UWG Announces Resignation of Longtime Trainer

University of West Georgia Athletic director announced Thursday that longtime Head Athletic Trainer Seth Lester has resigned his position to pursue other opportunities outside the university.

“We would like to thank Seth for his many years of service to this university, our student-athletes and the athletic department,” Dickey said. “He has touched many lives throughout his time here and has tended to the bumps, bruises and so much more for each of our teams and programs over the years.”

Lester assumed the duties of head athletic trainer at West Georgia in April of 1991, coming to Carrollton by way of Livingston University, now known as West Alabama.

"I had 21 great years at West Georgia and absolutely love the place," Lester said. "I want to thank coach Dickey and all those that I worked with in the past and present for making this such a great place to be and I will miss it dearly."

“His devotion and countless hours of dedication to the well-being of our athletes is deeply appreciated,” Dickey said. “We certainly wish him the best in the future.”

A nationwide search for the next head athletic trainer at the University of West Georgia will begin soon.

Source -UWGSports.com

UWG Duo chosen for Football All-Star Game

11/28/2011 4:46:00 PM

Carrollton, GA – Two seniors who helped key the West Georgia Wolves’ turnaround in 2011 have been rewarded for their efforts. Running back James Kennebrew and safety Manny Rodriguez have been selected to play in this Sunday’s National Bowl Game in Allentown, Pa.

The National Bowl is an all-star game for college seniors from across the nation. It is an invitation only game featuring players who earned either All-America or all-conference honors.

Both players were top contributors in 2011 as coach Daryl Dickey guided the Wolves to their first winning season since 2005.

“We are very pleased for both James and Manny,” said Dickey. “This is a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents. I am sure they will do an outstanding job representing themselves and our program, and we are happy to support them.”

Kennebrew, a native of Columbus, was UWG’s second leading rusher in 2011. He carried 103 times for 523 yards, and three touchdowns. For his career, Kennebrew completed his eligibility with 1,924 yards rushing, the fifth highest total in West Georgia history.

Rodriguez, who hails from Lawrenceville, played two seasons at UWG following a transfer from

Wittenberg (Ohio) University. He was the Wolves’ second leading tackler in 2011 with 53 total tackles, including 29 solos. Rodriguez also had two tackles for loss, two passes broken up, and one pass interception during his senior campaign. His career numbers include 115 tackles, including 67 solo stops.

Scouts from a variety of professional leagues will attend Sunday’s game. Also, films of the game and practices will be made available to scouts from all levels of the pro game.

Wolves QB earns weekly GSC honor

11/14/2011 10:02:00 AM

Carrollton, GA - For his performance in leading the UWG football program to one of the biggest wins in its history, West Georgia quarterback Emmanuel Taylor was named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week by GSC officials Monday.

As the fourth quarter began, the Wolves found themselves in a 35-24 hole. But, as the junior signal-caller has showed multiple times this season, the word quit did not exist with 15 minutes left on the clock and facing the top-ranked team in the nation in Delta State.

Taylor was nothing short of brilliant in the final quarter, as he showed on the first play of the period with a 16-yard run. That was the first of five runs on the West Georgia drive for 51 yards. His final run was a 1-yard plunge that pulled the Wolves to within five at 35-30. He capped the drive with a completed pass to Bobby Burum to complete the two-point conversion and making the score 35-32 with 9:06 remaining in the game.

Later in the fourth quarter, he engineered the game-winning drive and helped put senior running back James Kennebrew in position to score the game's final touchdown with 1:32 left on the clock. It was the third time this season that Taylor had led a game-winning drive in the final two minutes of the game. He set up the game-winning field goal against Saint Augustine's in the final minute and engineered a brilliant drive to end the game against Valdosta State.

The Blakely native led the way on the ground with 25 rushes for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He also was 16-of-32 for 258 yards through the air with two touchdowns. In addition, his performance paved the way for West Georgia's first ever victory over a No. 1 team.

WOLF ENCOUNTERS: Hard work pays off for Jones

by Jordan Hofeditz/Times-Georgian

There is no better time to play the best game of one's career than during their senior season on their opponent's field, that's exactly what University of West Georgia football player Will Jones did last Saturday afternoon.

Jones earned the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for his nine-tackle, one sack performance in the Wolves' 23-20 win over then No. 17 Valdosta State.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior from Lee County High School had plenty of family at the game and things just started falling in place.

Read more: Times-Georgian - WOLF ENCOUNTERS Hard work pays off for Jones

UWG Earns Season's First Regional Ranking

10/31/2011 9:48:00 PM

Carrollton, GA – Last Saturday’s win over Valdosta State did more than just return the Peach Basket to the campus of the University of West Georgia. The Wolves’ 20-16 win over Valdosta State also earned UWG a spot in the latest regional rankings.

West Georgia is this week rated 10^th in the Super Region Two of NCAA Division II. These are the rankings that are used by the Division II Regional Advisory Committee to determine which teams advance to the NCAA Playoffs.

This week’s berth in the region rankings mark the first for a West Georgia team since the 2005 season.

Delta State, the nation’s top ranked Division II team, is the top rated team in the region. They are followed by Mars Hill, West Alabama, this week’s opponent North Alabama, and North Greenville. Rounding out the Top 10 in the region are Valdosta State, Albany State, Morehouse, North Carolina-Pembroke, and West Georgia.

UWG returns to action Saturday in Florence, Ala., vs. North Alabama. Kickoff time is 5 p.m. (EDT) at Braly Municipal Stadium.

Two Wolves earn GSC Weekly Honors

10/31/2011 10:00:00 AM

Carrollton, GA - A program win deserves program awards and the West Georgia Wolves produced two weekly award winners from Saturday's win over 17th-ranked Valdosta State. Linebacker Will Jones and placekicker/punter Davis Brackett earned
the Defensive and Special Teams player of the week awards for the week ending October 30th, released Monday by the Gulf South Conference.

Jones earns UWG’s first defensive accolade of the season after spearheading the Wolves’ defense in a 23-20 road upset over No. 17 Valdosta State. The senior racked up a team-high tying nine total tackles behind five solo stops. The Leesburg, GA native also recorded one sack for a 12-yard loss that pushed VSU out of field goal range in the second quarter. The award for Jones is the first of his career at UWG.

Brackett collects his second award in three weeks by leading West Georgia’s special teams unit against Valdosta State. The junior accounted for four total points, going 1-for-2 on field goals and 1-for-2 on point-after kicks. He booted a 31-yard field goal with no time left in the first half, extending UWG’s lead to 16-7. The Marietta, GA native did not stop there, booming three punts for 121 yards and a 40.3 average. All three of Brackett’s punts were downed inside the 20-yard line headlined by two that were placed at the VSU one-yard line.

The Wolves will take on their second-straight ranked road opponent this Saturday, facing off with the current No. 5 team in the nation, North Alabama. The Lions will likely move down in the national rankings after last Saturday's loss to West Alabama. The game was originally scheduled for 8 p.m., but has been moved to 5 p.m.

Peach Basket returns to West Georgia

Leading up to the 2011 University of West Georgia football season the players had an attitude that things were going to be different, now following Saturday's 23-20 win against then No. 17 Valdosta State and bringing the Peach Basket back to Carrollton for the first time since 2005, things are.

To say that Valdosta has an edge in the series is putting it lightly. The Blazers held a 20-8 record going into Saturday's game and hadn't lost since 2005. Five of the Wolves' eight wins came in consecutive years from 1995-99, when VSU head coach David Dean served as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at West Georgia.

Now UWG head coach Daryl Dickey has a win that will make people stand up and notice.

Read more: Times-Georgian - Peach Basket returns to West Georgia

Mathews embracing final football days

by Corey Cusick/Times-Georgian

Drek Mathews discovered something he hadn’t seen since high school this past Saturday — the end zone.

The University of West Georgia senior linebacker gave his team a huge lift upon recovering a fumble and rumbling 52 yards for a score late in the first half of the Wolves’ 41-24 road win at Harding University.

It was one of six turnovers UWG forced on the night, with Mathews corralling a pair of them to finish with 66 return yards in the contest.

Read more: Times-Georgian - Mathews embracing final football days

Photo credit: Ricky Stilley/Times-Georgian

WOLF ENCOUNTERS: UWG receivers ready for liftoff

by Corey Cusick/Times-Georgian

For the first time all season, Daryl Dickey has his top receiving weapons at his full disposal.

Due to some early-season injuries, the University of West Georgia football coach has had to go into battle minus two of his top deep-ball threats in senior Arkeem French and sophomore Malcolm Johnson, who have missed time due to hamstring issues.

French, the team’s leading receiver a year ago, missed the Sept. 15 contest against Miles and played sparingly in the Wolves’ 21-5 home win over Arkansas-Monticello the following week, while Johnson has sat out two of the four games this fall.

Read more: Times-Georgian - WOLF ENCOUNTERS UWG receivers ready for liftoff

WOLF ENCOUNTERS: Freshmen of Impact

by: Corey Cusick/Times-Georgian

Daryl Dickey made it known in fall camp that his ball club had some incoming freshmen that could potentially step into big-time roles this season.

And three games into the 2011 campaign, the University of West Georgia football coach has already seen that ideology come into prophetic fruition, with a trio of true freshmen in linebacker Teddy Lawrence, defensive back Trenton Edwards and defensive end Amir Mustafaa — among others — all getting crucial reps early this year.

Read more: Times-Georgian - WOLF ENCOUNTERS Freshmen of Impact

UWG opens home slate under the lights

by Jordan Hofeditz/Times-Georgian

The home debut for the University of West Georgia football team takes place tonight under the lights of University Stadium against Miles College.

Coming into today's 7 p.m. kickoff, televised as the Gulf South Conference-TV live game of the week on CSS, the Wolves (0-1) aren't quite sure what to expect from Miles.

Read more: Times-Georgian - UWG opens home slate under the lights