huntley is certainly confident.

Here’s what he said of not playing Georgia.

“We don’t see them on the regular schedule,” Huntley said. “I’m sure we’ll see them in the playoffs though or have that opportunity.”

Source link

Click to comment

Georgia

Georgia cops’ alleged misuse of Flock license plate tracking data fuels privacy concerns

Published

2 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Georgia cops’ alleged misuse of Flock license plate tracking data fuels privacy concerns

Georgia Flock cameras spark widespread misuse fears

ATLANTA – At least ten police officers across Georgia have been arrested and charged with misusing the Flock camera database for personal reasons, adding to growing privacy concerns about the technology.

The cameras, usually mounted to a black pole, record license plates and other data of whoever passes them.

Georgia police database tracking

What we know:

A series of recent arrests has exposed the misuse of Flock license-plate-reading cameras by police officers throughout the state.

In Greene County, Deputy Quin’sha Goss was fired on Tuesday and charged with misusing the system.

The recent arrests include five police officers in Albany, who were also charged earlier this week.

That’s alongside a lieutenant, a sergeant and a deputy in Cherokee County charged last month with violating their oath.

System audits flag searches

What they’re saying:

Flock Co-founder Paige Todd stated that many recent arrests resulted from departments utilizing a new audit assistance tool that automatically flags unusual searches.

“In this case where misuse happened, the technology itself was not creating the misuse. It was it was human beings,” Todd told FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo.

Todd argued that the public safety benefits of the technology heavily outweigh individual instances of human misconduct.

Todd explained, “best way to prevent misuse is now, every member of law enforcement out there knows that this audit exists,”

Todd added that the system has successfully helped track down thousands of individuals across the country.

“We, I believe, solve about a million crimes with our technology,” she said. “10,000 missing people have gone home because of it. This feels like pretty small in comparison.”

Privacy concerns trigger pushback

The other side:

The ACLU of Georgia called the incidents a critical wakeup call regarding constitutional protections and tracking limits. Christopher Bruce of the ACLU of Georgia said, “Jeopardizing your civil rights and civil liberties is never just an unfortunate event. You have constitutional rights, especially a right to privacy. And the question is who polices the police?”

Information security analyst Peter Tran noted that the network relies heavily on automated data collection.

“It uses AI,” Tran said.

Tran said many are uneased by the logging searchable personal data into a nationwide database.

“It becomes a privacy and security issue. So, you’re whereabouts where you shopped, your name, your address,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Dunwoody sets ‘guardrails’ for Flock surveillance cameras use

The blowback has prompted dozens of U.S. communities to end their contracts.

Videos have circulated on social media instructing people how to tear them down or disable them.

In Barrow County, the sheriff said three Flock cameras were recently damaged there.

The sheriff said damage to the devices could be considered a felony.

The Source: The information in this story is based on original reporting by FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo, who interviewed Flock co-founder Paige Todd, ACLU of Georgia representative Christopher Bruce, and security analyst Peter Tran, as well as tracking data from local sheriff offices.

GeorgiaCrime and Public SafetyTechnologyCherokee CountyNews

Source link

Georgia

West Nile infections starting to raise concerns in Georgia

Published

12 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

West Nile infections starting to raise concerns in Georgia

ATLANTA, Ga. — Positive mosquito samples for West Nile virus have been found in Fulton County, according to the Board of Health.

Officials say the samples came from the Grant Park area and that infected mosquitoes are suspected to be present in the city of Atlanta.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report this year’s West Nile infections are the highest since 2004. The disease has been transmitted by mosquitoes, with reported cases in 23 states. Most of the reported cases are considered severe.

Health officials suggest using an insect repellent registered with the EPA. Wearing long, loose-fitting clothing is also recommended.

Source link

Georgia

Travel and Leisure listed unique experiences in each state, including GA

Published

22 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Travel and Leisure listed unique experiences in each state, including GA

It can be hard to find a truly unique experience for your next vacation. That’s where Travel + Leisure comes in.

Back in May, members of the publication’s team created a list in celebration of America’s 250th Fourth of July, highlighting a unique experience in each state “from hidden gems to iconic highlights and editor-approved favorites.”

Find vacation discounts with Groupon

Most unique experience in Georgia

The Georgia spot highlighted was the World of Quercus. Here’s what writer Lydia Mansel said about it:

“The 3,800-acre property, dotted with pecan groves and cabins, isn’t your run-of-the-mill retreat. Guests are encouraged to roam the land by golf cart or on foot, visit the biodynamic vegetable garden, fish the Flint River, and connect with the ranch’s horses. Owned by Chiara Visconti di Modrone and her husband Angelos Pervanas, Quercus is a place where relaxation comes in many forms—and you can design your experience to fit your pace and preferences.”